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SEC renews call for availment of amnesty program for companies
The Securities and Exchange Commission has renewed its call for companies to avail of its amnesty program with the deadline looming......»»
European companies sold spyware to despots: media
European companies sold powerful spyware to authoritarian regimes which have used it against dissenters, a group of investigative media said Thursday. According to the probe -- by European Investigative Collaborations (EIC) and spearheaded by the French site Mediapart and Germany's Der Spiegel weekly -- European companies "supplied dictators cyber-surveillance tools for more than a decade", EIC said in a statement. "During the last decade the Western world has encouraged and applauded the digital tools that empower democracy activism in countries under authoritarian regimes," it said. "But at the same time European companies have supplied such authoritarian regimes the digital back doors to turn any digital device into powerful spying tools against dissenters," it said. The Predator Files investigation, named after the software, said the sellers benefited from "the passive complicity of many European governments". The investigation focused on the Intellexa Alliance, a group of companies through which EIC said Predator software had been supplied to authoritarian states. Intellaxa is run by former Israeli intelligence officials mostly based in Europe, and was targeted by US sanctions in July. "Activists, journalists and academics have been targeted, as have European and US officials," it said. The findings of the investigation run by 15 media are based on hundreds of confidential documents obtained by Mediapart and Der Spiegel and analyzed with the help of the Security Lab of Amnesty International, a human rights organization. Amnesty called Intellexa "a complex, morphing group of interconnected companies" and Predator "its highly invasive spyware". "Intellexa alliance's products have been found in at least 25 countries across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa and have been used to undermine human rights, press freedom, and social movements across the globe," Amnesty said. "Highly invasive surveillance products are being traded on a near industrial scale and are free to operate in the shadows without oversight or any genuine accountability," it added. Mediapart said that a French company, Nexa, had sold Predator to "at least three autocracies: Egypt, Vietnam and Madagascar". Mediapart said the spyware had also been sold to Qatar, Congo Brazzaville, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan "under the complacent eyes of the French secret services". Criminal charges against Nexa and four of its managers, brought in 2021 over spyware sales, were downgraded a year later, making their trial unlikely, legal sources told AFP. EIC said its members would publish further details over the coming days. The recent revelations follow a 2021 scandal around Pegasus, a spyware sold by Israeli company NSO Group, with several media reporting that it had been used to illegally spy on more than 50,000 individuals. The post European companies sold spyware to despots: media appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Accused of rape, Russell Brand speaks of ‘distressing’ week
British comedian and actor Russell Brand on Friday spoke of an "extraordinary and distressing week" in his first public comments since rape and assault allegations were aired against him, but did not address the claims. "Obviously it's been an extraordinary and distressing week and I thank you very much for your support and for questioning the information you are being presented with," he said on a video posted to his YouTube channel, which has 6.64 million subscribers. "I need your support now more than ever, more than I ever imagined I would," he added. But he did not comment on the joint investigation by The Times, Sunday Times and Channel 4 television in which four women made claims of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse against him. Then on Thursday, a woman accused Brand of exposing himself to her in 2008. Brand criticized the British government for asking tech companies to take action against him. Denouncing what he described as "deep state and corporate collusion" and "media corruption and censorship", he said he would post a longer video on Monday. In a video released last week, just before the story broke, Brand, 48, denied the allegations against him, which are said to have taken place between 2006 and 2013. He said his relationships had always been "consensual", even during a period when he admitted he was "very, very promiscuous". Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's official spokesman called the allegations "very serious and concerning". Sunak "has been clear there should never be any space for harassment, regardless of where it is found", he added. Brand's publisher Bluebird announced that "all future publishing" with the comedian had been put on hold. Video-sharing platform YouTube has also demonetized his content. /jj © Agence France-Presse The post Accused of rape, Russell Brand speaks of ‘distressing’ week appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Thai king cuts Thaksin’s sentence to 1 year
Thailand’s king answered ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s request for royal pardon Friday by cutting his prison term to one year from eight. The partial pardon from King Maha Vajiralongkorn was confirmed by the official Royal Gazette, with the announcement pointing to his service to the country as prime minister. “He is loyal to the institution of monarchy. When prosecuted, he respected the justice system,” the statement said, noting that Thaksin also suffers numerous health problems. “His Majesty the King has granted him amnesty and reduced the sentence on Thaksin Shinawatra, the prisoner, to one year in prison, so that he could use his expertise and experience to develop the country further.” Shinawatra was convicted in absentia of graft and abuse of office but went into self-exile for 15 years, avoiding prison. The 74-year-old billionaire returned home last week as his Pheu Thai party formed a coalition government with royalists and pro-military parliamentarians. Pheu Thai’s Srettha Thavisin is now the prime minister, the party’s first premier since Thaksin’s sister Yingluck was thrown out in a coup in 2014. Thaksin, twice elected PM and ousted in a 2006 military coup, was sent to prison last week immediately after returning to the kingdom for the first time since 2008. WITH AFP The post Thai king cuts Thaksin’s sentence to 1 year appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bill seeks BPO agents’ protection
A Senate bill seeks to institutionalize “practicable and equitable arrangements” for the protection of Filipino workers employed in various Business Process Outsourcing companies. Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid, the bill’s author, said Senate Bill 2235, or an Act ensuring the welfare and protection of BPO workers, will serve as a recognition of the industry’s contributions to the Philippines’ gross domestic product. He added that the BPO industry has been bringing $30 billion to the economy every year, which corresponds to 9 percent of the country’s annual GDP. Lapid then cited the 10 to 15 percent share of the Philippines in the global BPO market. In 2019, the BPO sector provided employment opportunities to over 1.3 million Filipinos, and such figure continues to grow at an annual rate of 8 to 10 percent. Hence, Lapid said it is only timely that the government should acknowledge the huge contributions of the BPO workers to the country’s economy by legislating SB 2235. “We need to make sure that there will be proper standards for the BPO sector, including the humane treatment as well as ensuring that companies provide adequate benefits, privileges, and comfortable working conditions,” he emphasized. No abuse of workers Under the bill, BPO companies shall refrain from understaffing operations and overloading their employees’ tasks, as well as imposing a humane client quota. The bill also mandates BPO companies to provide their workers with access to relevant information, allowing them “to understand their rights, benefits, obligations, conditions, and realities attending their profession.” The post Bill seeks BPO agents’ protection appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bangladesh major hub for tiger poaching
Bangladesh remains a major hub for the poaching of endangered tigers despite government claims of a successful crackdown on pirate groups involved in the trade, according to research published Friday. The vast Sundarbans mangrove forest straddling India and Bangladesh hosts one of the world's largest populations of Bengal tigers. Their pelts, bones, and flesh are bought by black marketeers as part of a broader illegal wildlife trade valued at an estimated $20 billion globally each year. Research from big cat conservation group Panthera and the Chinese Academy of Sciences said tiger parts harvested in the Sundarbans have been exported to 15 countries, with India and China being the most common destinations. "Bangladesh plays a much more significant role in the illicit tiger trade than we previously realized," study co-author Rob Pickles said in a statement. Pirate groups operating in the Sundarbans found a lucrative trade in tiger poaching before a government crackdown started in 2016. At least 117 pirates were shot dead and hundreds more were detained, according to official figures, while many others surrendered as part of a government amnesty. But Panthera's research, published in the Conservation Science and Practice journal, said that the vacuum created by the crackdown had been filled by more than 30 specialist tiger poaching syndicates and opportunistic poachers. Traders operated through their own logistics companies and in some cases concealed their activities through licenses for legal wildlife trade, the study added. The research, based partly on interviews with those involved in the wildlife trade, also found that domestic consumption of tiger parts had increased since the crackdown, owing to Bangladesh's burgeoning economy. Wealthy local buyers were purchasing medicines using tiger parts "as well as large ornamental items for display such as skulls and skins", the study said. The findings were disputed by Bangladesh's official Sundarbans conservator Abu Naser Mohsin Hossain, who said the crackdown had brought the illicit trade to a standstill. "We have taken measures to conserve the Bengal tiger population in the Sundarbans," he told AFP. "No tiger has died from... tiger-human conflict in the past five years. Tiger sightings have increased." Just 114 Bengal tigers live in Bangladesh's portion of the Sundarbans, according to an official census published in 2019 -- up slightly since a record low four years prior. An updated population count is due to be published next year. Poaching is the number one threat to tigers globally, and China is the biggest overall driver of demand, largely for use of their body parts in traditional medicine, according to Panthera. The post Bangladesh major hub for tiger poaching appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bills up amid P24-B recovery
Luzon customers may soon pay for additional charges in their monthly electricity bills as the Energy Regulatory Commission, or ERC, prepares to issue an order that will implement a high court-approved recovery of at least P24 billion in generation losses. In an interview with reporters last week, ERC chairperson lawyer Monalisa Dimalanta disclosed that the collection, which will likely be on a staggered basis within three years, takes effect next year. “We have calculated it, so the timing (of collection) is what we care about now. The cost is somehow hefty so we will spread the collection for three years,” Dimalanta said. ERC order According to her, the ERC will issue an order to allow the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines, or IEMOP, to start the Luzon-wide collection of generation charges. “It will be co-collected with the consumers, but not all generation companies have claims, there are others who will pay for it,” she noted. For Manila Electric Co., or Meralco alone, the development means that customers will collectively pay to recover as much as P22.64 billion in generation loss from way back in 2013. This is part of the Supreme Court, or SC, ruling released last year. SC voids ERC order It can be recalled that the SC — through a decision promulgated on 3 August 2021, a copy of which was only released online on 1 July 2022 — voided the ERC order that was supposed to regulate prices in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, or WESM for November to December 2013. The move, according to ERC, should have capped spot market prices for the period to cut rates and lessen the high prices impact on customers by more than a third, or to just P7 million from P24 billion. The SC pointed out that the ERC’s order cannot be implemented due to the possibility of market power abuse, which could affect electricity prices. Address abnormal spike However, in its order, the ERC argued that it only wanted to address the abnormal spike and unreasonable electricity costs imposed by generation companies, or gencos during the period. The regulatory body also investigated alleged collusion among gencos to manipulate prices of electricity in the spot market during the maintenance shutdown of the Malampaya gas facility for a similar period. Yet, the SC pointed out that the ERC failed to notify the affected parties about its probe, which violated the gencos’ right to due process. The post Bills up amid P24-B recovery appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Putting the quit on Quilter
Karl Quilter, a Chicago resident, was recently handed a sentence of 30 years in a United States federal prison for OSEC, or the online sexual exploitation of children based in the Philippines. The 58-year-old Quilter entered last year a guilty plea, claiming that the minors he spoke with on social media sites Facebook, Viber, and Skype from 2017 to 2020 were his “girlfriends.” His modus operandi, court records showed, involved dangling money transfers to persuade his victims to send the requested images. Quilter, in fact, visited the Philippines in 2017 and 2018, but he would not admit to actually having physical sex with minors, something that could have added to his sentence. He, nonetheless, admitted to having vowed to return to the Philippines in 2020 to act out his OSEC fantasies, yet more proof that OSEC oftentimes leads to actual physical abuse by moneyed, well-traveled monsters. The successful prosecution of Quilter and others like him, however, represents only one side of the coin as there’s also a pressing need to stop the abuse at the source, hundreds of miles away. Putting behind bars adults, frequently family members, who enable this heinous crime within the Philippines and other poor countries, is equally important. Unicef, the International Justice Mission, and Interpol have conducted extensive research that indicates that the Philippines, even before the start of the pandemic, had become a major global hub for live-streaming or the distribution of videos and photos of sex acts involving children as young as two years old. According to their estimates, the incidence of OSEC in the country had more than tripled in recent years, with the Philippines receiving more than eight times as many referrals as any other country, “making it the center of the global live-stream sex abuse trade.” The IJM, which started working closely with authorities in the Philippines in 2020 to close physical channels of sexual abuse of minors like bars and prostitution houses, had warned that Covid-19 lockdowns spanning two years had significantly contributed to a threefold rise in OSEC cases. With his department as the lead agency in the government’s efforts against human trafficking, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has gone, so far, as to warn telecom companies that they would be prosecuted if they did not provide checks and filters against OSEC materials being routed through their networks. The biggest telcos have been heeding Remulla’s call, but as technology moves fast, they have to contend not only with the traffickers but also with tech wizards, those who live off the Dark Web, and who provide the backend support to ram OSEC materials through governmental and corporate check valves. IJM has drawn a silver lining around the dark clouds, saying that significant progress has been made in reducing the availability of children for sale on the streets and for internet-based sex trafficking. The figures, the group claimed, have fallen by as much as 86 percent in the cities where they were present. The relationship between OSEC and money transfers has been made crystal clear by recent research by the Anti-Money Laundering Task Force. It said that to stop the cycle of exploitation and bring the offenders to justice, it is necessary to destroy the illegal financial networks and stop the use of legal ones for OSEC payments. Although Quilter’s sentencing represents an important development in the prosecution of foreign offenders, he is just one among the millions of pedophiles and other perverts who have fueled OSEC, a multi-faceted problem that requires creative solutions and cross-border cooperation among governments, non-governmental organizations, and communities. OSEC operations by families in far-flung barangays are an open secret in communities, betrayed by the sprouting of Wi-Fi antennas in homes that also suddenly had access to extra cash. Cracking down on them has been easier, but the additional challenge now is stopping OSEC coursed through smartphones with internet data access. OSEC has been and will always be a cat-and-mouse game. It’s a virtual one-upmanship in trying to put the quit on depravities perpetrated by the likes of Quilter. The post Putting the quit on Quilter appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
AMID CA ‘OVERREACH’ ERC ready for battle
The Energy Regulatory Commission is ready to contest before the Supreme Court the decision of the Court of Appeals voiding the regulator’s rejection of the rate increase petitions of two San Miguel Corporation power generation firms. Legal pundits said the CA usurped the ERC’s authority in its ruling setting aside the regulator’s late 2022 decisions to dismiss the petitions of South Premiere Power Corp. and San Miguel Energy Corp. to increase prices. Others called the CA decision an “overreach.” The two San Miguel subsidiaries cited a “change in circumstances” for turning their backs on their fixed-priced contracts with Manila Electric Company. San Miguel disclosed on Wednesday to the Philippine Stock Exchange the favorable decision it had received from the CA’s 13th Division composed of Associate Justice Victoria Isabel Paredes, as chairperson; and Associate Justices Mary Charlene Hernandez-Azura and Florencio Mamauag Jr., as members. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, ERC chairperson lawyer Monalisa Dimalanta clarified that the CA’s decision was not yet final since, under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, only the Supreme Court can issue a permanent injunction on rate hikes. “There is no computation yet of the rate hikes. The decision is not yet final, and we will still file a motion for reconsideration. If granted, that’s another discussion. If denied, we will go all the way to the Supreme Court. I have not yet foreseen any rate impact,” Dimalanta said. Dimalanta added that the ERC, through the Office of the Solicitor General, will need to confirm if the CA is legally allowed to issue a final decision on rate hikes. “The CA can review any factual matter related to any rate hike petition, but we still want to clarify if the CA can decide with finality because it will change everything in the (power) industry. Under the EPIRA, only the SC can issue a permanent injunction,” Dimalanta explained. Unfortunate ruling According to Dimalanta, the CA’s decision was “unfortunate and disconcerting,” but the ERC will continue to uphold the law to “protect consumers.” “The ERC hopes the CA will revisit the records of the case as well as the arguments of the parties and uphold the commission’s ruling,” the ERC chief said. Consumers will not yet feel any adverse impact from the CA’s reversal of the ERC’s rejection of the temporary rate hike petitions, Dimalanta added. However, for San Miguel Global Power or SMGP, the holding firm for SMC’s power ventures, the CA’s decision “upholds the constitutional mandate of due process that guarantees the right to be treated fairly and effectively by quasi-judicial bodies like the ERC.” “It is regrettable that the ERC’s unfair decision early on to reject our joint petition with Meralco for a temporary rate hike — despite proving to be the least cost option at the time for power consumers — resulted in consumers shouldering the burden of much higher electricity rates,” SMGP said in a separate statement on Thursday. Nonetheless, the company said it still looks to “forge even stronger partnerships with the government, consumers, and other key stakeholders to help shape a more resilient and sustainable energy landscape for all.” Meanwhile, Meralco Head of Regulatory Management Jose Ronald Valles said the company will reach out to the CA to clarify some matters regarding the decision. “There are some matters in the decision that we feel need to be clarified. We are consulting with our lawyers on the legal remedies available to us, including an appeal to the Supreme Court,” Valles said. The 13th Division of the CA reversed the order of the ERC that rejected the temporary power rate hike petition filed by San Miguel Energy Corp. or SMEC and South Premiere Power Corp. or SPPC and Meralco. The CA decision granted the consolidated petitions for certiorari filed by SMEC and SPPC. It also favored the joint motion of SPPC and SMEC for a price adjustment with provisional authority and/or interim relief in ERC Case No. 2019-081 and ERC Case No. 2019-083. Likewise, the appellate court made permanent the preliminary injunction issued in favor of SPPC. The rate hike petition stemmed from SMGP’s report that its Sual Coal and Ilijan Natural Gas power facilities logged combined losses of P15 billion from 2021 to date due to high prices. As such, it sought temporary and partial cost recovery relief only for the losses it incurred from January to May, through a power rate increase on its contract capacity under the power supply agreement with Meralco to be amortized for six months. CA gets flak Consumer group Power for People Coalition criticized the CA magistrates for favoring the Ramon Ang-led San Miguel Corporation. “The Court of Appeals is supposed to uphold the interests of justice and the people, but it failed to do both in its decision granting SMC’s petitions in its cases before the ERC,” Gerry Arances, convener of the Power for People Coalition, said in a statement on Thursday. In its PSE disclosure, SMC said the CA annulled and set aside the ERC order dated 29 September 2022 in ERC Cases 2019-081 and 2019-083 due to a “grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction.” The CA’s joint decision dated 27 June 2023, received by SMC through the Poblador Bautista Reyes Law Offices, granted the consolidated petitions for certiorari filed by SMEC and SPPC. Arances said the CA effectively released SMC from any consequences of breaking a contract “simply because it is not earning enough from a commitment it has made voluntarily.” “We hope that the court will reevaluate, and we will file a motion for reconsideration to give the justices another chance to live up to their name,” Arances said. It can be recalled that the two power companies, along with Meralco, appealed for a temporary rate hike under their 2019 power supply agreement to help them recover from the unprecedented hike in coal prices. The CA denied the petition of SMEC for a temporary restraining order, but it allowed a TRO and later a writ of preliminary injunction or WPI on the ERC decision to deny an increase in SPPC’s power supply agreement or PSA with Meralco. The CA then consolidated the two rate increase cases under the division that granted the WPI. In its report to the bourse, SMC bared that the CA also favored the SPPC and SMEC’s joint motion for price adjustments without prejudice to any further requests for price adjustments. The further request for adjustments would be for June 2022 onwards for SPPC, from June 2022 to 25 January 2023 or the date of writ of preliminary injunction; and for SMEC, from June 2022 to the date of the finality of the joint decision. The post AMID CA ‘OVERREACH’ ERC ready for battle appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Facebook says China trolls ‘evolving’ in push for influence
Networks of fake Facebook accounts run from China are "evolving" and adopting new tactics in their quest to sow discord overseas, the social media platform told Australian lawmakers Tuesday. Fronting a Senate inquiry into foreign interference, officials from parent company Meta said there had been a noticeable "shift in tactics" by China-based networks over the past seven months. Meta spokesman Josh Machin said coordinated networks of Chinese Facebook accounts were increasingly trying to influence public opinion by targeting journalists, charities and public relations firms. "We are seeing a whole new range of tactics evolving," Machin told the inquiry. Meta recently removed dozens of Facebook accounts belonging to a China-based network waging a coordinated disinformation campaign in Europe. The network had been sharing incendiary content attacking migrants and LGBTQ activists. It had also set up a front media company, hired freelance writers and attempted to recruit protesters, Meta said in May. Lawmakers have been grilling social media companies as Australia steps up efforts to detect and eliminate foreign interference threats such as election meddling. The government has said spying and foreign interference is the "principal security concern facing Australia". Australia will hold a historic referendum on Indigenous rights this year, and there are fears foreign actors may use social media to inflame racial divisions within the country. Meta's policy director for Australia and New Zealand, Mia Garlick, said the platform would be rolling out a suite of measures to combat misinformation in the lead-up to the referendum. "We've developed a comprehensive strategy in consultation with First Nations communities to combat misinformation and voter interference as well as other forms of abuse that could occur on our platform," she told the inquiry. Australia has been at the forefront of efforts to regulate digital platforms, and has adopted measures to force them to take down violent videos and hand over identities of online trolls. The government recently proposed new laws that could result in tech giants being slapped with hefty fines if they fail to tackle disinformation. Under the draft legislation, the owners of platforms like Facebook, Google, Twitter and TikTok would face penalties worth up to five percent of annual global turnover -- some of the highest proposed anywhere in the world. The post Facebook says China trolls ‘evolving’ in push for influence appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chona Mejia Lopez: tireless club woman
I recently interviewed Angelina “Chona” Lopez, a dear friend whose daughter, Bettina Osmeña, is as much a dear friend of mine, and the grandmother of, yes, another chum, Eduardo Lopez, a champion polo player. I have had the opportunity to see Chona on many social occasions, a number having to do with her involvement in the Zonta International. A long time ago, I worked for a club woman who was hosting the awarding ceremonies of the Best Asian Leaders. At one point of the program, I realized that the person assigned to give the flowers to the honoree had not arrived, so I was in a quandary as to who I should ask to do the honors. Then, I saw Chona, who sat quietly in one corner, happy being part of the audience, and asked her if she would go up the stage later to hand over the bouquet. She smiled and said that she couldn’t do it because “I may be performing a role that is intended for someone else.” I had no time to think of her answer but, later, I realized this was one lady who knew her manners and protocol. In what I would learn as her typically gracious way, she told me she could not do it, while reminding me that someone should be up there on the stage, and not she. Talk about propriety and grace and Chona Mejia Lopez comes to my mind to this day. Of course, here is one lady who does not care about any opportunity to shine. Almost self-effacing but simply relaxed and unmindful of attention, Chona remains in my book to be one of the sweetest ladies of Manila’s 400. I wish there were more women like her! Networking Recently, I had a brief tete-a-tete with the ageless Chona. As our conversation geared toward her involvement in civic work, I asked her why she joined Zonta, originally a club for professional women. Or, for that matter, why did she join clubs at all? Her response: “I join clubs for various reasons. As a minority Asian woman working in the United States as a financial advisor at Prudential Bache, I joined the Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco as a way of networking. Prudential Bache was then the third largest investment house in the world. After a few years as a member of the chamber, I was elected as the first woman president in the 20-year history of the chamber. Its membership was made up of top executives of US companies with presence in the Philippines, such as Bechtel, Bank of American, Citibank, Dole Foods, etc., and Filipinos working in top level positions in San Francisco. “But business networking is just one aspect of joining clubs. I also join as a way of giving back to society or serving the less fortunate. While living in San Francisco, California, I joined The Little Jim Club, a non-profit fund-raising auxiliary for Child Development Services of the California Pacific Medical Center. The main objective of the club is to support orthopedic and other medical services for children of indigent families who do not have medical insurance coverage. Eventually, I became a director of the club, whose members are women movers and shakers of San Francisco society.” 'I do club work to have a meaningful life, a purpose for my existence. We are here not just to indulge ourselves but to help others.' “When I returned to the Philippines after 11 years living in California, I joined the Zonta Club of Makati and Environs Foundation. It is part of Zonta International, a leading global organization of professionals whose main objective is to advocate for women’s rights and to empower women worldwide through service and advocacy. After two years of joining the club, I was elected as a director, and the following biennium, I became president of the club. I was later on elected as Area 5 director, with 19 clubs under my supervision. I have been a member for 19 years now.” Scholarship She next talked about the Zonta projects that she is so passionate about. She said, “The three projects of Zonta Club of Makati and Environs that are closest to my heart are the DUYAN project in Marillac Hills, which provides psychological care and assistance to minors who are victims of sexual abuse. Another project is our 30 unit Zonta-GK Village in Taguig, It provided funds for building homes for 30 indigent families. This was a project during my term as president of our club. The pride of having a decent home has had great impact on the lives of these 30 families. We also have an educational project that funds the scholarship of young women taking up male-dominated courses like engineering. This has greatly improved the lives of the scholars and their families when after graduation, they got employed in large corporations. Some are now gainfully employed in Europe.” While club work occupies much of her time, Chona knows her priorities. In their order, she said: “These are family, business and club work.” That she has kept to the last instead of enjoying life as a lady of leisure, she explained, “I do club work to have a meaningful life, a purpose for my existence. We are here not just to indulge ourselves but to help others. By joining a club, your job or position has clear-cut responsibilities, time set aside for meetings and project work, etc. It is a structured way of giving back to society which relieves me of the effort of thinking and planning how to do so.” “Because I am now in my rather late senior years, I am no longer as active and as busy as I have been the past 30 years. For the past five biennia, I was always appointed as chair of a district committee. I now devote my time more for the club, not in the district level anymore. Even in the club level, we have so many younger, active, dynamic and very efficient members so the older ones can relax a bit and guide the highly motivated younger ones to take over the reins of the club. The club is truly in good hands to continue Zonta’s work and mission in the next 10 years and beyond.” The post Chona Mejia Lopez: tireless club woman appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Escudero backs proposed air passenger rights
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero stressed it’s about time to pass a law that would institutionalize the Air Passenger Bill of Rights and urged for stiffer penalties on violators amid the rising customer complaints against poor airline services. "Similar measures had been filed in previous Congress but nothing happened. It is about time that we in the 19th Congress should look into this seriously and hopefully pass the necessary legislation," Escudero said. The current Congress, according to Escudero, should look into legislating the Air Passenger Bill of Rights, a proposal that was backed by the Civil Aeronautics Board during Wednesday's hearing conducted jointly by the Committee on Tourism and the Committee on Public Services, chaired by Senators Nancy Binay and Grace Poe, respectively. During the hearing, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said he is mulling a measure that would institutionalize the Air Passenger Bill Rights in order to protect the public from any abuse by airline companies. Dela Rosa also asked CAB about its position in pushing the institutionalization of the Air Passenger Bill of Rights in order to protect the public from erring airline companies. "What is your position? Do you agree with the proposal to create a law that will institutionalize the Air Passenger Bill of Rights?" asked Dela Rosa. In response, Arcilla, said they have been very supportive of the proposal as she cited the violations and penalties provided in the 71-year-old Republic Act 776 or the "Civil Aeronautics Act of the Philippines" have not been revised and limits the fine to P5,000 for each violation. On the other hand, the Airline Passenger Bill of Rights was not legislated but contained in the Joint Administrative Order 1 of the then Department of Transportation and Communications and the Department of Trade and Industry in 2012. The Airline Passenger Bill of Rights specifically tries to resolve passengers’ complaints, including delayed or canceled flights without appropriate warning, lost luggage, and overbooking of flights. It also covers pre-flight issues, such as misleading fare advertisements. The post Escudero backs proposed air passenger rights appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EU lawmakers to back world’s first AI rules
European Parliament lawmakers will vote Wednesday to kickstart talks to approve the world's first sweeping rules on artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT, aiming to curb potential harms while nurturing innovation. Although the EU's plans date back to 2021, the draft rules took on greater urgency when ChatGPT exploded onto the scene last year, showing off AI's dizzying development and the possible risks. There is also growing clamour to regulate AI across the Atlantic, as pressure grows on Western governments to act fast in what some describe as a battle to protect humanity. While AI proponents hail the technology for how it will transform society, including work, healthcare and creative pursuits, others are terrified by its potential to undermine democracy. Once adopted by the EU parliament, officials say negotiations for a final law with the bloc's 27 member states will begin almost immediately, starting later Wednesday. The race is on to strike an agreement on final legislation by the end of the year. Even if that ambitious target is achieved, the law would not come into force until 2026 at the earliest, forcing the EU to push for a voluntary interim pact with tech companies. Brussels and the United States agreed last month to release a common code of conduct on AI to develop standards among democracies. Lawmakers have hailed the draft law as "historic" and pushed back against critics who say the EU's plans could harm rather than encourage innovation. "Is this the right time for Europe to regulate AI? My answer is resolutely yes -- it is the right time because of the profound impact AI has," MEP Dragos Tudorache said during Tuesday's parliamentary debate in Strasbourg. "What we can do here is to create trust, legal certainty, to enable AI to develop in a positive manner," European Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager said. - 'Common' approach - The law will regulate AI according to the level of risk: the higher the risk to individuals' rights or health, for example, the greater the systems' obligations. The EU's proposed high-risk list includes AI in critical infrastructure, education, human resources, public order and migration management. The parliament has added extra conditions before the high-risk classification would be met, including the potential to harm people's health, safety, rights or the environment. There are also special requirements for generative AI systems -- those such as ChatGPT and DALL-E capable of producing text, images, code, audio and other media -- that include informing users that a machine, not a human, produced the content. Another MEP spearheading the law in parliament, Brando Benifei, called for a "common approach" to tackle AI risks. "We need to compare notes with lawmakers all around the world," he said. Tudorache added that the law was needed "because hoping that companies will self-regulate is not enough to safeguard our citizens". - Risks versus rights - Throughout the parliament's scramble to reach an agreement that began last year, rights defenders have urged the EU to protect rights. Under the parliamentary committee text approved last month, lawmakers propose bans on AU systems that use biometric surveillance, emotion recognition and so-called predictive policing. But Mher Hakobyan of Amnesty International warned this was at risk because "parliament may upend considerable human rights protections" that were agreed on by parliamentary committees last month. There are still fears that, even if lawmakers agree on those bans, they may not make it into the final law after negotiations with EU member states. "There's a real risk that when the state representatives get involved, a lot of these protections could be removed or significantly watered down," Griff Ferris, senior legal and policy officer at the non-governmental group Fair Trials, told AFP. raz/rmb/imm © Agence France-Presse The post EU lawmakers to back world’s first AI rules appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Weaponizing qualified theft, estafa in civil cases
Estafa and qualified theft are criminal offenses that aim to punish fraudulent and dishonest acts. However, there is a growing concern that these offenses are being weaponized in civil cases in the Philippines. This practice not only undermines the principles of justice but also creates an environment of fear and uncertainty for individuals and businesses. Weaponizing estafa and qualified theft involves filing criminal charges against someone as a means to gain leverage in a civil dispute. In these cases, the complainant uses the threat of criminal prosecution to coerce the accused into settling the civil matter in their favor, often through the payment of a substantial sum of money. This tactic is particularly prevalent in business-related disputes, where parties seek to gain an advantage over their opponents. One of the main issues with weaponizing estafa and qualified theft is the blurring of the lines between civil and criminal law. Civil disputes should be resolved through civil litigation, where the burden of proof lies on the plaintiff to establish their case based on a preponderance of evidence. Criminal cases, on the other hand, require a higher standard of proof, beyond reasonable doubt, and involve the potential loss of personal liberty for the accused. By introducing criminal charges into a civil dispute, the power dynamics between the parties are severely skewed. The accused may face the threat of imprisonment, a tarnished reputation, and legal expenses associated with a criminal trial. This coercive tactic puts immense pressure on the accused to settle the civil dispute, even if they believe they are innocent of any criminal wrongdoing. This practice ultimately undermines the principles of fairness, due process, and the presumption of innocence. Moreover, weaponizing estafa and qualified theft in civil cases creates a chilling effect on legitimate business transactions and entrepreneurship. Individuals and companies may become hesitant to engage in business dealings for fear of being embroiled in baseless criminal charges. This not only stifles economic growth and investment but also erodes trust and confidence in the business environment. To address this issue, there is a need for a more rigorous review and evaluation of criminal complaints filed in civil cases. The prosecutors and courts should exercise greater scrutiny in determining the existence of probable cause and consider the underlying motivations behind such complaints. Additionally, there should be stronger penalties and legal consequences for those who abuse the criminal justice system for personal gain. In conclusion, the weaponization of estafa and qualified theft in civil cases is a troubling practice that undermines the principles of justice and fairness. It creates an atmosphere of fear, uncertainty, and distrust, particularly in business transactions. To protect the integrity of the legal system, it is crucial for the courts to exercise caution and for the legislature to enact appropriate measures to deter and penalize those who engage in such abusive tactics. The post Weaponizing qualified theft, estafa in civil cases appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Meralco, DILG partner against illegal drugs
The Manila Electric Company has joined the Department of the Interior and Local Government in its nationwide campaign against illegal drugs. Meralco recently entered into a memorandum of undertaking to formalize its participation in the government’s “Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan” program, which advocates for the reduction of illicit drug supply and demand. Under the MoU, Meralco pledged to continuously implement a drug-free workplace, conduct regular and random drug testing among its employees, and hold orientations and seminars for employees about narcotics and its physical, social and psychological effects. Meralco will also help promote the BIDA campaign to raise awareness on the harmful effects of illegal drugs. BIDA is the six-year anti-illegal drugs advocacy program of the DILG that aims to employ a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach in combating the proliferation of narcotics in the country. DILG Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. said the participation of private companies in the BIDA program is crucial to ensuring the national success of the holistic campaign against illegal drugs. For his part, Meralco vice president and head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga said: “We at Meralco consider our stakeholders as invaluable partners and we are committed to continuously provide a safe and healthy work environment for our employees. That is why we have policies and programs in place that ensure a drug-free workplace.” “Through our strong partnership with DILG and our participation in the BIDA program, we also reaffirm our commitment to support the government’s push to promote human and social development and to continuously educate Filipinos on the effects of illegal drugs,” he added. Besides Meralco, other companies chaired by Manuel V. Pangilinan have also joined the BIDA campaign. These include PLDT-Smart, Maynilad and Metro Pacific Tollways. “We look forward to continuing this worthy endeavor with the DILG to once and for all address the scourge that is drug abuse, and we commit all our available resources in support of the BIDA campaign,” Zaldarriaga concluded. The post Meralco, DILG partner against illegal drugs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Decades-old EPIRA needs to catch up — DOE
The Department of Energy is carefully studying the Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 or EPIRA to ensure that the more than two decades-old law can keep up with the changing energy landscape while upholding the interest of the consumers. “Right now it is a case of there is always a continuing effort to amend the EPIRA so that we can adjust certain parts that may require some tweaking,” Energy Secretary Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla said in a recent interview with reporters. Lotilla said the EPIRA amendments can be related to the Energy Regulatory Commission’s powers and penalties it may impose and the Philippine Competition Commission's powers relative to the energy sector. “These are just some of the things that we need to clarify, but even without these amendments within the framework of the existing EPIRA we will proceed,” he added. The EPIRA passed during the time of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, mandates ERC and PCC to promote competition, encourage market development, ensure consumer choice, and penalize abuse of market power in the restructured electricity industry. The law also promotes competition by creating a level playing field, among others, in the competitive retail electricity market. In a hearing at the House Committee on Energy last week, Undersecretary Sharon Garin, disclosed that the EPIRA should be realigned to ban foreign-owned or foreign government-backed enterprises from engaging in power transmission. The DoE has drafted a bill backed by lawmakers to include additional paragraphs in EPIRA that would effectively ban the involvement of companies controlled or acting on behalf of foreign governments in the country's electric transmission business. Once the bill is passed into law, state-run enterprises currently operating in the country will be forced to divest their investments within 10 years. Private Electric Power Operators Association President Ranulfo Ocampo, in another hearing on Tuesday, feared that the proposed revisions in EPRIA may push government authorities to compete in the generation sector, which might discourage investments. Meanwhile, Meralco's First Vice President and Head of Regulatory Management Jose Valles also warned that lower investments in the generation sector can lead to higher electricity prices due to the absence of competition amid fewer players. Currently, the country's transmission system is solely operated by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, a private company whose 40 percent stakes are owned by the State Grid Corporation of China. The majority, or 60 percent, is controlled by a group of Filipino businessmen led by Henry Sy Jr. and Robert Coyiuto Jr. NGCP holds a 25-year franchise to solely operate the transmission assets of the government under the Republic Act 9511 signed in 2008. The post Decades-old EPIRA needs to catch up — DOE appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
SEC Grants Extension for Amnesty Applications for Non-Filing of AFS, GIS
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has granted an extension for companies to apply for amnesty for late or non-filing of annual financial statements (AFS), general information sheets (GIS), and official email addresses and mobile phone numbers. The new deadline for eligible companies is June 30, 2023, as announced in SEC Memorandum Circular No. 6, […].....»»
Ailing women’s rights activist arrested in Butuan
“She dedicated her life to helping and serving women who are victims of abuse. She also actively led in the 80's the cases of women victims of sex trafficking. She became active in campaigns against giant mining companies, and ran for council in her hometown in Mindanao." The post Ailing women’s rights activist arrested in Butuan appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Senator eyes incentives for companies assisting authorities on online sexual abuse cases
"The private sectors’ products are the main channels through which exploitation occurs. If these companies will have a take-charge attitude because of incentives, then we should study this possibility.".....»»
Mixed adjustments in pump prices expected during first week of April
Oil companies are anticipated to introduce mixed adjustments in pump prices during the first week of April......»»