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Bill seeks review of rules on reckless imprudence
The country’s road safety laws must be reviewed to address the liability of drivers in cases of traffic violations and accidents, a lawmaker from Bukidnon said yesterday, citing the high number of vehicular crashes in Metro Manila......»»
TikTok facing ban in America; penalized $384 million in Europe
The US House of Reps has passed a bill to ban TikTok unless it cuts ties to Communist China. Chinese parent ByteDance must sell TikTok to another nationality in six months or be shut down......»»
Unhappy couples need fresh start — JV
Couples who are no longer happy in their marriage deserve a fresh start, Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said Thursday. In a press conference at the Senate, Ejercito explained why he voted in favor of Committee Report 124, which recommended the approval of Senate Bill 2443, or the proposed Dissolution of Marriage Act. “There are relationships that are already irreparable. We don’t want people to be miserable,” he said. He added: “The bottom line is people don’t deserve to be miserable. If it’s irreparable, we have to give them a second chance.” He, however, clarified that he purposely signed the committee report to discuss the bill more thoroughly in the plenary. “But, of course, we are a Christian nation. That’s why it is difficult to get an annulment. We’ll just hear it. Anyway, I signed it because I want more discussion about it on the floor,” he said. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva remained firm in his opposition to the bill. “Divorce is a big no for me! Yes, to making annulment accessible to the poor,” Villanueva said in a separate statement. The lawmaker, the son of Jesus is Lord Church founder and CIBAC Representative Eddie Villanueva, clarified that the approval of the proposed measure was only at the committee level. “The approval of the divorce bill or any other bills at the committee level is part of the legislative process. Every member of the Senate is free to conduct hearings that are referred to their respective committees,” he said. “But I just want to clarify that the nine senators who signed the committee report do not represent the majority of the Senate. Most of our colleagues signed it so that it can be discussed in the plenary,” he said. Committee Report 124 was prepared by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, headed by Senator Risa Hontiveros. Villanueva acknowledged that some relationships, particularly where violence is involved, should be ended, despite his firm opposition to the proposed measure. “This is where the annulment and the declaration of nullity of a marriage come in. We should instead hasten the process and make it more accessible to everyone, regardless of their status in life,” he said. Under the proposed measure, an absolute divorce is defined as “the legal termination of a marriage by a court in a legal proceeding, requiring a petition or complaint for divorce by one or both party/ies, which will have the effect of returning both parties to the status of being single for all legal intents and purposes, including the right to contract a subsequent marriage.” One of the grounds for filing for an absolute divorce is the commission of the crime of rape by the respondent-spouse against the petitioner-spouse, whether before or after the celebration of their marriage. The post Unhappy couples need fresh start — JV appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ejercito: Yes to divorce, ‘people don’t deserve to be miserable’
Married couples who are no longer happy with their marriage deserve a fresh start, Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said Thursday. In a press conference at the Senate, Ejercito explained why he voted in favor of Committee Report No. 124, which recommended the approval of Senate Bill No. 2443, or the proposed “Dissolution of Marriage Act”. “There are relationships that are already irreparable. We don’t want people to be miserable,” he said. “The bottom line is people don’t deserve to be miserable. If it’s irreparable, we have to give them a second chance,” he added. He, however, clarified that he purposely signed the committee report to allow the bill to be discussed more thoroughly in the plenary. “But of course, we are a Christian nation. That’s why it is difficult to have an annulment. We’ll just hear it. Anyway, I signed it because I want more discussion about it on the floor,” he said. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, a staunch critic of the Divorce bill, remained firm in his opposition to the bill. “Divorce is a big no for me! Yes to making annulment accessible to the poor,” Villanueva said in a separate statement. The lawmaker, the son of Jesus is Lord Church founder and CIBAC Representative Eddie Villanueva, clarified that the approval of the proposed measure is only at the committee level. “The approval of the Divorce bill or any other bills at the committee level is part of the legislative process. Every member of the Senate is free to conduct hearings that are referred to their respective committees,” he said. “But I just want to clarify that the nine senators who signed the committee report do not represent the majority of the Senate. Most of our colleagues signed it so that it can be discussed in the plenary,” he added. Committee Report No. 124 was prepared by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality headed by Senator Risa Hontiveros. Villanueva acknowledged that some relationships, particularly those involving violence, should end despite his firm opposition to the proposed measure. “This is where the annulment and declaration of nullity of marriage come in. We should instead hasten the process and make it more accessible for everyone, regardless of their status in life,” he said. Committee Report No. 124 is the consolidated version of the measure authored by the panel's chair Hontiveros, and Senators Raffy Tulfo, Robin Padilla, Imee Marcos and Pia Cayetano. It was signed by Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito and Senator Grace Poe. Under the proposed measure, absolute divorce is defined as “the legal termination of a marriage by a court in a legal proceeding, requiring a petition or complaint for divorce by one or both party/ies, which will have the effect of returning both parties to the status of single for all legal intents and purposes, including the right to contract a subsequent marriage.” One of the grounds for filing an absolute divorce is the commission of the crime of rape by the respondent-spouse against the petitioner-spouse, whether before or after the celebration of their marriage. The post Ejercito: Yes to divorce, ‘people don’t deserve to be miserable’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gibo requests on MUP acceptable — solon
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, chairperson of the House ad hoc committee on Military and Uniformed Personnel created to resolve issues plaguing its pension system, is buying Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro’s proposals in the bill recently approved by his panel and vowed that his concerns will still be accepted. “As chair of the Ad Hoc Committee, I would like to assure the Secretary that his requests are acceptable. We will adopt the Teodoro proposal of indexation for all retired and retirables and a transitioned contribution scheme,” Salceda said in a text message to reporters. While the deliberations on the panel-approved bill were already terminated, Salceda assured that Teodoro’s amendments would still be introduced to the plenary floor. “My job is to get a bill that will work fiscally but is also acceptable to all stakeholders. So, of course, if Secretary Teodoro has major concerns, part of my job is to accommodate. Not without DoF (Department of Finance) concerns, of course, but that’s for them to settle in the Cabinet,” the economist-lawmaker said. Salceda made the assurance days after the Defense chief raised concerns on a substitute bill, in the consolidation of other measures, all intended to propose reforms in the MUP pensions system, such as the mandatory contribution, that hurdled Salceda’s panel. Teodoro opposed the measure, saying it does not conform to the national government’s intent concerning the MUPs’ pension. The Defense chief believes that the imposition of mandatory monthly contributions “without a transition phase will definitely have an impact on our soldiers.” Under the panel-approved bill, those in active service will be required to contribute 5 percent of their base and longevity pay during the first to three years of the MUP pension reform implementation, 7 percent in the fourth to sixth year, and 9 percent in the seventh year onward. The government will contribute its counterpart 16 percent to the pension fund of those in active service during the first three years, 14 percent during the fourth to sixth year, and 12 percent in the seventh year onward. But for Teodoro, soldiers’ pensions and entitlements, including the 100-percent automatic indexation, shall remain unchanged. The MUP pension system, which the DoF has earlier warned is fiscally unsustainable, was among President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s priority legislation. Mr. Marcos wants Congress to reform the pension system by passing his proposed MUP pension law, which he listed as one of his priority legislation in his second State of the Nation Address. Salceda, however, explained that only new entrants would contribute 9 percent with a government counterpart of 12 percent. “And I will heed the request for full indexation for those who are retired and due for retirement,” he said. “Of course, the proposal will add some 1.2 trillion more to the actuarial reserve deficiency from the current 2.2 trillion under the current substitute bill.” According to the solon, they will still clarify the request with the DoF and the DND since they are hearing clarifications that they just want to ensure that those who have given 20 years of service or more will not pay contributions or be subject to lower indexation. “Our initial impression from the statement is that they don’t want anybody from the active service to pay any contribution or to give up any amount of indexation,” he stressed. “I would also like to remind all stakeholders that the aim of fiscal sustainability is to ensure that the pension system is substantially preserved in a way that can still be guaranteed by the State. In other words, a reform that is not too expensive, but also not too disruptive,” he added. Further, he said that there could be some pushback from the DoF and the economic managers on Teodoro’s proposal. So, we hope that within the executive, they will sort their position out.” The post Gibo requests on MUP acceptable — solon appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MIF bill undergoing ‘finishing touches’ — Mark Villar
Senator Mark Villar said the Maharlika Investment Fund Bill is now undergoing "finishing touches" before it is sent to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his signature. “Basically, what is happening now is just we’re just perfecting the bill so that we achieve maximum — that there are no minor errors. But again, it's just minor, if ever it’s just minor tweaks as they say it,” Villar said in a television interview over the weekend. The final version of the measure will be out soon, according to Villar, who said the bill is now with the Senate secretariat. “We should expect that very soon it will be transmitted,” he added. Villar said it is “clearly” stated in the law that pension funds from the Social Security System and Government Service Insurance System and funds from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office and Pag-IBIG Fund are “absolutely prohibited” from being invested in the Maharlika investment scheme. The senator stressed that the Implementing Rules and Regulations will clarify the type of investments that are allowed in the Maharlika Fund. “It has to follow. The IRR cannot contradict what is provided in the law, that’s clear,” he said. Villar emphasized the need to provide a “vehicle” to attract more investments into the country as it continues to recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. “Many foreign groups are interested in investing in the Philippines and they’re looking for a vehicle to invest in the Philippines, so we believe that Maharlika can provide that vehicle,” he said. “But at the same time, the Maharlika can also invest in our local infrastructure projects," he added. The post MIF bill undergoing ‘finishing touches’ — Mark Villar appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Koko: Maharlika flawed, unsalvageable
The controversial Maharlika Investment Fund bill should be returned to the Senate plenary, Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said Thursday. Pimentel stressed that returning the measure to Congress for reconsideration was the “only viable course of action” to “fix some serious errors” in the “hastily approved” Maharlika bill. “Congress’ imprimatur is needed to rectify the MIF. The discrepancies and ambiguities found in the approved bill cannot be corrected without the risk of falsification of legislative documents,” he said. He was referring to “glaring errors and discrepancies” in the bill that Congress passed before it adjourned sine die. The consequences of the President signing a bill containing glaring errors can be significant, the senator said. Previously, Pimentel had pointed out the different terms and prescriptive periods found in Sections 50 and 51 of the MIF bill, saying that it could be that the intention might really be two different things — which only the plenary could clarify. In the approved version of the MIF bill, Section 50 prescribes a 10-year period for the prosecution of crimes and offenses, while Section 51 provides a 20-year period. “Recalling the approval of the MIF and returning it to the floor is the sole remedy left for Congress if it is to correct and clarify the discrepancies and ambiguous provisions in the MIF bill. There is no shortcut,” Pimentel said. “We must take the necessary steps to rectify the errors and save the President from signing an erroneous bill into law,” he stressed. “The consequences of the President signing a bill containing glaring errors can be significant,” he added. By returning it to Congress, there will be more opportunities to fine-tune the measure and clarify ambiguities surrounding the “hastily enacted” MIF, according to the Senate minority leader. He also said that the bill is “unsalvageable” and reiterated his opposition to the measure. He also pointed out that the secretariats of both houses of Congress are not allowed to change the wording of the measure that was written by the elected members of the Senate and the House. Pimentel had earlier warned of potential legal cases such as “falsification of legislative documents” if the text of the bill, which both houses of Congress had already passed on third reading, were changed. Citing Article 170 of the Revised Penal Code, he noted that falsification of legislative documents carries a penalty of prison correccional and a fine of up to P1.2 million for any person who, without proper authority, alters any bill, resolution, or ordinance enacted or approved or pending approval in either house of Congress or any provincial board or municipal council. The post Koko: Maharlika flawed, unsalvageable appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pimentel wants ‘erroneous’ Maharlika bill back in Congress
The controversial Maharlika Investment Fund bill should be brought back to plenary, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said Thursday. Pimentel stressed that returning the measure to Congress for reconsideration is the “only viable course of action” to “fix some serious errors” in the “hastily approved” Maharlika bill. “Congress’s imprimatur is needed to rectify the MIF. The discrepancies and ambiguities found in the approved bill cannot be corrected without the risk of falsification of legislative documents,” he said in a statement, referring to what he described as “glaring errors and discrepancies” in the bill that Congress passed before it adjourned sine die. He previously pointed out the different terms and prescriptive periods found in Sections 50 and 51 of the MIF bill, saying that it could be that the intention might really be two different things – for which only the plenary can clarify. In the approved version of the MIF bill, Section 50 prescribes a 10-year period for the prosecution of crimes and offenses, while Section 51 provides a 20-year period. “Recalling the approval of the MIF and returning it to the floor is the sole remedy left for Congress if it is to correct and clarify the discrepancies and ambiguous provisions in the MIF. There is no shortcut,” Pimentel said. “We must take the necessary steps to rectify the errors and save the President from signing an erroneous bill into law,” he added. He continued: “The consequences of the President signing a bill containing glaring errors can be significant.” By returning it to Congress, there will be more opportunities to fine-tune the measure and clarify ambiguities surrounding the “hastily-enacted” MIF, according to the Senate minority leader. He also said that the bill is “unsalvageable” and reiterated his opposition to the measure. He also reiterated that the secretariat of both houses of Congress is not allowed to change the words embedded into the measure by elected officials of Congress. Pimentel had earlier warned of potential legal cases such as “falsification of legislative documents” if the text of the bill, which both houses of Congress had already passed on third reading, was changed. Citing Article 170 of the Revised Penal Code, he noted that falsification of legislative documents, states that the penalty of prision correccional in its maximum period of fine not exceeding P1,200,000 shall be imposed upon any person who, without proper authority therefore alters any bill, resolution, or ordinance enacted or approved or pending approval of either House of Congress or any provincial board or municipal council. The post Pimentel wants ‘erroneous’ Maharlika bill back in Congress appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Manning agents plead for equal protection over disability claims
Rumors of the scrapping of the escrow provision in the Senate version of the proposed Magna Carta for Seafarers have alarmed manning agents. Captain Reynaldo Casareo, president of Cargo Safeway Inc., one of the biggest crewing agencies in the country, said Wednesday the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers headed by Senator Raffy Tulfo should clarify whether or not the Senate bill will have an escrow provision like the MCS version already passed by the House of Representatives. Casareo said they want protection against seafarers who collude with ambulance chasers to get payments for permanent disability suffered on duty when the injury is not really permanent. “Senator Tulfo, please also listen to the agencies and shipowners being abused by ambulance chasers and not those seafarer groups that clearly have different intensions,” Casareo said. Another manning executive who requested not to be named also appealed to the senator. “If Senator Tulfo has indeed believed that the escrow provision is anti-seafarer, then this is bad. It was supposed to help ship owners that are providing opportunities to our seafarers. We hope he will listen to us.” Kabayan Partylist Representative Ron Salo, chairman of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, inserted in the MCS bill the provision for the creation of an escrow account that would strengthen the fight against ambulance chasing. Co-author and OFW Party-list Rep. Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino earlier said the provision was intended to address the inimical practice of ambulance chasing perpetrated by unscrupulous lawyers and litigants to the prejudice of employers and manning agencies. “The proposal is to place in escrow the monetary award (for disability claims) in favor of a seafarer if the employer or manning agency concerned has appealed the decision for judicial review,” Magsino said. “To counter-balance it, the seafarer is given the option to file a corresponding bond as a security, if he wishes to move for the execution of the decision pending appeal. These twin mechanisms are precise to prevent the dissipation of the monetary award in the hands of the winning party in the absence of a final judgment,” she said. During the Maritime Familiarization Workshop for Media organized by the seafarers’ union AMOSUP over the weekend, Atty. Iris Baguilat, chairperson of the ALMA Maritime Group and president of Dohle Seafront Crewing (Manila), said seafarer deployment dwindles yearly because of several factors, including the rampant illegal practice of ambulance chasing. Quoting the employers’ group International Maritime Employers’ Council, Baguilat said “Ambulance chasing is the biggest threat to Filipino seafarer employability” since it made them expensive due to their lawyers’ erroneous claims. She said that the Department of Migrant Workers reported that, based on National Conciliation and Mediation Board data alone for 2018 to 2022, between 28 percent and 30 percent of the monetary awards by NCMB amounting to over P2.57 billion have been reversed by higher courts for being erroneous. “Most of this award has not been returned to the shipowners,” Baguilat said. The post Manning agents plead for equal protection over disability claims 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......»»
Claudine Barretto remembers ex-boyfriend Rico Yan on 22nd death anniversary
Actress Claudine Barretto paid tribute to late ex-boyfriend Rico Yan in time for his 22nd death anniversary. .....»»
Contagious pertussis disease continues spreading in Philippines
MANILA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The contagious pertussis has continued spreading in the Philippines, where it has caused at least 40 death cases, after a province near the capital region reported an outbreak of the disease. In a social media post on Wednesday night, the Cavite government posted a resolution declaring the province under a state of calamity "due to the outbreak of pertussis" after logging 36 cases an.....»»
2 nabbed for possession of shabu, explosives, guns in Zamboanga City
The police arrested two men after authorities discovered explosives, firearms and shabu from their hideout in Barangay Quiniput, Zamboanga City on Wednesday afternoon......»»
7 nanlaban drug suspects dead after Baste Duterte declares drug war
Less than a week after Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte declared a "war on drugs" in the city, at least seven drug suspects were killed during a buy-bust operation in the city — violence that highlights the seriousness of the mayor's recent threat of outright killing persons caught using illegal drugs......»»
CHR alarmed by war vs drugs in Davao City
THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is alarmed by Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte’s “war against drugs”, as seven drug users were killed from different barangays in the city over the weekend, just a few hours after his declaration......»»
Oplan Harabas yields 3 drivers positive for drugs
FOLLOWING the surprise drug test conducted by the Land Transportation Office (LTO)-Davao and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on public utility vehicles (PUVs) last March 26, 2024, two taxi drivers in Davao City were found to be positive for drugs......»»
EXPLAINER: Why did the Baltimore bridge collapse and what is the death toll?
(Reuters) -Divers recovered the remains of two of the six missing workers more than a day after a cargo ship smashed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. The bodies of two men were found in a red pickup truck submerged in the icy waters of the Patapsco River. Rescuers pulled two workers from the water.....»»
Cebu City buy-bust: Over P12M ‘shabu’ seized from 2 HVIs
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Police confiscated over P12 million worth of suspected shabu from the possession of two men during a bust-bust operation in Brgy. Bulacao, Cebu City on Tuesday evening, March 26. The buy-bust operation was conducted at around 10 p.m. in Lower Sario in Brgy. Bulacao. One of the suspects was identified as.....»»
Mandaue drug bust: P476,000 ‘shabu’ seized from HVI
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Authorities seized suspected shabu worth at least P476,000 from a 45-year-old man described as a high-value individual during an anti-illegal drugs operation in Mandaue City early on Wednesday morning, March 27, 2024. The operation took place along Realty Road in the North Reclamation Area in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City, Cebu. The.....»»
Spy Wednesday
What significant event took place on the Wednesday of the Holy Week? If Maundy Thursday was all about the Last Supper, the betrayal of Jesus, etc. and Good Friday was all about the kangaroo trial, torture and crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ and Easter Sunday was the glorious resurrection of our Lord, what, I wondered, happened on the Wednesday before......»»