We are sorry, the requested page does not exist
SC affirms ruling granting bail to ex-Masbate lawmaker, Napoles
The Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed a ruling of the Sandiganbayan that allowed businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles and former Masbate congresswoman Rizalina Seachone-Laneta to post bail in the plunder charges filed against them in connection with the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork scam......»»
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......»»
LTFRB issues over 1,000 special permits to PUVs ahead of Holy Week
To ensure the smooth travel of Filipinos during Lenten season, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced the approval of special permits to 1,021 public utility vehicles (PUVs)......»»
Online passport renewal for migrant workers, seniors eyed
Migrant workers and senior citizens will soon be able to renew their passports via online processing with the Senate’s approval of the New Philippine Passport Act. The upper chamber on Monday has approved on the third and final reading the Senate Bill 2001, an act providing for a new passport law, repealing for the purpose of Republic Act 8239, which allows senior citizens and migrant workers to renew their passports virtually, without having to go to the Department of Foreign Affairs office. Senator Win Gatchalian said the bill, which was among Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s priority measures, would allow Filipinos who lost their passports to request emergency passports that are valid for a year. “Tungkulin ng gobyerno na gawing maayos ang mga dokumento na kinakailangan ng ating mga kababayan para sa kanilang maayos na paglalakbay It is the duty of the government to properly prepare the required documents for their smooth travel of our countrymen),” he added. SB 2001 mandates the DFA to work in collaboration with other relevant government agencies, in establishing and maintaining an online application portal and an Electronic One-Stop Shop easily accessible on its official website, to ensure convenience in the application process and the collection and submission of necessary requirements. The measure also mandates the issuance of passports using the latest tamper-proof and data management technologies. Senator Imee Marcos, who sponsored and co-authored the bill, previously said the measure will also set up a watchlist for people who have been denied passports or have had their passports canceled. “It would be wise to improve, as much as we can, the language involved during the bicameral conference and even thereafter,” she said. SB 2001 also targets the development of a new generation of passports aligned with international standards and streamlining the application process. It includes provisions for the non-appearance renewal of passports for senior citizens and Filipino migrant workers abroad at consular offices. The post Online passport renewal for migrant workers, seniors eyed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senators grill VP Duterte on proposed P500-M confidential funds
Senators on Monday quizzed Vice President Sara Duterte over her office request for confidential funds amounting to P500 million for the upcoming fiscal year. During the deliberation of the Senate Committee on Finance for the proposed P2.385 billion budget of the Office of the Vice President, Duterte was asked about her request for confidential funds. Of nine senators who were lined up to ask questions about the OVP budget, only Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Senate Minority Deputy Leader Risa Hontiveros inquired about the allocation of confidential funds to Duterte’s office. Hontiveros particularly questioned Duterte on which mandates of the vice president needed the allocation of confidential funds. Duterte said all the OVP’s projects would require confidential funds. “All of the projects of the Office of the Vice President use the confidential funds that are intended for the safe, secure and successful implementation of programs, projects and activities and engagements of the OVP and all of the satellite offices, including the central office of the Office of the Vice President,” she said. The Vice President specifically said all the programs implemented by her office benefit from the confidential funds, such as entrepreneurship programs; peacebuilding in communities; tree-planting programs; feeding programs; disaster and relief operations; and free transportation programs. “In addition to that, I discharge the functions and duties of the secretary of the Department of Education. In addition to that, I was tasked by the president to co-chair the National Task Force on Ending Local Communists. In addition to that, I also took on the role of president of the Southeast Asian Ministers, Education Ministers Organization. All of these activities use confidential funds,” she said. “In addition, there are times when the President is on official trips, travel abroad. I chair the executive committee which is the caretaker of the Office of the President. This is an additional workload from all of the workload I have mentioned,” she added. Confidential funds are supposed to be utilized for “surveillance activities in civilian government agencies that are intended to support the mandate or operations of the said agency.” Duterte also said the liquidation of the allocated confidential funds was enumerated in the OVP’s report submitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Senate President and the Commission on Audit. She also confirmed that the OVP was undertaking surveillance activities and gathering intelligence – a mandate given by the Constitution to civilian government agencies such as the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and National Intelligence Coordination Agency. “That is correct. As an example, we did a surveillance of complaints from constituents in Bulacan with regard to the selling of OVP assistance and the selling of TUPAD projects in Bulacan," she said. This prompted Hontiveros to ask Duterte how she could ensure that there would be no duplication of work by her office and other civilian government agencies. “There is no redundancy and duplication of effort because we have different mandates from the other government agencies,” the Vice President responded. Duterte also argued that the OVP is not insisting on any amount for its confidential funds, adding that it is up to the members of Congress if they would grant her office's request. "The OVP can only propose the use of confidential funds based on Joint Circular 2015-01 but we leave it to the decision and discretion of Congress [which] has the power of the purse to decide whether to grant confidential funds to our office," she said. "We can only propose but we are not insisting. We can live without confidential funds, but of course, our work will be much easier if we have the flexibility of confidential funds in monitoring the safe, secure and successful implementations of the programs and projects and activities of the OVP," she added. Meanwhile, Pimentel asked Duterte for her basis in seeking P500 million in confidential funds. Duterte said the basis for her office’s request is Joint Circular No. 2015-01. Unsatisfied, Pimentel said that Joint Circular No. 2015-01 issued by COA and Departments of Budget and Management, of National Defense and of the Interior and Local Government and the Governance Commission for GOCCs in 2015 only “governs the use of confidential funds.” Duterte countered that “the fact there is Joint Circular No. 2015-01... presumes that national government agencies are allowed or can request confidential funds because otherwise there will not be a joint circular for the use of national government agencies...” Joint Circular No. 2015-01 contains guidelines on the entitlement, release, use, reporting and audit of CIFs. After about an hour and a half, the Senate panel terminated the deliberation for the OVP’s proposed budget, which was longer compared to the 20-minute approval made by the House Committee on Appropriations for the OVP’s budget proposal for next year. Citing parliamentary courtesy, Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. made a motion to terminate the budget discussion for the OVP’s proposed budget. Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa seconded Revilla’s motion. The post Senators grill VP Duterte on proposed P500-M confidential funds appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senate approves reso stopping IACAT new travel requirements
The Senate on Wednesday unanimously approved an unnumbered resolution calling to stop the implementation of the new travel requirements imposed by the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking. All senators were named as co-authors and co-sponsors of the unnumbered resolution against the new travel requirements which have already earned the ire of many Filipino travelers. The approval of the unnumbered resolution against the new travel requirements was followed by another unnumbered resolution challenging the constitutionality of the IACAT's new regulations. In his privilege speech, Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri said he is one with the IACAT in finding ways to protect Filipinos from victims of human trafficking, however, he noted that it can be done “without also hampering their right to travel.” “This is a constitutional right, and I am glad that we have one of the bar topnotchers here and several lawyers, listening today,” Zubiri said. “The constitution is not recommendatory, Mr. President, it is mandatory. As may be provided by law, that is correct, to add to that. But I don’t recall in our 25 years as a legislator that we passed a law asking the people to submit their graduation certificate and their yearbook at the airport,” he added. He cited Article 3, Section 6 of the 1986 Constitution, which states, "The liberty of abode and of changing the same within the limits prescribed by law shall not be impaired except upon lawful order of the court. Neither shall the right to travel be impaired except in the interest of national security, public safety, or public health.” “It is the right of every Filipino to travel. And truth be told, we want more Filipinos to travel, domestically and internationally,” he said. Following his privilege speech, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, who earlier filed a resolution seeking to investigate the new travel requirements for international-bound Filipino passengers, questioned the IACAT for its basis for coming up with such a guideline. “Did they [IACAT] thoroughly study the effects on ordinary Filipinos who simply want to travel and have rights to travel under the Constitution?” Villanueva said in his interpellation. He also questioned the approval of the revised guidelines for traveling abroad, calling the new guidelines “unreasonable and misplaced as a solution to prevent human trafficking.” Citing a report, the lawmaker said there were a total of 1,277 reported human trafficking victims in 2022, of whom 740 were sex trafficking victims, and 537 were labor trafficking victims last year. He noted that the number could be higher as the statistics only covered the reported cases. The lawmaker also took a swipe against the Bureau of Immigration for its failure to prevent the entry of victims of human trafficking into the country while being “too hard” on Filipinos who want to travel abroad. “Why do foreigners easily enter the country while it is complicated for ordinary Filipinos to go outside the country?” he said. “Sadly, strict documentary requirements which should be imposed on foreigners entering the country are being imposed on our fellow Filipinos instead,” he added. Last month, thousands of foreign victims of human trafficking were rescued during the simultaneous raids of authorities in various Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators' hubs in the country. The post Senate approves reso stopping IACAT new travel requirements appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Escudero to gov’t: File petition before SC of Hague ruling over WPS
The Marcos administration can file a "Special Action for Recognition of Foreign Judgment" before the Supreme Court to formally recognize the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) as part of the law of the land, Senator Francis Escudero suggested Thursday. In a media briefing, Escudero noted that the Arbitral Ruling in 2016 reinforced the country’s claims over the West Philippines Sea while it invalidated China's nine-dash line—claiming almost the entirety of the South China Sea. He added filing a petition before the SC—to recognize the 2016 Hague ruling—will prevent future administrations from trying to amend the country’s triumph over China. Escudero said the government, through the Solicitor-General, should initiate the filing of the petition on recognition of foreign judgment before the SC. “The recognition of foreign judgment should be led by the Solicitor General as an official lawyer of the government,” he said. Escudero stressed a High Court’s recognition could be a “better alternative instead of bringing the WPS concerns” before the United Nations General Assembly—which he sees as having disadvantages. The senator said his suggestion could be one of the options in giving flesh to the intentions of Senate Resolution 718, which condemned China’s continued aggression in the WPS and urged the Philippine Government to “take appropriate action in asserting and securing the Philippines' sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone.” While pushing for the “Special Action for Recognition of Foreign Judgment”, Escudero admitted that the Philippines has no case similar to the arbitral ruling. However, he cited a parallel analogy in Article 26 of the Family Code that “allows recognition of a foreign divorce obtained by the foreigner spouse abroad.” Once the SC decides that it recognizes the arbitral ruling, Escudero said it will become part of the country’s law, and even if Congress did not pass any measure related to this, the said portion, could not be altered or revisited. “The Constitution is part of the law of the land. The Constitution says all decisions, final and executory of the Court, whether it be the higher or lower court, shall form part of the law of the land,” he said. While the Senate has adopted Resolution 718 and presented it to Malacañang, Escudero lamented it will ultimately be up to President Marcos which direction to take insofar as the country's foreign policy is concerned. He admitted not supporting the resolution on the WPS should his colleagues in the chamber would insist on bringing the issue to the UNGA. While the government seeks a peaceful route to resolving the conflicting claims in the WPS, Escudero pressed that the Philippines should strongly assert its right over the WPS. “The Philippines should continue what it has been doing," Escudero said, referring to the government's consistent move of filing diplomatic protests every time a Chinese harassment incident occurs in the WPS. "Tatayuan natin at hindi natin bibitiwan ang ating karapatan at pagmamay-ari sa lugar na iyan habang hinahayaan natin magpatuloy ang iba't-ibang uri ng ugnayan at relasyon sa bansang Tsina na pinagkakasunduan naman ng dalawang bansa," Escudero said. "We can agree to disagree on certain points but we can also move forward and cooperate on points that we have agreed upon, such as trade. For me this is the best way to approach the issue," he added. Escudero noted that he already discussed this proposal with Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III and Senator Risa Hontiveros prior to the approval and adoption of SR 718 last 1 August. The post Escudero to gov’t: File petition before SC of Hague ruling over WPS appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM wants OEC application free of charge
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and other agencies to explore the possibility of making the application for Overseas Employment Certifications (OEC) free of charge, Malacañang said on Sunday. Through the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the Palace said Marcos issued the directive during a meeting with the DMW, Bureau of Immigration (BI), and Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in Malacañan Palace. PCO, citing DMW Secretary Maria Susana "Toots" Ople, said they are just waiting for the approval of the DICT for the official launch of the "DMW Mobile App" to ensure its cybersecurity features. "We are just waiting for the green light from the DICT to ensure the cybersecurity features of the app. After that, hopefully, it will be launched within the week," Ople said, referring to the DMW Mobile App. "Just a little more waiting. We are listening to you. We know that the OEC is a significant matter. So, we are doing everything to address this issue with the use of technology. So, just wait for it. A little more patience, but our launch is near," she added. Ople said President Marcos was exuberant over the mobile application as it is a simple yet effective digital solution to the OEC problems encountered by OFWs when seeking jobs abroad. “And ang bilin lang niya tiyakin daw ng department na walang babayaran ang ating mga manggagawang migrante, ‘yung ating mga OFWs, sa paggamit nung mobile app, at pag-download at pagkuha ng OFW Pass,” Ople added. President Marcos earlier directed the DMW and the DICT during his 2022 State of the Nation Address (SONA) to automate the verification of contracts and issue OECs that can be stored on smartphones. In response to the President's directive, the DMW developed the DMW Mobile App, which aims to "make an overseas Filipino worker's journey easier." Secretary Ople said the mobile application is for free as it would serve as the government's way of honoring the country's "modern-day heroes." "His only instruction was to ensure that the department ensures that our migrant workers, our OFWs, will not have to pay anything when using the mobile app and downloading and obtaining the OFW Pass," Ople said. "So he said to make it free because it's one way for us to honor our modern-day heroes," she added. The app contains the OFW Pass, a digital and secure version of the OEC, which serves as the digital identity of OFWs. After a two- to three-month transition period upon activation, the OFW Pass will completely replace the OEC. The OFW Pass and OEC have significant differences. The OFW Pass, for instance, is QR-code generated and can be acquired only through the app, while the OEC requires onsite processing with a P100 charge. The OFW Pass is valid until the OFW's work contract expires, while the OEC lasts only 60 days. Those who can avail of OFW Pass are first-time OFWs; Balik Manggagawa OFWs or OFWs going to the Philippines temporarily but will be returning to the same employer; and OFWs who have transferred to a different employer or whose contracts need to be registered and verified by the Office of the Labor Attaché. To disseminate the app, the DMW established the OFW Pass Teacher. In this volunteer system, registered OFWs will be given relevant materials to teach other OFWs how to utilize the app. The DICT will test the cybersecurity features of the app and report its findings to the DMW before its public release. The agency is also expected to integrate its mobile app with the BI's eTravel and e-Gate systems and eventually link it to DICT's eGov PH Super App. The post PBBM wants OEC application free of charge appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fugitive Teves claims ‘persecution’
Suspended Negros Oriental Representative Arnie Teves claimed that the military and police raided one of his properties in Bayawan City without a search warrant. “This is real persecution already. This is too much. It’s not right anymore. It’s wrong. The trampling on human rights is too much. Shouldn’t you have freedom and peace in your home and community? Now it’s gone,” he said in Filipino in a press briefing conducted remotely yesterday. Teves is a suspect in the 4 March 2023 assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo. One of Teves’ lawyers, Ferdinand Topacio, said his client is being subjected to “harassment” as government forces also raided a poultry farm that Teves owns in Bayawan even during the celebration of Eid’l Fitr or the Feast of Ramadan on Friday. Approximately 15 short and high-powered firearms, explosives, and ammunition were found during the initial raid on Teves’ property and two other homes allegedly owned by his relatives on 10 March. Teves’ camp decried as illegal the raid on his properties by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on 25 March. The authorities have linked his younger brother, former governor Pryde Henry Teves, to the killing of Degamo. The embattled lawmaker talked with the media through his Facebook page, where he said he hoped the raiders did not plant evidence. Teves also sought the help of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to stop government agents from raiding his properties without a search warrant. The President, however, had refused to be drawn into Teves’ problems, saying the legislator should just return home to face the charges. Suspension from House His plea to Marcos came days after he revealed in an interview that he had also sought the help of a colleague in returning home after he had insisted on remaining abroad because he did not feel safe. Last 22 March, the President urged the embattled lawmaker to return to the country, assuring him of tight security upon arrival. Teves is also facing charges over loose firearms and a series of killings in the province in 2019. He has been out of the country since 28 February and his failure to return home to perform his congressional duties and face the allegations leveled against him prompted his two-month suspension by the House ethics panel. PDP, Beijing party solidify ties The meeting was aimed at strengthening economic and cultural cooperation between China and the Philippines. Members of the major political party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan or PDP Laban yesterday met with their counterparts in the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China or IDCPC at the Sheraton Hotel in Pasay City. Former president and PDP Laban chairman Rodrigo Duterte joined the meeting via Zoom, along with vice chairman Alfonso Cusi, Senator Robinhood Padilla, Former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Secretary General Melvin Matibag, and the party’s Council of Elders and national executive committee. The meeting was aimed at strengthening economic and cultural cooperation between China and the Philippines. The party leaders and the IDCPC delegation, led by the Director-General of the Asian Bureau Peng Xiubin, discussed methods for strengthening their relationship. Given his high approval rating of over 80 percent even upon his retirement, the conference was significant because former President Duterte’s influence within the party could affect its future direction. In addition, the meeting highlighted the growing relationship between the Philippines and China, as both countries have made efforts in recent years to strengthen trade and investment ties. China has made significant contributions to infrastructure and exchange programs in the cultural and educational realms. The Philippines’ strategic location and swiftly expanding economy in Southeast Asia make it a key player in the region. Therefore, establishing strong alliances with other nations, particularly China, is crucial for its future growth and development. The meeting signified a turning point in Philippine politics. It emphasizes the importance of international relations and political parties working together to influence the country’s future, as well as in the strengthening of “people-to-people” ties. The post Fugitive Teves claims ‘persecution’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
News from home: China’s ‘disgraceful statements,’ Marcos-Duterte high approval rating
These were among our headlines and news stories from the past week we think you should know if you’re a Filipino based abroad......»»
Asialink taps UBX for digitalization of finance business
UBX, the leading open finance platform in the Philippines, has been named the official technology partner of Asialink Finance Corp., one of the top non-bank financial institutions in the Philippines that provides secured business loans and personal financing and refinancing products nationwide, as it expands and improves its suite of financial services for the benefit of millions of Filipinos. Under the agreement, UBX will support Asialink in digitally transforming its lending processes via UBX SeekCap and its payment collections, enabling it to expand the reach and operational efficiency of its already lucrative lending business. “UBX and Asialink share the same goal of driving financial inclusion for individuals and growing businesses. Through this partnership, we will co-create various digital financial solutions that are sustainable and inclusive, promoting economic growth and recovery in the long run,” UBX Business lead for Lending Magellan Fetalino said. Micro, small, and medium enterprises make up around 99.51 percent of all businesses in the Philippines. Traditionally, these businesses need access to financing to grow due to the stringent requirements of banking institutions. The partners aim to democratize access to this financial tool further to empower small businesses to accelerate their growth and contribute even more to the economy. The UBX and Asialink partnership will simplify the processing of business loans through a digital platform, cutting down costs and leading approval time for loans. Currently, most banks provide a minimum approval time of 30 days, with high-interest rates and burdensome requirements designed to discourage lenders from availing of loans. “Asialink’s vision is to be at the forefront of the financing industry by providing inclusive financial access to MSMEs and their Communities in the Philippines and Asia, a goal that we share with UBX. By providing accessible, fast, and convenient loans which will be powered with UBX’s technologies, we are several steps closer to achieving our goals as strong government partners for economic growth while making a positive impact on the lives of Filipinos both in the country and abroad,” said Eillen Mangubat, president and COO of Asialink Finance Corporation In 2022, UBX doubled collaborations with various players in different industries, such as the metaverse, insurance, the women’s sector, and even government institutions, to advance its goal of including everyone. “Our strategy is to join hands with like-minded organizations to advance our goal of inclusive finance. As the country’s leading open finance platform, we are always looking to partner with companies — and recently, even government institutions — which aim to shape the future of finance and sustainability,” UBX president and CEO John Januszczak. The post Asialink taps UBX for digitalization of finance business appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
P1 trillion investment target attainable, says BOI
The Board of Investments is confident of attaining the P1-trillion investment approval target for the year, driven by President Marcos’ aggressive promotional effort to lure foreign investors to invest in the Philippines during his trips abroad......»»
GCash gets BSP OK to go global, pilots in three countries
E-wallet giant GCash has secured the approval of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to offer its financial technology services abroad even for users without a Philippine SIM......»»
Cebu Pacific books P8 billion profit in 2023
Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific found itself landing on solid ground in 2023, as it booked a profit of nearly P8 billion on the back of a resurgent demand for air travel......»»
Boracay, Palawan named among ‘Best Islands in Asia-Pacific’
Two island destinations in the Philippines were included in the 10 “Best Islands in Asia-Pacific” by a foreign travel magazine......»»
2 ex-James Bond actors approve of Aaron Taylor-Johnson as next 007
Former James Bond actors George Lazenby and Pierce Brosnan have stated their approval for Aaron Taylor-Johnson should the latter be the next individual to carry the Agent 007 mantle......»»
Solon bats for expansion of motorcycle taxis outside Metro Manila
A House lawmaker has voiced his support for expanding the government's allotment of motorcycle taxis outside Metro Manila as the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board is set to greenlight the participation of more players in its pilot study......»»
Comelec: 3 million overseas voters eyed in 2025 polls
With internet voting, the Commission on Elections is looking to have up to three million Filipinos abroad participate in the May 2025 midterm elections......»»
Cool Smashers eye solo PVL lead
Creamline guns for the solo lead while Cignal seeks a share of it as the two collide in a battle of the giants Tuesday in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena......»»
Government sets P585 billion borrowings in Q2
The government is set to borrow P585 billion from the domestic market in the second quarter amid hopes of more favorable interest rates here and abroad......»»