We are sorry, the requested page does not exist
‘Fake wife’ intercepted by BI officers
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) warned on Friday the traveling public not to fall prey to recruiters providing fake documents. The warning was issued by BI in response to the case of a female traveler who was stopped from departing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on 19 October after a BI officer discovered that her departure had earlier been postponed after she was discovered using fraudulent travel credentials. The passenger stated she was traveling to Oman to visit her husband but the marriage certificate she produced was forged. She eventually admitted that every document she had submitted was a fabrication, including the purported affidavit of support from her partner. The passenger intended to depart for Malaysia in September of last year, but immigration agents stopped her because she was carrying the wrong paperwork, according to a later review of her travel history. According to the BI's immigration protection and border enforcement unit (I-PROBES), the victim even supplied an altered wedding photo to officials to mislead them. The victim also admitted that she paid more than P30,000 for the fake documents, which authorities believe were used to illegally work abroad. Her case was immediately forwarded to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) to file cases against her recruiter. The post ‘Fake wife’ intercepted by BI officers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
OTS dismisses another SSO at NAIA
The Office for Transportation Security confirmed on Monday that the agency has dismissed another Security Screening Officer assigned to Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2, after he was caught on close circuit television taking things from the luggage of a departing passenger while conducting a final security baggage inspection on 13 September. Last Saturday, OTS Administrator Undersecretary Ma.O. Aplasca personally served the dismissal order against SSO Billy Boy Garcia at NAIA Terminal 2 after a thorough investigation. We have so much problem already here. What do you want to show? Effective today, you are dismissed from the service and remove that ID of yours.You don’t deserve to wear that uniform,” Aplasca said. Garcia was then immediately served with the dismissal order and was right there and then stripped of his access pass, office ID and uniform. The OTS investigators will further pursue this case, and they are requesting the said passenger to come forward to shed light on the incident. Meanwhile, during the interview conducted by one of the members of Airport Press Club, the OTS chief said, “As of today, based on my observation, I think its not too late yet. We still have the core of our people who could make this internal cleansing a success.” Aplasca did not categorically state that the incidents of theft at the NAIA will be totally stopped and instead said he expects what he called the new breed of OTS personnel to snitch on their erring colleagues. “I can confidently say that the chances of them being caught are high because we have new personnel. Mga bagong breed na di nila ito-tolerate,” Aplasca also stated in the same interview. The OTS will not stop and will continue to conduct an intensified internal cleansing program to eliminate scalawags in their agency. The post OTS dismisses another SSO at NAIA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Son of a gun
What is it about carrying around a firearm that transforms a Dr. Jekyll into a Mr. Hyde? Lately, the public has been treated (if that is the right word) to a slew of spectacles showing ordinary citizens involved in gun-toting road rage incidents. There would be a traffic altercation, it would turn confrontational, one person would alight from his vehicle, pull out a gun and point it at his adversary to intimidate him. Unfortunately for these “kawawang” cowboys (to borrow the song lyrics of the late Fred Panopio), they forget that the entire population these days is armed with phone cameras. Their gung-ho attitude is caught on camera and posted online, going viral among a population looking for sensational footage. Worse for the bully, since there are a lot of reelectionist senators, such videos invariably trigger a Senate inquiry supposedly in aid of legislation, never mind if our country already has strict gun laws. This would inevitably give the anti-gun advocates another chance to restate their mantra of “guns are evil,” disregarding the fact that firearms are inanimate objects that do not spontaneously pull their own triggers without human intervention. Those like us who are in favor of the right to carry arms — under the proper legal regulations, of course — would then counter with our own mantra: “Guns don’t kill; people do.” The debate is monotonously repeated every time there are morons such as that bald Gonzales character, who unlawfully use guns. The call for a total gun ban to address the issue is a knee-jerk reaction by jerks. For every a-hole who pulls out his gun out of pique, there are tens of thousands like me who have never used their firearm even under pressure. I believe that the safeguards now in place for applicants for gun licenses have been effective in filtering out the vast majority of psychos who cannot handle the perceived “power” born out of carrying a gun. To call for a firearms ban just because some weirdos out there abuse their privilege to carry guns is like calling for a total ban on cars simply because there are a few drivers who get into accidents due to their lack of driving skills. In this connection, I have been wondering why my proposal to test drivers’ IQs, and if it is low, to put a notice on their cars saying “Warning: Stupid Driver” (much like the notice on beginners’ cars, “Warning: Student Driver”) has fallen on deaf official ears. My best friend, Dr. Francis Aquino, a psychology major before becoming an anesthesiologist, once told me that those who swagger around, gun in hand, are covering up for something. The psychoanalytic term he used was “compensation.” It may be for lack of parental affection when an infant, lack of wealth or power, a timid nature, or even — seriously — a small penis. Doc Francis added that sometimes those who drive the biggest cars or pack a gun with the longest barrel are those with the smallest dicks. Well, I drive a compact car and have a snub-nose revolver, so draw your own conclusions. Reminds me of that famous quote from Mae West: “Is that a gun in your pants, or are you just happy to see me?” Levity aside, a legal gun-carrying citizen should always possess the proper mindset when lugging around his weapon for protection. He should be aware of the multitude not only of the online hatred that he will be getting when he unlawfully unholsters his firearm and uses it to threaten someone but of the legal problems he will face afterward. And then there is the possibility of encountering someone who also has a gun, or who has armed bodyguards, in which case the resulting shootout will definitely result in casualties, both on the part of the combatants and, worse, of innocent bystanders. In this case, one might end up being a dead son of a gun. The post Son of a gun appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Five groups target NAIA takeover
Five companies have signified their intention to take over the operations and management of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport or NAIA a few weeks after the Department of Transportation or DoTr opened the bidding for the P170.6-billion project. In a text message to the Daily Tribune on Wednesday, the DoTr confirmed that five potential bidders have bought bid documents for the project. As of 13 September, the interested companies include San Miguel Corp. or SMC, Spark 888 Management Inc., and Asian Airport Consortium. Two others who submitted bids — Manila International Airport Consortium or MIAC and GMR Group — have previously vied for the NAIA rehabilitation. MIAC is composed of Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corporation, Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corporation, Alliance Global — Infracorp Development Inc., Filinvest Development Corporation, and JG Summit Infrastructure Holdings Corporation along with Global Infrastructure Partners. Super consortium in running In 2018, the government awarded the Original Proponent Status for the NAIA rehabilitation to a “super-consortium” formed by seven of the country’s biggest conglomerates: Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc.; AC Infrastructure Holdings Corporation; Alliance Global Group Inc.; Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corporation; Filinvest Development Corporation; and JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. It was, however, terminated. Thus, Megawide Construction Corp. and partner GMR Infrastructure Ltd. also submitted an unsolicited proposal to upgrade and rehabilitate the highly congested NAIA. Despite the substantial progress, the much-needed NAIA rehabilitation was back to square one after the previous administration also rejected the proposal. According to the MIAA, the Megawide consortium failed to convince the government of its financial ability to support the project. Meanwhile, the SMC., an Asian conglomerate led by businessman Ramon S. Ang, is currently taking on the P740-billion New Manila International Airport in Bulacan. Award out by December Previously, the DoTr conveyed that the contract may be awarded to the winning bidder as early as December if the government stays on schedule. The National Economic and Development Authority or NEDA, chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., approved the solicited bid to privatize the operations of NAIA. NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the project will help address the long-standing issues at the country’s main air hub such as congestion and limited aircraft movements that usually cause inconvenience to passengers. The DoTr and the Manila International Airport Authority submitted a joint proposal to the NEDA Board to privatize the operations and management of NAIA within 15 years. The project is expected to improve the overall passenger experience and increase the current annual passenger capacity of NAIA to at least 62 million from the current 32 million. Previously, Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista floated the possibility of closing down the airport — only if nearby airports become operational. Bautista explained that the government can have the option to close NAIA if airports in adjacent provinces like Cavite and Bulacan are ready to accommodate the travel-hungry tourists in the country — both local and international. “If there will be new airports, then the government can decide to close the Manila International Airport or MIA because it can be a valuable government asset. On the other hand, it is possible to continue its operations because of its prime location in the Metro,” Bautista told reporters. “So yes, it is possible to close, it is also possible not to close MIA,” he added. Bautista also assured that in case the airport continues its operations, SMC’s Bulacan Airport can still drive up profits despite the competition. The post Five groups target NAIA takeover appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
RSBS revisited
All it required, inherent vulnerabilities notwithstanding, to “screw up” the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Retirement and Separation Benefits System, was a meeting of minds between the Chief of Staff of the AFP and the Secretary of National Defense. In short, it was a classic case of “partners in crime” — what one administered, the other approved. Under Presidential Decree 361, the CSAFP administered the RSBS through a board organized by himself, subject to the SND’s approval. There was a nine-man Board of Trustees that the CSAFP appointed, from its president down. PD 361 stipulated that the retirement benefits of retiring AFP personnel would be paid out of annual congressional appropriations for the AFP. Per the proviso, when the payment of retirees’ pensions exceeded P100 million in any year, the excess would be paid out of the RSBS funds. After the initial seed capital of P200 million had been given to RSBS, no further sums were appropriated/paid into RSBS. No Congress — across the terms of Presidents Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada — initiated appropriations for the RSBS pension system. Since then, the retirement benefits for retiring AFP personnel were included in the regular annual appropriation for the AFP in the General Appropriations Act. Under PD 1656 dated 21 December 1979, 5 percent of the monthly base pay of AFP personnel was to be deducted as their compulsory contribution to their retirement fund. RSBS thus became an investment company mandated to “provide perpetually the cash requirement for the retirement benefits of military personnel on a self-sustaining basis.” However, the yearly cash requirement for the retirement benefits shall come from the annual general appropriation for the AFP until “perpetual self-sufficiency of the funds is attained as determined by actuarial evaluation.” The truth, however, was that the national government continued to fund the annual pension requirement for retired and retiring military members to which the RSBS contributed nothing or ever took up the burden. Apparently, the only “statutory obligation of the RSBS was to return the compulsory contributions of members of the AFP upon retirement.” What was quite strange was that RSBS was allowed to use the contributions of AFP personnel to generate investment revenues that were tax-exempt, without paying compensation for its use. It was a good thing that on 25 February 1992, a standard operating procedure provided for a “grant” of 4 percent interest per annum on members’ contributions compounded yearly effective January 1992 and it was tax-exempt. Again, effective in January 1996, the tax-exemption granted to members’ contributions was increased to 6 percent per annum compounded annually. These compulsory contributions constituted a continuing significant source of investible funds. For example, the aggregate total of members’ contributions returnable upon members’ compulsory retirement at year-end 2002 stood at P3.5 billion. However, the yearly inflow of members’ contributions in the last five years (1998 to 2002 inclusive) was around P2.5 billion. Apparently, RSBS aggressively went into real estate investment and portfolio loans to new companies. It also plunged into heavy short-term borrowing to expand these two-fold pursuits. The 1997 Asian Financial Crisis that precipitated a drop in real estate values in the country affected RSBS, resulting in losses over the years 1998 to 2001, not to mention the interest expense over the same period due to short-term borrowings which may well have run to P1.8 billion (1997 to 1999). The Senate Committees on Accountability of Public Officers and Blue Ribbon did a joint inquiry on alleged anomalies at RSBS where it was found that “very extensive real estate acquisitions by RSBS were attended by massive overpricing.” The initial report came out on 21 December 1998 and the final one on 20 May 1999. Verily, the Senate committee reports, together with the principal findings and recommendations of the fact-finding commission on the RSBS problem, were well documented and instructive to policymakers. Ideally, an AFP Service and Insurance System must be insulated from the reach of both the CSAFP and the SND, lest the vicious cycle recur. (Note. The RSBS was dissolved by Executive Order 590 on 31 December 2006.) The post RSBS revisited appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MAP denies backing on dismissed MIAA chief
Management Association of the Philippines president, Atty. Benedicta Du-Baladad denied that her group aired its support to the dismissed Manila International Airport Authority, General Manager Cesar Chiong, and MIAA OIC assistant general manager Irene Montalbo, saying that the backing came from some of its members. Besides MAP, the Makati Business Club last week released a statement of support backing Chiong and Montalbo, questioning the decision of Ombudsman Samuel Martires. “Please note that this is not a MAP statement. Nowhere should the statement be attributed to MAP. This is a statement of individual businessmen and professionals who requested us to distribute it to the media,” Baladad told the Daily Tribune. Trabaho Partylist on Wednesday also hit business groups petition urging Ombudsman Martires to reverse the decision dismissing Chiong, stating that it is a clear interference with the independence and investigatory functions of the Ombudsman. “While the 1987 Constitution created the Ombudsman as ‘an independent constitutional body, unfettered by political influence and insulated it from the ebb and tide of political fortunes,’ here comes now a group of businessmen trying to erode the integrity of the office,” Trabaho Partylist Secretary General Atty. Juan Paolo Lorica said. “The decision dismissing Chiong and MIAA OIC assistant general manager Irene Montalbo is clearly supported by evidence. It is unfair for the business sector to even insinuate that the Ombudsman and the panel of investigators did not investigate and decide the case with utmost objectivity,” he added. Lorica pointed out that Martires’ record as Ombudsman has consistently shown he has maintained his independence and that he does not look into the political color of the respondents of the cases being decided by his office. “It must be recalled that Ombudsman Martires caused the withdrawal of the usurpation case that his predecessor has filed against President Noynoy Aquino. And just recently he dismissed from the service the Over-All Deputy Ombudsman for his involvement in the Pharmally case. The Ombudsman exacted justice for the Filipino people even as other government organs failed to do the same,” he said. The Trabaho Partylist Secretary General further stressed that what the business groups are asking is for the Ombudsman to favor Chiong. “Is Chiong the only citizen who can manage the airport efficiently and effectively? Is he the only citizen who is honest for which this government must lean on?” he asked. Last April 2023, Chiong and Montalbo were put on preventive suspension by the Ombudsman for Grave Abuse of Authority, Grave Misconduct, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service for reassigning 285 MIIA personnel despite the two officials’ temporary positions in the attached agency of the Department of Transportation. The post MAP denies backing on dismissed MIAA chief appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Walang (Mag)saysay
During one of the many well-publicized Senate hearings in the aftermath of the infamous Mamasapano Massacre in 2015 that led to the murder of 44 Special Action Force troopers, one Miriam Coronel-Ferrer was grilled by an irate Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano. Coronel-Ferrer was then chairman of the Aquino Government’s peace panel that had signed an accord with the Muslim rebels on the establishment of a Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, an agreement widely regarded as having signed away a lot of our Republic’s prerogatives in favor of armed Islamic insurgents. Senator Cayetano demanded to know from Coronel-Ferrer why the government dragged its feet in providing artillery support and reinforcements to the trapped policmen, to which she notoriously replied, “The policy of the government is to first negotiate with the armed groups fighting with state forces.” To this, Cayetano replied, “No government in the world negotiates with terrorists.” Coronel-Ferrer’s response left most in the Senate gallery dumbfounded when she said, “I know of no such policy.” Yet here she is, one of this year’s Magsaysay Awardees. Ironic it is that an award founded in honor of one of the best-loved Presidents this country has ever had, would be given to an underling of someone who would become one of the most hated in Philippine history (after a string of scandals such as the Luneta hostage fiasco, “Yolanda” and Dengvaxia, among many others). Even more ironic is that she is being given the award for her supposed “transformative power of non-violent strategies,” when all that she succeeded in transforming was forty-four elite police personnel into corpses due to the appalling display of violence of a rebel movement she greatly enabled. She also almost transformed our Republic into a dismembered state; thank heavens the backlash from the massacre caused the agreement she brokered to be shelved in favor of one much less onerous to the Philippines. But what is to expected of an award-giving body co-opted by Yellowtards, as a quick look at the roster of its chairman and trustees will readily reveal. Composed of men and women with strong ties either to Mrs. Cory Aquino and/or her anointed successor, Fidel Ramos, these people either served in the Cabinet or important agencies of one or the other President; or had enjoyed — or are still enjoying — high positions in big corporations supportive of the Aquino Yellow narrative. So it should be of no wonder that these denizens of the same echo chamber would exhibit the proclivity, remarkably endemic to the Aquino clique, of giving awards and accolades to each other. As if that would somehow compensate for the fact that the narrative that has kept them in power for more than 30 years had been totally demolished. Just note the decorations given to Leni after she lost, from fellowships to doctor’s degrees honoris causa to trophies for this and that dubious achievement. Such a pity that the Magsaysay Awards should so decline in prestige. It used to be an important recognition for Asian leaders, counting among its Filipino awardees the likes of Francisca Aquino, Rosa Rosal, F. Sionil Jose, Lino Brocka, Dr. Fe del Mundo, Nick Joaquin, James Reuter, Bienvenido Lumbera and Miriam Defensor-Santiago. Yet, like many others touched by the Yellow reverse-Midas touch, what used to be gold is turning to crap, with Yellow stalwarts Jesse Robredo, Sheila Coronel, Conchita-Carpio Morales, Haydee Yorac and Hilario Davide among the list. Cringy, especially since among those who have previously received the honor were the Dalai Lama, Thai Premier Anand Panyarachun, Mochtar Lubis, Akira Kurosawa, Ravi Shankar and Mother Teresa. To use an overworn cliché, President Magsaysay would be turning in his grave to know that his eponymous award has become another way for those in the same political group to pat themselves on the back. Its value has depreciated and, if the trend is not arrested, it will soon be irrelevant, a case of walang saysay. The post Walang (Mag)saysay appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Third-country recruitment still prevalent — BI
Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco on Sunday lamented that third-country recruitment for overseas Filipino workers is still prevalent. According to Tansingco, third-country recruitment refers to the recruitment of OFWs to transit to another nation, typically after their visas have expired. He emphasized the risks of third-country recruitment for OFWs as the Philippine government would have no record of their relocation to another country. Tansingco also shared the case of five deported passengers from Moscow, Russia, who arrived on 1 September at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on board an Oman Air flight. The deportees, who were in their 30s and 40s, four females and a male, shared the challenges they faced in Russia. The male deportee arrived in Russia to visit his OFW wife as a tourist but ended up staying longer owing to the pandemic. One of the four female victims left the country as an OFW, with valid overseas employment certificates, to work as a nanny in Russia but remained there despite the expiration of her contract. The other three female victims were OFWs in Hong Kong; they were recruited to transfer to Russia upon the expiration of their contracts. Tansingco also said that while third-party recruitment is beyond the scope of the BI, they deem it necessary to share with the public the stories that they encountered at the airport. He said OFWs should always protect themselves from exploitation by ensuring to have proper documentation whenever they work abroad. The post Third-country recruitment still prevalent — BI appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Heaven, NAIA mess, easy way out
Dear Editor, Who wants the Ninoy Aquino International Airport or NAIA to remain one of the worst airports in the world? Nobody. But who sells or disowns his child just because the child is problematic? Nobody either, except the loveless and crazy. The Marcos Jr. administration has just formally kicked off the sale of NAIA to the private sector. But for unknown, real/deeper sense and repercussion, what does this mean? Letting one’s knee touch the canvas during a boxing matchup means surrender. Alas, this is exactly what the government tries to do in pushing its knee hard to the floor. Or in doggedly pushing to privatize the “helplessly” beleaguered NAIA. It is the way to “solve” the mess at the country’s premiere airport, or so they thought. But what is the use of government if it can’t compete with the private sector in efficiency, governance, and modernization? What can private people do that public officials can’t, with all the yearly budget (in trillions of pesos) at their disposal? Cryptic. Hindi ba gobyerno pa nga ang dapat magpakita ng pinakamagaling, pinakamoderno at pinakamagandang halimbawa para sa lahat sa bansa (Shouldn’t the government be the one to show the best, most modern and best example for everyone in the country) to serve as a standard/benchmark for excellence? If a government can’t set the right example for everyone, then how can its people expect something good to come out of it? There is more than meets the eye to all these NAIA brouhahas/shenanigans. The main challenge lies in our officials’ capability, effectiveness, and wisdom in solving the ongoing issues at NAIA. What sane reason does the Department of Transportation and Communication (or Malacañang) have to privatize NAIA? Are they admitting that the private sector or business people are better off than them in the area of managing and administering? If that’s the case, then Filipinos would do well to have these private people take over every single office in the government. Or could there be something behind the “privatization” move that only those behind are aware of? Given the ever-escalating prices of rice and other agricultural/local products, the needless importations, the unabated smuggling, and the hoarding that causes artificial shortages of rice, sugar, salt, onion, meat products, etc., in the market, would it be bad to suggest that we privatize the Department of Agriculture, following the government’s touted line of thinking in wanting to privatize NAIA? Easy, lazy way out. Time to break the cycle, this vicious cycle of “privatization,” lest Filipinos someday find the entire country privatized “wisely”. Easy, lazy way out. I had a wonderful experience of government efficiency on 30 August 2023, when I went to the central office of the Philippine Statistics Authority along East Avenue to get an authenticated birth certificate. I thought I wouldn’t be able to do my purpose anymore because I came very late due to the rain and heavy traffic. But I got the surprise of my life, having found the PSA staff (including the guards) very accommodating and friendly, quick to respond. The processing of papers was highly systematic, cogent, instantaneous, and ingenious. The counters and machines, and the whole big, wide people area were well arranged and ventilated. Admirable. I arrived at 4:30 pm and I left at 4:50 p.m., with my authenticated birth certificate. Wonderful. No delays, hassles or inconvenience. And no exaggeration. For the first time, I felt like I was in heaven — inside a government office, unbelievably. True to its motto, the PSA is “Solid. Responsive. World-class.” You can do it (Philippians 4:13) at NAIA and elsewhere, dear government. But do away with privatization. Reni M. Valenzuela renivalenzuelaletters@yahoo.com The post Heaven, NAIA mess, easy way out appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
3 foreign nationals arrested at NAIA
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Saturday, 2 September, the arrest of three foreign nationals at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for violation of immigration laws. On 31 August, the Bureau arrested a Thai national identified as Teerasade Phutthichotiruksa, a 43-year-old male, who attempted to depart via a Thai Airways flight to Bangkok, Thailand, but the Bureau intercepted him during a primary inspection. Phutthichotiruksa, according to the BI-NAIA, showed up for his immigration procedures at NAIA Terminal 3 for departure, but the immigration officer found anomalies and irregularities in the stamps placed on his passport. This prompted the BI officer to submit his document for further inspection through the BI’s Forensic Documents Laboratory. The BI forensic team inspected his travel documents and confirmed that the stamps shown on his passport were counterfeit. As a result, Phutthichotiruksa was arrested, read his rights, and immediately transferred to the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, while awaiting deportation. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that this case underscores the importance of the immigration officers' vigilance and expertise in detecting fake documents. Their officers are trained to spot irregularities and will arrest foreign nationals who attempt to use fraud to be able to travel. Meanwhile, on 1 September, the BI also arrested of two Chinese fugitives in separate incidents. At the NAIA Terminal 3, the Bureau arrested Chen Changdian, 32, after he attempted to depart the country via Scoot Airlines bound for Singapore. Upon primary inspection, the immigration officer found out that Chen’s name was in the BI’s database of derogatory records. Chen is the subject of an Interpol red notice after being wanted for prosecution in the United Arab Emirates for the crime of murder in 2022. Based on the BI database, Chen arrived in the country in May 2022, but his name was only tagged as a fugitive by Interpol in November 2022. While at the NAIA Terminal 1, the Bureau arrested a Chinese woman who was identified as Lyu Yani, 30 years old, after trying to depart the country via a Philippine Airlines flight bound for Bangkok. According to the BI-NAIA, Lyu's name was also found on Interpol's list of wanted criminals. Lyu was tagged by Interpol as a fugitive wanted for the crime of running a gambling house. Both Chinese nationals were transferred to the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City. All three fugitives are currently facing deportation cases, and their names will be included on the BI blacklist, which will bar them from entering the Philippines in the future. The post 3 foreign nationals arrested at NAIA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pork’s different strokes
Efforts have begun in the House of Representatives to raise the Motor Vehicle Road Users Charge or the Road Users Tax after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. identified the levy as a main source of precious funds. The eagerness of the members of the House to comply with the proposal to hike the tax makes people wary. Proceeds from the tax are the favorite source of legislative pork. Albay Rep. Joey Salceda’s bill indicates the MVUC which ranges from P120 to P4,000 will be raised to between P2,080 and P10,400 for cars, depending on their gross weight. Under the proposal, the MVUC will be increased by a fixed rate yearly until 2025, and by 5 percent from 2026 onwards. Salceda is looking at collecting P151 billion more in revenue from 2024 to 2027 through the higher MVUC. The higher collections should be earmarked for road improvements which is under the Department of Public Works and Highways after President Rodrigo Duterte signed a law abolishing the graft-tainted Road Board. The disposition of the MVUC sparked the feud between House members and the Department of Budget and Management during the initial years of the Duterte term after then Budget Secretary Ben Diokno refused to release the MUVC proceeds until the Road Board was dissolved. Moreover, the late former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III exploited the RUT funds using them as leverage to get House members to impeach former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez and to obtain the legislators’ approval for his political agenda, such as a measure seeking to postpone the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao election to allow Noynoy to place his appointees in the Muslim region. The Road Board had an unusual collection setup that practically freed its state audit, making it a perfect “cash cow” as termed by some senators. Gutierrez was impeached overwhelmingly in the House after Noynoy first dangled the pork barrel, saying through his House allies that those who would vote against the impeachment would not receive their pork barrel while those who signed the measure would get a P20-million bonus taken from the Road Board.Later, Gutierrez, knowing that she was in a losing situation, resigned from her post despite her having a guaranteed term. She was replaced by Noynoy’s favorite associate justice, Conchita Carpio-Morales, who carried out the yellow brand of selective justice. Gutierrez had displeased Noynoy when she dismissed the case against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in connection with the P729-million fertilizer fund scam. Former Chief Justice Renato Corona Jr. was also ousted through impeachment and the leverage used, in turn, were the DAP funds. It was ironic that Noynoy’s allies vowed to abolish the Road Board, which under the law that created it, had full discretion on its use. Its disposition was beyond the scope of the Commission on Audit since the RUT was not part of the budget. Former Sen. Franklin Drilon, for instance, said the body would be abolished by the Senate despite the House allies of former President Arroyo’s withdrawal and eventual rescinding of the bill that sought to terminate the anomalous 2001 creation. Congressmen turned the RUT proceeds into a source of fast money through collusion with Road Board officials. Since the DPWH is now the custodian of the funds, attention must also be directed at the agency in the proper disposition of the MUVC proceeds. Increasing the audit-free funds plus the recently discovered P215 billion in insertions in the budget through the generic flood mitigation projects exposed maneuvers to pilfer public funds. The post Pork’s different strokes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fiscal standoff
The P213 billion allocated for fiscal year 2023 is indisputable proof that the burden of the military and uniformed personnel pension has become beyond difficult to sustain to the point of forcing the government to resort to borrowing. To forestall this fiscal stand-off, the next best thing to do is to allow the finance secretary all the latitude to navigate — free of obstructionist opposition — so that the ship of state can sail on an even keel on turbulent financial waters. Every proposed action plan of Secretary Benjamin Diokno to address the specter of fiscal collapse has the imprimatur of the President and the acquiescence of the so-called “economic team” — except that there is a newly appointed Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor who replaced Dr. Felipe Medalla, which change of leadership has had very limited dissemination. Apparently, crucial matters of public information have become less and less sensitive to open and vibrant democratic discourse. In all that has already been expounded on the subject, it’s safe to say that Mr. Diokno has done his homework, this despite some “trial-and-error” attempts by the House of Representatives to “approximate” what could be the “best of all possible worlds” by congressional fiat. However, it was clear that the vocal committee chairman in Congress sort of “miscalculated” the acceptable threshold desired by the “military and uniformed sector,” thereby leaving it to the President — as Commander in Chief — to be the one to eventually “tame the beast.” Incidentally, FM Jr.’s newly appointed defense chief, albeit a returning one, is singing a different tune and is clearly in cross-purposes with what the finance chief has rolled out to be the “silver bullet” that would solve the pension problem. The policy domain benefits from evidence-based data and doing the science or the math is not alien to an economist like Diokno. On the other hand, political views hardly benefit from evidence, science, or math, and in this realm, it seems understandable why the defense chief’s normative proposal is rather parochial or scoped on maximizing what is good for the defense and military that he heads. After all, if he can play his cards well, a la President Fidel Ramos, his position could catapult him to higher office. When FVR signed Republic Act 7898 on 23 February 1995, its aim was a 15-year modernization program for the Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy, Philippine Army consequent to the withdrawal of the US military bases and illegal occupation by China of Mischief Reef. The commitment to spend P50 billion within the first five years and presumably thereafter, however, never gained headway reportedly because the programs were “influenced” by lawmakers. Neither did the Philippine Navy get the lion’s share of the modernization fund to upgrade its patrol capabilities, surface warfare, and its maritime detection and surveillance capacities even while the authors of said law knew that the imminent enemy was China and the theater of engagement would be the West Philippine Sea. This explains why the country was a sitting duck when China occupied Scarborough Shoal in 2012. Then, this prompted the administration of President Noynoy Aquino to enact Republic Act 10349 as an expanded version of the AFP modernization program. While the needs of the Philippine Navy were given priority, the allocation of financial resources was subjected to a tedious, legalistic, and complex process with Congress having the last say. Reportedly, even the spending plan was incongruent with the capabilities that needed to be reinforced. Furthermore, the AFP Retirement and Separation Benefits System which was supposedly created to take care of the military pension system was mired in mismanagement that led to its deactivation or abolition. Substantial government seed capital went down the drain, achieving nothing because of the military’s own making. A case of “carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero?” What about that recent audit report of the Commission on Audit on pension overpayments and underpayments made by the AFP Pension Management System that has gone loco? The post Fiscal standoff appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Makati City scores anew
Six days after taking over the management and supervision of the 14 schools affected by the dragging boundary dispute between Makati and Taguig City, the Department of Education gave Makati City the go-signal to distribute school supplies to the affected students in 10 EMBO barangays the Supreme Court had ordered transferred to Taguig City. In a letter to Makati City Mayor Abby Binay dated 22 August, DepEd Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Michael Wesley Poa said Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte had approved the former’s request to distribute the school supplies, including the use of the school facilities. Binay earlier wrote to Vice President Duterte seeking permission to distribute school supplies in the 14 public schools to alleviate the financial burden on parents who would otherwise have to purchase new school supplies. “On behalf of the city government and all the intended beneficiaries in the 14 public schools, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte. We are thankful that she has the best interest of the students at heart in making a prudent and just decision,” Binay said, adding that the distribution would go on until 29 August when classes start. The 14 public schools are Fort Bonifacio Elementary School, Cembo Elementary School, South Cembo Elementary School, Pitogo Elementary School, East Rembo Elementary School, Rizal Elementary School, Comembo Elementary School, West Rembo Elementary School, Pembo Elementary School, Makati Science High School, Benigno “Ninoy” S. Aquino High School, Tibagan High School, Fort Bonifacio High School and Pitogo High School. Parents, school kids cheer Mayor Binay, accompanied by her husband, Makati 2nd District Rep. Luis Campos, distributed school supplies at Pembo Elementary School and Pitogo High School yesterday. School supplies will be given to all 45,000 students in the 14 public schools in 10 former barangays within Fort Bonifacio — Pembo, Comembo, Cembo, South Cembo, West Rembo, East Rembo, Pitogo, Rizal, Northside and Southside. Upon arriving at the Pembo Elementary School, Binay and her entourage were cheered by the parents and students who had been waiting for her since 10 a.m. Her arrival at 2 p.m. elicited applause and shouts of “Abby, Abby” from the crowd, many of whom were crying, including the children who rushed to hug the mayor. The parents were particularly ecstatic because they said the school supplies they received from Taguig were not comparable to what they received from Makati. Package contents Under the expanded Project FREE (Free Relevant and Excellent Education) of Makati, public school students from kindergarten to senior high school, including Special Education students in elementary and high school, receive school uniforms and supplies. Students in all levels each receive school uniforms, PE T-shirts and jogging pants. School bags, caps and anti-dengue kits are also given to kindergarten pupils. Elementary students each receive a pair of black leather shoes, three pairs of white socks, Randoseru bags (Grades 1 and 4), dengue kits, and school supplies consisting of 10 notebooks, five intermediate pads, and five ballpoint pens and pencils. Junior and senior high school students receive black shoes and socks, and the same school supplies package given to elementary students, with a Math graphing notebook added. Grades 11 and 12 students also get a jacket with hoodie. For SPED students in elementary and high school, the city provides a school supplies package, uniforms, leather shoes and three pairs of socks, and anti-dengue kits for elementary SPED. Schools to be rented out Asked what would happen to the 14 schools formerly under Makati City, Binay said they would be rented out to Taguig as the former held the titles to them. In a Facebook post, Binay said there was a “last-minute attempt” by the Taguig City government to halt the distribution even if Makati had written authorization to carry it out. Taguig City has also started distributing school packages to the students of the city, including those at the EMBO schools. Duterte issued DepEd Order No. 023 last week, titled “Assumption of authority of the Department of Education over the 14 public schools affected by the Supreme Court decision in G.R. No. 235316.” According to the order, DepEd is mandated to promote every Filipino’s right to accessible, equitable, and quality education which is consistent with its mandate to provide a safe and enabling environment for learners, teachers, and personnel. Duterte, in her order, said that relative to the SC’s final and executory decision in the case titled Municipality of Makati vs Municipality of Taguig (G.R. No. 235316), the Department of is cognizant of the increasing tension present in the 14 schools affected by the ruling, that caused uncertainty as to the peaceful and orderly reopening of schools on 29 August 2023. It further stated that in the pursuit of protecting the best interest and welfare of the learners, teachers, and non-teaching personnel, “the Office of the Secretary shall directly supervise the management and administration of all 14 schools, pending a transition plan, effective immediately.” Duterte created a transition committee composed of the regional director (assigned outside of the National Capital Region); DepEd Schools Division Superintendent of Taguig-Pateros; the DepEd Schools Superintendent of Makati City; City Legal Officer of Makati and City Legal Officer of Taguig. Binay has since stood her ground that all 14 public schools are titled to Makati City and therefore Taguig City has no jurisdiction over it, though Mayor Lani Cayetano refuted the claim saying it was included in the SC order that is final and executory. The post Makati City scores anew appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EMBO teachers worried over Makati-Taguig feud
While the cities of Makati and Taguig are engaged in a tug-of-war on who should exercise control and management of the 14 schools in the enlisted men’s barrio, teachers are wary about its effects on the learners. Raniel Enguancho Biala, a grade 10 teacher at the Benigno Aquino High School in Barangay Comembo, in an interview, said the opening of classes is just around the corner but the dispute between the two cities are affecting the preparation not only of the students but all the stakeholders including teaching personnel. He said there is an urgent need for the writ of execution to be released immediately because it will give them the guide. Biala is basing his observation in an interview with Mayor Abby Binay and he quote, “It is a written command authorizing the office of the said city to implement the decision that has become final and executory.” “So we are waiting for that order because it is a legal basis to the basic issue of who will manage the 14 public schools in the 10 barangays that have been the subject of the Supreme Court ruling,” said the teacher. While the WoE is yet to be issued by the court everything is hanging and the teachers are waiting for a meeting this week so they would know what will they do when the classes open on 29 August. Bial said at present the situation is somewhat hazy and as a teacher he is receiving messages from the parents about what will happen to their children if the school supplies are not given to their children. The free school supplies were rejected by Mayor Lani Cayetano, who proposed that it be given to the victims of calamities. The problem, according to the teacher, is what will be the benefits they (teachers) will get from Taguig City that include the students since in two weeks time the classes will open but they have yet to see some development. Even if there are the so-called meetings held by officials, the needs of the teachers for their teaching chores are not highlighted and what is being tackled are the needs of the students which are also vague. “It seems they are talking always about the needs of the students but the needs of the teachers are not mentioned. I think they need to consider it also because in the case of Makati City we are provided without basic needs that we can utilize in our teaching chores,” said the teacher. The teachers of the EMBO barangays are provided with laptops and other materials and also allowances. But now the teachers feel that they will go back to the basics of using cartolinas when they teach because it is possible that the laptops issued to them by Makati City will be taken away. The post EMBO teachers worried over Makati-Taguig feud appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Settled doctrines on sexual harassment (3)
Sexual harassment engenders three-fold liability: Criminal, to address the wrong committed against society; civil, to address the private wrong against the offended party; and administrative, to protect the public service. Criminal liability for sexual harassment notwithstanding, the offended party may pursue a separate civil action. Aside from the actual perpetrator, the employer or the head of office or institution may also be impleaded in an independent action for damages. They would be solidarily liable for damages if they did not take immediate action on a sexual harassment complaint. Unlike in a criminal action where the penalty is a fine, imprisonment, or both, the penalty in an administrative action is, at most, dismissal from the service. This is because an administrative action seeks to protect the public service by imposing administrative sanctions on the erring public officer. In prosecuting an offender for sexual harassment, the intent is immaterial. The mere commission is sufficient to warrant a conviction. The threshold is whether an act violates and/or threatens the personal space and physical safety of another person, regardless of the motive for committing the act. Guided by the foregoing, let’s take a quick look at actual cases of sexual harassment decided by the Supreme Court. In the case of Escandor v. People (G.R. No. 211962, 6 July 2020), the complainant testified to several acts of sexual harassment, including the respondent’s acts of grabbing her hand, kissing her, engaging in improper conversations, touching her thigh, giving her gifts, telling her that “she was the kind of girl he really wants,” asking her out on dates, and sending her text messages telling her that he missed her, that she looked beautiful, and that he loved her. The complainant stated that these acts made her feel disrespected, humiliated, cheap, uneasy, and frightened. She also could not concentrate on her work, could not sleep, and found herself “staring into empty space.” Without any doubt, the Supreme Court held that the respondent’s acts resulted in an intimidating, hostile, and offensive environment for the complainant, thereby making him guilty of sexual harassment. In another case (A.C. No. 5900, 10 April 2019), a professor was charged for allegedly unwanted sexual advances or innuendos against his students. One of his students recounted that in one of her class recitations, she sought clarification of a question propounded to her, saying, “Sir, come again?” The professor retorted, “What? You want me to come again? I have not come the first time and don’t you know that it took me five minutes to come, and you want me to come again?” In his defense, the professor said the joke was intended for himself and that in fact, the students had laughed at the joke. In ruling against the professor, the Supreme Court stated that the professor’s remarks could not be categorized as an innocent joke meant only to lighten the mood of the class. It was readily apparent that the remark was tasteless, vulgar, and crude and had no place in an academic setting. It was not clever wordplay or a mere statement with a sexual innuendo as its intended meaning was obviously discernible. The professor’s attempt at humor failed miserably as his words clearly referred to himself needing five minutes to ejaculate again. The professor’s statements made the student uncomfortable and embarrassed her in front of her classmates as it went beyond an innocent joke and was instead a gross graphic and insensitive remark. Thus, the Supreme Court ruled that the professor abused the power and authority he possessed over the students. His sexually laced conduct had created a hostile and offensive environment that deeply prejudiced his students. In what was supposed to be a safe place for them to learn and develop, they were instead subjected to unwarranted sexual advances. In another case, however, the Supreme Court clarified that casual gestures of friendship and camaraderie, done during festive or special occasions, and with other people present do not constitute sexual harassment. In Aquino v. Acosta [429 Phil. 498 (2002)], the Supreme Court ruled that the act of greeting a person with a kiss on the cheek, in “beso-beso” fashion, was not shown to have been carried out with lustful and lascivious desire or was motivated by malice or ill motive. The Court explained that pecks on the cheeks should be understood in the context of having been done on the occasion of some festivities, as busses on cheeks were simply friendly and innocent, bereft of malice and lewd design. Ultimately, therefore, it is a matter of respecting each other’s boundaries and creating safe spaces for everyone. For more of Dean Nilo Divina’s legal tidbits, please visit www.divinalaw.com. For comments and questions, please send an email to cabdo@divinalaw.com. The post Settled doctrines on sexual harassment (3) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Female recruiter collared for trafficking
A female recruiter allegedly facilitating the travel of five human trafficking victims was arrested by elements of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking recently at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 after attempting to depart as tourists bound for Malaysia and Singapore. Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco on Wednesday applauded IACAT’s swift action , saying justice is served for those victimized by human traffickers. The immigration protection and border enforcement department conducted a secondary inspection and conducted an interview with the victims. During the interview, it was confirmed that the five were recruited to work abroad as massage therapists, entertainers, tutors and carers and were made to pose by their recruiter as her employees. The BI’s I-PROBES immediately referred the case to the IACAT. The National Bureau of Investigation-International Airport Investigation Division filed cases against the recruiter for Qualified Trafficking in Persons under Section 6(c) of Republic Act 9208, as amended; Illegal Recruitment committed by a syndicate and in large scale under Republic Act 8042, as amended; and Estafa under Art. 315, par. 2(a) of the Revised Penal Code. Th e arrested recruiter previously made headlines on social media after posting on 10 May about her complaint about the procedures of the Bureau. In her Facebook post, she lamented why she was being stopped from travelling despite having complete documents. Tansingco said that these human traffickers use social media as their playground, where they blatantly recruit victims and even have the audacity to air complaints about procedures protecting Filipinos. The BI chief added that they thank the IACAT for swiftly acting on this case and ensuring that justice is served. The post Female recruiter collared for trafficking appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Here Lies Love’ co-producer says hit musical may soon be staged in Manila
After conquering Broadway with an all-Filipino cast, Here Lies Love, the musical created by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim about former First Lady Imelda Marcos, may soon be staged in the Philippines. It’s being talked about,” Don Michael H. Mendoza, a co-producer of the Broadway production, told Daily Tribune in an exclusive interview. He recently flew in from the United States for a vacation and to visit some family and friends. [gallery columns="2" size="large" ids="171941,171942"] “The hope is that the first international production will be in Manila. But they’re also considering Sydney. It’s very early in discussions, but there are plans to bring it abroad. We’ll just have to look for the right place that will house the show because the set is so different. It’s more probably like a studio space than a traditional theater.” Mendoza also confirmed having an all-Filipino cast in the planned touring production, hopefully with the current lineup led by Arielle Jacobs (as Imelda), Jose Llana (as Ferdinand Marcos Sr.), Conrad Ricamora (as Ninoy Aquino) and Lea Salonga (in a special guest role as Ninoy’s mother Aurora). “Of course, it depends on where people are at that point of time,” he pointed out. “If they haven’t moved on to other shows, what their schedules are like. So, hopefully… It would be great to bring the whole cast, but it depends on what they’ll have next.” Show vacancies In case of vacancies, the production may audition performers based in the Philippines, like it did before. This led to the question about Mark Bautista, who played Marcos in both the London and Seattle productions of Here Lies Love after it premiered off-Broadway in 2013 at The Public Theater in New York City. Jose Llana, who currently plays Marcos, originated the role off-Broadway. “We auditioned people from the Philippines,” Mendoza said of their casting process for the Broadway staging. “So I’m sure Mark auditioned. He was in high consideration.” The co-producer explained that Mark’s non-inclusion in the current cast doesn’t mean the Filipino singer-actor “won’t be in that later.” He shared the story of a friend of his who was able to join the cast months after auditioning and doing other shows. “It’s a never-say-never situation.” As for Salonga’s limited stay in the show, Mendoza said the Tony winner has another engagement, but “she might come back later down the road. But for now, she’s on until the 19th (of August).” About the unfortunate invasion of Salonga’s privacy in her own dressing room, “Lea handled it really well. The public opinion is on our side. We worked it out,” said Mendoza, adding that the production has tightened its security as a result of the incident. “Like Lea said, a ticket buys you access to the show, that’s it. Meet-and-greets, that’s because they’re nice, not because it’s in the contract. If they do a stage door greeting, that’s out of the goodness of their heart. They’re not contracted to do that, so they don’t have to entertain you after the show.” Positive reception Mendoza, who’s among the “at least 20” co-producers of Here Lies Love (aside from “five lead producers and three to four associate producers”) expressed joy and excitement when talking about how the Fil-Am community and Broadway theatergoers have received the musical. “It’s good, positive,” he said. “People are really enjoying the show. The lifespan of the show is 1945 to 1986, just after the Edsa Revolution. It is fun. It’s an enjoyable show. They liked that they learned something — even the people who really know the story, they also say that they learned something they didn’t know about Imelda or Ninoy or whoever. So, all positive. “The negative things we received are just about content. People [were] worried about watering down what actually happened, but, like I said in the interview, it’s supposed to be entertaining. It’s not a documentary, you know. If it gets you to think about something, we’ve done our job.” He also recalled the stellar opening night last 20 July, with celebrity attendees like actors Drew Barrymore and Daniel Dae Kim, comedian-TV host Stephen Colbert, filmmaker Spike Lee, singer-songwriter Shoshana Bean, hairstylist Frederic Fekkai and fashion icon Anna Wintour. “There were so many people that I heard were there, but I didn’t see them,” he said. But he didn’t miss seeing his fellow co-producers Jo Koy and H.E.R. at the opening. Mendoza said Here Lies Love has tickets open until January 2024 and its contract with The Broadway Theater, where it’s playing, is “open-ended.” So it can “keep going as long as tickets sales are up.” He then gave a satisfied smile: “So far, so good.” In the future, he said he hopes to produce more shows, including maybe an original Filipino musical or play on Broadway. “I think now that Here Lies Love has happened, it’s more possible. I won’t say it’s easy, I won’t say it’s easier. But I will say the door is now open for the others to follow.” The post ‘Here Lies Love’ co-producer says hit musical may soon be staged in Manila appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fear no China
One could find reason to disagree with the view that a warship of the Philippine Navy at Ayungin Shoal had been deliberately run aground as a “symbol of Philippine sovereignty over that area.” The ongoing word war between Beijing and Manila only strains diplomatic relations and bilateral cooperation through confrontational media hype over deference to China as the “natural leader of the Third World.” A few well-defined observations may be drawn and serious questions may be raised. China’s averment of the Philippines’ commitment to remove the BRP Sierra Madre, beached the past 24 years, and the latter’s refusal since it never expressed any commitment to do so only aggravates the growing tension that has hogged the headlines recently and instilled an ideological clash of world views. Wasn’t there a “bilateral code of conduct” signed to put to rest such a dispute or conflict, at least in the case of Mischief Reef? Call to mind that in November 1995, Chinese President Jiang and President Fidel V. Ramos, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Osaka, reportedly discussed the joint development of marine resources in the disputed regions. Ramos also proposed an “interim solution” where “each littoral state assumes stewardship over the sea closest to it without prejudice to the sovereignty claims.” In fact, when a new Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States was signed in 1999, the Philippines practically shelved its plans to strengthen its fortifications in the Spratlys. Whereas China would want the Sierra Madre removed to bring Ayungin Shoal back to its unoccupied state, an irreverent National Security Council official only amplified the rhetoric by saying that such removal is tantamount to “abandoning our sovereign rights and jurisdiction over West Philippine Sea.” It must invite a congressional review as to whether or not — using the same ploy at Scarborough Shoal — another Philippine Navy ship (LST 507) was towed away when the China Coast Guard made a veiled threat to blow it up. It becomes understandable why the China Coast Guard that monitors its claim over the South China Sea deems in accordance with “maintaining China’s ‘national face’ on the world stage” its response to Philippine vessels on a resupply mission to the Sierra Madre. China also believes that the “introduction of third-party forces will only complicate the situation,” its reference to the G7 (US, UK, Japan, Australia, Canada, France, Germany) — consequent to President Benigno Aquino’s unilateral move “to humiliate China before the global public.” Note that Chinese nationalism cannot be undermined as the prime mover behind its tough stance against “recalcitrant neighbors” (e.g. Vietnam). The truth is that we failed to reach a level of “bilateral harmony” with China’s rise, a thing that Malaysia has done so effortlessly. If scholars are to be believed, the dynamics in play differ, viz., Malaysian politicians aim at giving face to China while Filipino politicians actively aim at destroying China’s public image to the pitch of a “global flashpoint.” Still, it’s best not to miss the forest for the trees. It sounds like a child’s game for the country’s national security official to unabashedly dismiss as a “figment of the imagination” the statement made by China’s envoy of a purported Philippine commitment to tow its grounded navy vessel from Ayungin. The dilapidated hulk is in a dismal state — gaping holes, corroded decks, unseaworthy, even worse than a decommissioned ship. How can you call that a “symbol of Philippine sovereignty?” Wherever these unfolding developments lead, the absolute fact remains that there is no single navy, marine, or soldier that the China Coast Guard has killed. If the Sino-Malaysian relationship resulted in highly profitable bilateral relations over the past four decades, why don’t we reconfigure Philippine threat perceptions of China precisely “to deny any external power’s hegemonial grip on the regional order,” as scholars suggest? Ought we follow what Brantly Womack describes as the “positive equilibrium between asymmetrical neighbors,” as well as Malaysia did? Perhaps let’s write new laws, draw new maps, then build installations over our territorial claims?” The post Fear no China appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mother of 17-year-old boy shot by Navotas police arrives in RP
Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Rodaliza Baltazar, the mother of 17-year-old Jemboy who was killed by Navotas policemen on August 2 in what the Philippine National Police (PNP) described as a case of mistaken identity, arrived Friday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 from Qatar. She was met at the airport by representatives […].....»»
Makati resists Taguig City attempt to takeover 14 public schools at EMBO
Taguig City personnel's attempt to take over the 14 schools in ten enlisted men's barrio (EMBO) on Saturday, 12 August was thwarted by a barricade of combined force of residents non-government organizations, Bantay Bayan, and the police. As early as 6:00 a.m. the barricade was put up near the said schools as they get ready for the arrival of those ordered to take over the schools. In a one-page notice to proceed signed by Dr. Cynthia L. Ayles, officer-in-charge of the Schools Division Superintendent of Taguig City, Mr. Alvin I. Riberfa, the authorized representative of Joint Ventures of Best Security Agency, Inc. and Best Arms Security Agency Inc., was directed to assign and deploy the necessary number of security guard to man the public schools. The schools indicated in the notice are Fort Bonifacio Elementary School, Cembo Elementary School, South Cembo Elementary School, Pitogo Elementary School, East Rembo Elementary School, Comembo Elementary School, West Rembo Elementary School, Pembo Elementary School, Makati Science High School, Benigno S. Aquino High School, Tibagan High School, Bonifacio High School and Pitogo High School. However, Makati City General Services Officer Arnold Magpantay quickly directed Jaime M. Dimaano, authorized the representative of Greatstar Security Services Inc. to implement strict security measures and safeguard the property by not allowing the personnel from Taguig City to enter the school premises without written consent from the city government of Makati. The concerned residents, bantay bayan, NGOs, and the police of Makati City immediately deployed their personnel to prevent the apparent takeover without the necessary papers from the city government of Makati and even from the court. When the entourage from Taguig City composed of the Traffic Management Office and the supposed security guards to be deployed arrived they failed to implement the takeover because they could not show any pertinent papers for their action. Earlier, Makati City Mayor Abby Binay said the schools and other facilities at the 10 EMBO barangays are titled with the city government and said it cannot be taken by Taguig City even if they have won the jurisdictional case as per the Supreme Court ruling. Further, Makati City challenged Taguig City to show their numbers to make sure that they can give the necessary services amounting to P9 billion the city has been giving its 322,000 residents that will be under their wings now base on the court ruling. Residents are also wary of the free maintenance medicines, school uniforms and other services Makati has been giving them since time immemorial. The only response the residents has been receiving from Mayor Lani Cayetano is that they can give the necessary services without elaborating where the city government will get it. The post Makati resists Taguig City attempt to takeover 14 public schools at EMBO appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»