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2 activists kidnapped in Pangasinan
The Commission on Human Rights has called for a search for two environmental rights defenders and church workers who were reportedly kidnapped in Pangasinan last weekend......»»
CHR probes Davao drug war deaths
The Commission on Human Rights yesterday expressed grave concern over Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte’s recent declaration of a war on drugs in the city......»»
2 Pangasinan-based environmental defenders abducted
by DOMINIC GUTOMAN Bulatlat.com MANILA – Two Pangasinan-based environmental defenders and organizers were violently mauled and dragged into an SUV at about 8 p.m. on March 24 in Barangay Polo, San Carlos, Pangasinan, according to human rights group Karapatan-Central Luzon Karapatan – Central Luzon said the abduction of Francisco “Eco” Dangla III and Axielle “Jak”… The post 2 Pangasinan-based environmental defenders abducted appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Abduction by state agents: An isolated incident or a growing pattern?
By: CMFR StaffPosted on: March 18, 2024, 3:52 pm JEERS TO the media for reporting the abduction in Batangas of Jose Marie Estiller on February 20 as an isolated incident and for not providing the necessary background of past cases of abductions and enforced disappearances by state agents in the country. The lack of context ignores the continuing reality of human rights violations against activists.....»»
Abduction by state agents: An isolated incident or a growing pattern
JEERS TO the media for reporting the abduction in Batangas of Jose Marie Estiller on February 20 as an isolated incident and for not providing the necessary background of past cases of abductions and enforced disappearances by state agents in the country. The lack of context ignores the continuing reality of human rights violations against activists and critics during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.Media.....»»
Cebu Daily Newscast: LWUA claims Rama has no authority to remove MCWD directors
Listen to Cebu Daily Newscast and get the latest stories in and around Cebu. LWUA claims Rama has no authority to remove MCWD directors The Local Water Utilities Administration or LWUA declares the appointment of the new members of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) by Cebu City Mayor Michael.....»»
LTFRB whistleblower cited for contempt
Whistleblower Jeffrey Tumbado, the erstwhile executive assistant of now-suspended Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairman Teofilo Guadiz, whom he earlier accused of corruption, will be confined in the halls of Congress after he was cited in contempt. During Monday’s motu proprio of the House committee on transportation into alleged anomaly plaguing the agency, Sagip Partylist Rep. Rodante Marcoleta moved to cite Tumbado in contempt after earning the ire of the panel for providing inconsistent responses to queries posed by lawmakers. “This is the hard part in this kind of hearing, Mr. Chair. You (Tumbado) know you’re not consistent with your answers. Now you just said that you were not threatened, but in the sworn statement that you gave to the NBI, you said, ‘I am worried about my safety and that of my family,’” Marcoleta said. Contrary to his prior statement that he was “pressured” to recant his corruption allegations against his previous boss, Guadiz, Tumbado now asserts that he was not apprehensive about withdrawing his previous claims. Tumbado admitted that he did not have enough evidence to substantiate his corruption claims against Guadiz, conceding that it was solely based on his “opinion.” Nevertheless, he remained resolute in asserting that systemic corruption permeates the entire agency. “The corruption is there because I myself am approached by operators who want to speed up the processing of their papers. I no longer have direct knowledge of the chairman’s corruption… There is indeed corruption in the LTFRB, not particularly chairman Guadiz,” he said, pledging that he would submit the list of complainants to the committee. The corrupt practices plaguing the LTFRB, according to Tumbado, involved the modification of routes, special permits, trafficking and substitutions. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. immediately suspended Guadiz, whom Tumbado said stood at the center of a “lagayan” or bribery system in the LTFRB after the issue made headlines. Manila Rep. Benny Abante, previously claimed the bribery scheme has been in operation since 2009. Before retracting his accusations, Tumbado also dragged Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista and no less than the Office of the President into the alleged corruption in the LTFRB. Tumbado told lawmakers that he withdrew his claims against Guadiz due to his lack of firsthand evidence implicating the chairman in the purported corruption, contrary to his previous assertion that Guadiz regularly received as much as P5 million in exchange for the expeditious approval and release of special permits, franchises, and route modifications. “I don’t have direct evidence to prove that chairman Guadiz can be pinpointed in the allegations,” he told the panel. Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop, chair of the panel, however, posits a firm conviction that Tumbado had a hand in his own accusations. “For all intention purposes, you are included here. You’re equally guilty if anyone is guilty in the LTFRB. You’re there, so you’re involved,” Acop stressed. Tumbado will be confined within the premises of Congress for a maximum of 10 days. The post LTFRB whistleblower cited for contempt appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Subpoena served to LTFRB whistle-blower – DOJ
The Department of Justice confirmed yesterday that a subpoena has been served to Jefferson Tumbado, a former Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board employee who blew the whistle on alleged corruption in the LTFRB but later recanted his claims......»»
LTFRB ‘whistle-blower’ recants, apologizes
The former Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board employee who bared corruption in the agency has recanted his claims two days after the suspension of Teofilo Guadiz III as LTFRB chairman......»»
Marawi siege victims to receive claims
The Marawi Compensation Board is eyeing the award of the first batch of claims of victims of the Marawi siege by Oct. 16......»»
Musk’s X strips headlines from news links
Elon Musk's social media platform X has stripped headlines from news articles shared by users, in a move likely to further worsen relations with media groups. The tycoon has long railed against the "legacy media" and claims X, formerly Twitter, is a better source of information. However, he said the latest change was for "aesthetic" reasons -- news and other links now appear only as pictures with no accompanying text. Musk took over Twitter last year in a $44 billion deal and has since renamed it X, sacked thousands of staff and drawn criticism for allowing banned conspiracy theorists and extremists back on the platform, sending advertisers fleeing. He has also banned -- and reinstated -- various journalists with mainstream outlets including the Washington Post and CNN, as well as appearing to delay posts from accounts including the New York Times. "I almost never read legacy news anymore," Musk posted on Tuesday. "What's the point of reading 1,000 words about something that was already posted on X several days ago?" Souring relations Some media groups have stopped posting to X altogether because of the rise in hate speech and the behavior of Musk. AFP and other French news outlets launched a legal case in early August accusing X of copyright breaches. When the changes to links were first mooted in August, Musk posted: "This is coming from me directly. Will greatly improve the esthetics." The changes appear to have been introduced gradually this week. Instead of seeing a headline along with a picture, users now see only a picture with a small watermark. The changes brought a good deal of criticism, journalist Tom Warren of The Verge website posting on X: "It's the latest in a long line of dumb changes on this platform." Some users have already commented that it is now difficult to distinguish between news and other kinds of information, which is likely to raise questions about the trustworthiness of the site. In September, the European Commission said X had a higher ratio of misinformation and disinformation than any other social media. The souring relationship between media and tech companies is not limited to X. Both Google and Meta have pushed back against laws forcing them to pay media companies to show stories. The changes are having a real-world effect, with Axios news site reporting on Tuesday that referrals to media websites from X and Meta's Facebook had collapsed in the past three years. Ads 'decimated' Musk said in July the platform had lost roughly half its advertising revenue, though a month earlier he had claimed that almost all advertisers had returned and that 90 percent of bots had been removed. According to a Media Matters report released Wednesday, most of the top 100 advertisers at Twitter in the weeks prior to Musk's takeover are spending dramatically less at the platform. "Media Matters found that the company's ad revenue is still decimated," the report stated. Since Musk purchased the company, it has earned 42 percent less ad revenue than before his tenure, according to Media Matters. Market tracker Insider Intelligence estimates that X's share of the worldwide digital ad market has fallen nearly 28 percent to about a half a percent in the past year. Musk has suggested charging all users of X, which would be the biggest shake-up since he took over the site, but experts say he might struggle to get most users on board. The post Musk’s X strips headlines from news links appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
P1B for Marawi victims a cruel joke (1)
I beg my readers’ kind indulgence for using this column as a platform to air our grievances. This is something personal to us, and it is my moral obligation to add my voice to the public indignation sweeping a part of Morolandia. For transparency and disclosure, my family was a victim of the war and is seeking compensation for the damage to our precious possessions. Having said that, as the national budget deliberations for 2024 draw to a near conclusion, the public discourse in Morolandia on the compensation for the 2017 Marawi Siege victims heightened. It’s the issue much discussed in public fora, coffee shops, and social media platforms of Muslims. The Moro attention is largely riveted to the budget deliberations in the House of Representatives, where the budget bill originates by provision of the Constitution. Social media likewise reported the hearing conducted by the Oversight Committee for the Marawi Compensation Law jointly chaired by Senator Ronald dela Rosa and Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong. According to reports, P1 billion is proposed in the 2024 budget for compensation, which is the same amount appropriated in the current budget, alarmed resident victims. They have reason to fear that P1 billion is becoming the appropriation template for the ensuing years. The Marawi Compensation Board or MCB, created to process, approve and pay legitimate claims, will fold the tent and become a functus oficio in 2028 because the law provides for a five-year life span. Let’s do the math. If the budget is not increased, the aggregate appropriation for Marawi victims will only be P5 billion, which is ridiculously insufficient vis-a-vis the number of victims and the magnitude of their claims. From an unofficial report, we gathered that “as of 18 September 2023, there were 75 death claims, 74 structural claims, 1,858 other properties claims, and 4,041 multiple claims. Hence, there were 6,048 claims as of the latest report by the in-take team from July to September. (And) 362 claims have been evaluated or are ready for final deliberation.” The claims statistics are increasing exponentially by the day, with the list of claimants getting longer. The MCB asks for something like P10 billion or more as an aggregate ballpark figure to compensate all the victims. The sparse appropriation has triggered unkind comments from citizens calling the proposed amount outrageously deficient, cruel jokes and insulting the victims. While the public is amused by the stories in tri- and social media on funding for projects that are less urgent — like the millions needed for the confidential and intelligence funds of agencies to address “kuno” (allegedly) the threat of terrorism — here we have a situation where the threat of terrorism is real. Our security and intelligence authorities will tell you that the remnants of the ISIS-affiliated Maute Dawliyah Islamia group are just around the corner, engaged in sporadic hit-and-run guerrilla ambushes to make their presence known. Terrorist cells are confirmed to be existing in the hinterlands of Morolandia. The disgruntled victims of the Marawi war are easy prey for recruitment by the dissidents. There is no denying the depth and scale of the damage sustained by the Marawi victims of the war. The whole world was watching on their television sets for months the daily telenovela-like bombing of the city in what Confucious described as “burning the house to catch a rat.” We have written numerous published articles pleading for cessation of the bombing, but the thrashing by state authorities continued. We note with gratitude the public expression of support by Senator De la Rosa, chair of the Special Committee on Marawi Rehabilitation, who spent years studying at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City, along with Muslim Senator Robinhood Padilla. Senator Risa Hontiveros, in her recent trip to Marawi, saw for herself the progress of the claims processing and has likewise committed support. The list of senators and House representatives joining the chorus of support is getting longer. (To be continued) amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com The post P1B for Marawi victims a cruel joke (1) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Philippine Coast Guard says ‘successfully removes’ barrier at disputed reef
The Philippine Coast Guard said Monday it had removed a floating barrier at a disputed reef that was allegedly deployed to stop Filipinos accessing the traditional fishing ground. The statement was issued hours after Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano vowed to take "all appropriate actions" for the removal of barriers installed by the Chinese coast guard at Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. A 300-meter (328-yard) long floating barrier was found across the entrance of the shoal last week during a routine government resupply mission to Filipino fishermen plying the waters near the Chinese-controlled reef. It was not clear from the Philippine statement if the entire barrier had been removed from the water. A video released by the Philippine Coast Guard showed a man wearing a mask, snorkel and fins using a knife to sever a rope attached to white buoys. Another video showed an anchor being hauled from the water into a wooden outrigger boat. The Coast Guard announced it had "successfully" removed the barrier "in compliance with presidential instruction". "The barrier posed a hazard to navigation, a clear violation of international law," it added. China, which seized Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines in 2012, deploys coast guard and other vessels to patrol the fishing ground. The floating barrier prevents fishing boats from entering the shoal's shallow waters where fish are more abundant. Philippine officials previously accused the Chinese coast guard of installing the barrier shortly before the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ship arrived at the shoal last Wednesday. Several media outlets, including AFP, were on board the BRP Datu Bankaw and saw the barrier. "We will take all appropriate actions to cause the removal of the barriers and to protect the rights of our fishermen in the area," National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano said in a statement Monday. Ano said the Philippines condemns the installation of barriers, arguing such action "violates the traditional fishing rights of our fishermen whose rights... have been affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral ruling". Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin hit back Monday, saying Scarborough Shoal was "an inherent part of China" and China had "indisputable sovereignty over it and its surrounding waters". Scarborough Shoal is 240 kilometers (150 miles) west of the Philippines' main island of Luzon and nearly 900 kilometers from the nearest major Chinese land mass of Hainan. Under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which China helped negotiate, countries have jurisdiction over the natural resources within about 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) of their shore. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, while several other countries, including the Philippines, have overlapping claims to parts of it. Beijing has ignored the 2016 international court ruling that its claims have no legal basis. The Philippine foreign ministry said Monday it would "take all appropriate measures to protect our country's sovereignty and the livelihood of our fisherfolk", without elaborating. Filipino fishermen say that China's actions at Scarborough Shoal are robbing them of a key source of income and a place to shelter safely during a storm. burs-pam/amj/dva © Agence France-Presse The post Philippine Coast Guard says ‘successfully removes’ barrier at disputed reef appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Philippines vows removal of Chinese barriers at disputed reef
The Philippines vowed Monday to take "all appropriate actions" for the removal of floating barriers allegedly installed by the Chinese coast guard at a disputed reef to stop Filipinos accessing the traditional fishing ground. A 300-meter (328-yard) long floating barrier was found across the entrance of Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea last week during a routine resupply mission to Filipino fishermen plying the waters near the Chinese-controlled reef. China, which seized Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines in 2012, deploys coast guard and other vessels to patrol the fishing ground. The floating barrier prevents fishing boats from entering the shoal's shallow waters where fish are more abundant. Philippine officials previously accused the Chinese coast guard of installing the barrier shortly before the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ship arrived at the shoal last Wednesday. Several media outlets, including AFP, were on board the BRP Datu Bankaw and saw the barrier. "We will take all appropriate actions to cause the removal of the barriers and to protect the rights of our fishermen in the area," National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano said in a statement Monday. Ano said the Philippines condemns the installation of barriers, arguing such action "violates the traditional fishing rights of our fishermen whose rights... have been affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral ruling." Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin hit back Monday, saying Scarborough Shoal was "an inherent part of China" and China had "indisputable sovereignty over it and its surrounding waters". Scarborough Shoal is 240 kilometers (150 miles) west of the Philippines' main island of Luzon and nearly 900 kilometers from the nearest major Chinese land mass of Hainan. Under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which China helped negotiate, countries have jurisdiction over the natural resources within about 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) of their shore. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, while several other countries, including the Philippines, have overlapping claims to parts of it. Beijing has ignored the 2016 international court ruling that its claims have no legal basis. The Philippine foreign ministry said Monday it would "take all appropriate measures to protect our country's sovereignty and the livelihood of our fisherfolk", without elaborating. Filipino fishermen say that China's actions at Scarborough Shoal are robbing them of a key source of income and a place to shelter safely during a storm. The post Philippines vows removal of Chinese barriers at disputed reef appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Filipino fisherman chased by China coast guard in disputed waters
Filipino fisherman Arnel Satam guns the motor of his tiny wooden boat as he makes a dash for the shallow waters of Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea, with Chinese coast guard speedboats in hot pursuit. In a high-seas chase lasting several minutes, Satam tries in vain to outrun the faster boats in the hope of slipping inside the ring of reefs controlled by China, where fish are more abundant. Friday's pursuit was witnessed by AFP journalists on board the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ship BRP Datu Bankaw, which was delivering food, water and fuel to Filipino fishermen plying the contested waters, sometimes for weeks on end. The fishermen complained that China's actions at Scarborough Shoal were robbing them of a key source of income and a place to shelter safely during a storm. "I want to fish in there," a defiant Satam, 54, told journalists as he stood barefoot on his light blue outrigger bearing a Superman "S" emblem. "I do this thing often. They already chased me earlier today," he said, adding the Chinese speedboats had bumped his vessel. "I just laughed at them." Scarborough Shoal is 240 kilometres (150 miles) west of the Philippines' main island of Luzon and nearly 900 kilometres from the nearest major Chinese land mass of Hainan. Under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which China helped negotiate, countries have jurisdiction over the natural resources within about 200 nautical miles (370 kilometres) of their shore. China, which claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, snatched control of Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines in 2012. Since then, it has deployed coast guard and other vessels to block or restrict access to the fishing ground that has been tapped by generations of Filipinos. Philippine officials also accused the Chinese coast guard of laying a 300-metre (-yard) long floating barrier across the entrance to the shoal shortly before the BRP Datu Bankaw arrived. The temporary barrier "prevents Filipino Fishing Boats from entering the shoal and depriving them of their fishing and livelihood activities," the Philippine coast guard and fisheries bureau said in a joint statement condemning its installation. Resupply missions It took 18 hours for the BRP Datu Bankaw to make the more than 300 kilometre journey to Scarborough Shoal from a port in Manila Bay. More than 50 wooden outrigger fishing vessels, which Filipinos call "mother boats", were operating in the deep waters outside the shoal when the Philippine ship dropped anchor last Wednesday. Some of the fishing crews had been there for two weeks already using nets, lines and spears to catch tuna, grouper and red snapper. To enable them to stay at sea for longer and catch more fish, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources carries out regular resupply missions. Four Chinese coast guard boats patrolled the waters, keeping the BRP Datu Bankaw and Filipino fishermen away from the shoal. The voice of a Chinese coast guard radio operator crackled over the airwaves 15 times, ordering the BRP Datu Bankaw to "immediately" leave "Chinese territory". The instruction was repeated in English on a scrolling digital message board on one of the Chinese coast guard vessels. Unfazed by the warnings, the 12 crew members of the BRP Datu Bankaw distributed 60 tonnes of fuel in blue plastic jerry cans to the fishing boats, as well as food packs for those running low on provisions. The supplies were free for the fishermen, but some showed their gratitude by giving the BRP Datu Bankaw crew tubs of freshly caught fish. 'This is ours' "We are very grateful for this assistance," said Johnny Arpon, 53, whose 10-metre boat "Janica" arrived at the shoal in time to stock up on extra diesel. Some of the Filipino fishermen crowding around the BRP Bankaw in small outriggers to receive provisions climbed aboard to eat snacks and drink fresh water. They told journalists they had been chased and water cannoned by Chinese vessels in the past and even had their anchors cut. "They should give it back to us because this is ours," said Nonoy de los Reyes, 40, referring to Scarborough Shoal. "They should leave this place." After decades of overfishing by countries surrounding the waters, the men have to spend longer at sea to catch enough fish to cover their costs and, hopefully, make a small profit. China's blocking of the shoal had made the situation even tougher and the fishermen said they hated them for it. "We barely have any catch so we'll probably need to stay two more weeks," said Alex del Campo, 41, who had already spent more than a week at sea. A day earlier, del Campo and two other fishermen had made a daring bid to enter the shoal in their small boats, but were chased away by Chinese coast guard personnel in rigid-hulled inflatable vessels. "We are defenceless because they are armed and there was just one fisherman in each of our three boats," del Campo said. "If they ram and sink our boats who will save us?" The post Filipino fisherman chased by China coast guard in disputed waters appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marawi City siege victims seek P17.4B
People adversely affected by the 2017 Marawi siege have filed a total of P17,456,836,830 in claims from 4 July to 31 August this year, the Marawi Compensation Board told lawmakers on Monday. But the board said the 4,762 claimants represented only 19 percent of the estimated 23,489 individuals directly affected by the five-month armed conflict between government forces and the combined Maute and Abu Sayyaf terror groups. The siege ended on 23 October 2017 with the surrender or killing of the remaining militants. The conflict left over 1,100 people dead, including 44 government troopers. It displaced over 350,000 people. MCB chairperson Maisara Dandamun Latiph told a hearing of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act of 2022 that the claimants included those whose properties were destroyed in the fighting. Other claimants had relatives who were killed or who were wounded during the siege which prompted then President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao, Latiph said. “These (figures) are based on verified application claim forms that were filed under oath,” she said, adding that the filing was just the first step in a process that includes multi-layered evaluation by lawyers and engineers. So far, only 220 applications had been assessed, while 120 claims totaling P395 million had been processed, the MCB official said. Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said the MCB needs at least P89 billion to compensate all the war victims. The government initially allocated only P1 billion for compensation under Republic Act 11696, or the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Law. The law tasked MCB to oversee the process of application and payment of compensation to qualified claimants. Compensation rates are based on the implementing rules and regulations of RA 11696. Under the guidelines, a damaged structure would be compensated P12,000 per square meter if it was made of concrete, P9,000 per sqm if made of wood and concrete, and P6,000 if made of light materials. 5-year process Owners of destroyed properties are to be paid P18,000 per sqm. (concrete), P13,500 (concrete and wood), and P9,000 for those made of light materials, mainly wood. Compensation of P350,000 will be paid to the kin or heirs of each victim who died in the siege. Latiph said the board eyes to complete the compensation process within five years. She said they are targeting to accommodate 200 claims daily, 150 recommendations a week, and 600 decisions a month. Data from Task Force Bangon Marawi showed there were more than 17,000 households in the 24 barangays in Marawi City that were most affected by the conflict. The Marawi siege was the deadliest conflict in the Philippines since the Moro rebellion in the 1970s. It was also the first time that the Islamic State was able to establish a stronghold in Southeast Asia. The post Marawi City siege victims seek P17.4B appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
P17.5B worth of claims filed by Marawi siege victims
A total of P17,456,836,830 worth of claims have been filed by the victims of the 2017 Marawi siege, according to the chairperson of the Marawi Compensation Board. During the hearing of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act of 2022 on Monday, MCB chairperson Maisara Dandamun Latiph said the applications for compensation were filed by 4,762 claimants from 4 July to 31 August. The number represents only 19 percent of the estimated 23,489 individuals affected by the conflict. "These are people or individuals who claim that they have structure na nasira (that were destroyed) or they have a death claim. That 4,762 are claims filed. These are based on verified claims application forms (VCAF) that were filed by the claimants. VCAF means that they have filed a claim under oath," she added. Dandamun-Latiph said the filing of VCAF is just part of the step 1 process. Step 2 includes the second layer of evaluation by the lawyers and engineers. “Ibig sabihin, dadaan na naman siya sa second layer of verification which is yung (It means the claim still has to undergo a second layer of verification which is the) legal and technical evaluation," she said. So far, only 220 have been assessed while 120 claims worth P395 million have already been processed. Citing data from his office, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who chairs the panel, said the MCB needs to process at least P89 billion to compensate all the war victims. The government had initially earmarked only P1 billion for the compensation, which is being lodged under the MCB budget. Created under Republic Act 11696 or the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Law, MCB was tasked to oversee the process of application and payment of compensation to qualified claimants. Meanwhile, compensation rates are provided based on the implementing rules and regulations of MCB. A damaged structure will be compensated P12,000 per square meter (sqm) if it is concrete; P9,000 if mixed concrete and wood; and PP6,000 if made of light materials. Individuals with destroyed properties are to be paid P18,000 per square meter if structures were made of concrete; P13,500 per sqm if mixed concrete and wood; and P9,000 if made of light materials or mainly wood. A compensation of P350,000 will be given to kin or heirs of victims who died from the siege. Latiph said the Board is eyeing to complete the compensation process within five years. She said they are targeting to accommodate 200 claims daily, 150 recommendations a week, and 600 decisions a month. Dela Rosa said the MCB should make sure that the payments for siege victims will not put into corruption." As early as now, nakikita na namin dito kung gaano ka-importante yung role ninyo talaga diyan sa Marawi Compensation Board dahil nandiyan kayo sa gitna eh (we can see how important your role there in the Marawi Compensation Board because you are in the middle). You have to make sure that you are operating within the budget and fiscal capability ng ating gobyerno (of our government)," Dela Rosa said. "At the same time, you have to ensure duly and justly compensated lahat ng victims di ba? Ambigat ng papel niyo (all of the victims, right? Your role is very important). So, good luck. We are here to support you," he added. The data of the Task Force Bangon Marawi showed there are more than 17,000 households residing within the 24 most affected barangays in Marawi City, excluding businesses and other establishments. The five-month armed conflict in Marawi started on 23 May 2017 when members of the local Daesh-inspired Maute rebel group attacked the city. The government forces declared the war-torn city liberated on 17 October of the same year. But, the conflict left over 1,100 people dead and the center of Marawi City in shambles. The post P17.5B worth of claims filed by Marawi siege victims appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
CHR not antagonistic
The Commission on Human Rights is not antagonistic to the police but a mere bridge between the people, civil society and the government. This was the message left by CHR chairperson Atty. Richard Palpal-latoc, at the 57th Anniversary of the National Police Commission held at the DILG-Napolcom building in Quezon City. Palpal-latoc clarified that the agency is not an adversary to the police but a mere bridge between the people, civil society and the government. According to CHR chairperson, there are misconceptions whenever they enter into the picture regarding what seems to be abuses committed by the police on civilians. “We are the watchdog, our primary mandate is to protect and promote human rights and to prevent violations,” Palpal-latoc said. He added that they are not only conducting investigations for nothing but “we propose and offer solutions to address concerns.” At present, Palpal-latoc said, the CHR is emphasizing one of its mandates which is on the bridging role hence the need to make it sure that the agency is always in between the people and the government being a national human rights institution. The CHR he said, is also engaged in discussions with other government agencies like DoLE (Department of Labor); the Professional Regulations Commission; the Board of Claims also to address human rights concerns. On the labor part, Palpal-latoc said they are looking into the tripartite mechanisms to make it sure that the rights of the laborers especially on the freedom to associate, are taken care of. All those concerns according to Palpal-latoc are among the agency’s emphasis just to highlight the important role of CHR as a bridge for the people and government. The post CHR not antagonistic appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PAGCOR: Raps over missing P75-M e-sabong cash bond welcomed
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation Chairman Alejandro H. Tengco yesterday said the reported filing of charges against him and other officials over the alleged disappearance of a P75-million performance bond posted by an e-sabong company is an opportunity to find out the truth. Tengco said while the alleged disappearance of the money happened during the previous administration, the case will determine accountability within the agency. “While we find it strange that we are included in the alleged charges, we nevertheless will pursue our own investigation and determine what really happened and bring the perpetrators to justice, if indeed there was any anomaly,” he said in a statement. PAGCOR chief was reacting to reports that a certain Joaquin Sy, who claims to be the chairman and chief finance officer of Kamura Highlands Gaming and Holdings Inc., filed charges of malversation of public funds, qualified theft, and falsification of private and commercial documents before the Ombudsman. Also named respondents are former PAGCOR chief Andrea Domingo and former board members Gabriel Claudio, Carmen Pedrosa, Reynaldo Concordia and James Patrick Bondoc, and current PAGCOR officer Dianne Erica Jogno. Two of the former board members — Pedrosa and Concordia — had already passed away when the alleged disappearance of the P75 million took place sometime in July 2022, while Tengco assumed office only in August of the same year. While the agency has not received any formal complaint from the Ombudsman, Tengco said they are already looking into the matter. The post PAGCOR: Raps over missing P75-M e-sabong cash bond welcomed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pagcor chief welcomes raps over alleged P75-M missing cash bond
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman Alejandro H. Tengco today said he welcomes the reported filing of charges against him and previous members of the PAGCOR board of directors over the alleged disappearance of a Php75 million performance bond posted by an e-sabong company. The PAGCOR chairman and chief executive officer said that while the alleged disappearance of the money happened during the previous administration, he takes the case as an opportunity to find out the truth and determine accountability within the agency. “While we find it strange that we are included in the alleged charges, we nevertheless will pursue our own investigation and determine what really happened, and bring the perpetrators to justice if indeed there was any anomaly,” Mr. Tengco said. The PAGCOR chief was reacting to reports that a certain Joaquin Sy, who claims to be the chairman and chief finance officer of Kamura Highlands Gaming and Holdings, Inc., filed charges of malversation of public funds, qualified theft and falsification of private and commercial documents before the Ombudsman. Aside from Mr. Tengco, named respondents were former PAGCOR chief Andrea Domingo and former board members Gabriel Claudio, Carmen Pedrosa, Reynaldo Concordia and James Patrick Bondoc and current PAGCOR officer Dianne Erica Jogno. Two of the former board members, Pedrosa and Concordia, have already passed away when the alleged disappearance of the Php75 million took place sometime in July 2022, while Mr. Tengco assumed office only in August of the same year. Mr. Tengco also said that while the agency has not received any formal complaint from the Ombudsman, they are already looking into the matter. “We have launched an internal investigation and we are trying to recreate the sequence of events since the department allegedly involved, the E-Sabong Licensing Department, has already been disbanded,” he said. “Former President Duterte outlawed e-sabong in May 2022 and the people in the E-Sabong Licensing Department have since been reassigned to other units so now we are trying to retrace the supposed anomalous transaction,” the PAGCOR chief said. “While this happened before we came to PAGCOR, the public can rest assured that we will get to the bottom of this, and that we will respond to the accusations against us in the proper venue once we receive a copy of the alleged charges from the Ombudsman,” he added. The post Pagcor chief welcomes raps over alleged P75-M missing cash bond appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»