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Senate creates TWG on anti-financial scams bill
The Senate has created a technical working group) to fine-tune the provisions of the proposed Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act which seeks to protect the transacting public from digital fraud......»»
How nations allow or restrict legal gender change
A small number of countries have made it easier for transgender people to change their legal gender, while other nations have restricted such changes, notably Russia and Pakistan. Here is a snapshot of the situation around the world. Exception, not the rule According to the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA), 24 UN member states have legally allowed people to change their gender on the basis of self-identification. In about 40 other countries, the legal and administrative process can take years and may include requirements such as psychiatric diagnosis, hormone treatment, gender confirmation surgery, or even sterilization. Making it easier Argentina has led the way on transgender rights, allowing a change of gender on national ID cards with a simple declaration since 2012. Several Latin American countries have followed suit. Denmark was the first European country in 2014 to allow adults to apply for a gender change without undergoing medical or psychological assessments, with Belgium, Ireland, Malta, Norway, Portugal, and most recently Spain following suit. Since 2017, France has allowed transgender people to change their status on their ID documents without treatment, surgery, or sterilization but they must receive court approval. The issue of trans rights sparked a fierce row in 2022 in Scotland, where parliament passed a bill making it easier for people to self-identify their gender that was sensationally vetoed by London. The German cabinet in August 2023 signed off plans under which Germans will be able to change their name or legal gender by making a simple application to their local registry office. The law still has to go to parliament. Hesitating Sweden, one of the world's most liberal countries, was the first in the world to authorize physical and legal gender reassignment for adults in 1972. But last year it began restricting hormone therapy available for children diagnosed with gender dysphoria, such as puberty blockers, citing the need for caution following a strong increase in demand. It also restricted access to mastectomies for teenage girls wanting to transition. Finland in 2020 had already restricted hormone treatment for minors. Making it harder Russia adopted new legislation in July 2023 banning "medical interventions aimed at changing the sex of a person" and "the state registration of a change of gender without an operation". President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly railed against transgender rights in his speeches. Pakistan's religious judiciary ruled in May that landmark transgender legal protections from 2018 are un-Islamic and therefore void. An appeal is being sought with the Supreme Court. Pakistan continues to recognize the existence of a third gender, neither masculine nor feminine, as do India and Nepal. Restricting gender-affirming treatment, such as puberty blockers for minors, has become a major campaign of US conservatives. Arkansas in 2021 became the first US state to ban physicians and health workers from offering transition-related treatment to transgender minors. A federal judge in June overturned the ban. Around 20 states, including Florida and Texas, have passed similar laws. Anti-LGBTQ sentiment in Hungary has escalated during the rule of Viktor Orban's right-wing government. In May 2020, the country passed a law making it impossible for transgender people to change their name and gender on their ID documents. The post How nations allow or restrict legal gender change appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Druggie yields P400K shabu
A female drug suspect was arrested and more than P400,000 worth of suspected shabu was seized in an anti-illegal drugs operation in Pasig City Friday evening. The 29-year-old woman was identified only as alias Kukay, a resident of Barangay Bambang, Pasig City. She was nabbed in a buy-bust operation conducted by joint operatives of the Pasig City Police Station’s Drug Enforcement Unit, Bambang Police Sub-Station 3 and Station Special Weapons and Tactics Team at Villa Reyes Street, Barangay Bambang at about 7:30 p.m. Confiscated from the suspect were one piece of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet and one piece of knot-tied transparent plastic containing suspected shabu weighing more or less 65 grams with an estimated street value of P442,000, P200 buy-bust money, ten pieces of one-thousand bill, and a black pouch. The suspect will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. The post Druggie yields P400K shabu appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bangsamoro Municipality Passes A Landmark Ordinance On LGBTQIA+ Community
Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao - In a significant stride towards ensuring equal rights and protection for the LGBTQIA+ community, the Municipal Council of Panglima Sugala has passed a comprehensive anti-discrimination ordinance, No. 001. This landmark decision comes after a series of campaigns, highlighting the pressing need for safeguarding the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community in the Bangsamoro region, amidst increasing acts of violence and discrimination. HUMAN RIGHTS Caravan headed by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Philippines, along with Google, Commission on Human Rights and implemented by Mujer LGBT+ Organisation. The urgency to address the plight of the LGBTQIA+ community was also recognized by the Bangsamoro Parliament through resolutions 524 and 526 in 2021, which called for a thorough investigation into instances of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Emphasizing the significance of these resolutions, they are expected to contribute towards protecting LGBTQIA+ individuals from illegal acts, while preventing discrimination, harassment, and inhumane treatment. Human Rights Training/Workshop lead by Mujer LGBT+ Organisation. Bangsamoro Region has been marked by a series of reported cases of LGBTQIA+ members being subjected to harassment, physical attacks, and even murder in recent years. The passage of this ordinance is seen as a crucial step towards curbing these acts of violence and promoting tolerance, acceptance, and equality within the community.The passage of the ordinance was spearheaded by Panglima Sugala Vice Mayor Dayang Iman Sahali, with support from the Mujer LGBT+ Organization, the Commission on Human Rights, and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany through their Human Rights Caravan program. The collaborative efforts of these organizations and individuals have been instrumental in ensuring the successful enactment of this legislation along with the members of the Municipal legislative council. This landmark passage was welcomed by the Executive Director of Mujer LGBT+ Organisation Alvin ''Toni Gee'' Fernandez, saying "Our organization is overwhelmed with emotion upon hearing the news of the passage of the landmark law. For years, we have dedicated ourselves tirelessly to create a safe and inclusive space for the Moro LGBTQIA+ community in Bangsamoro. The importance of anti-discrimination ordinances has never been more crucial than now. We firmly believe that these measures serve as a beacon of hope, guiding us towards a future where every Moro individual is valued, respected, and given the opportunity to thrive. This achievement is a testament to the resilience and determination of our community, and we will continue our unwavering commitment to championing equality and justice for all in Bangsamoro." Panglima Sugala Municipal Government Officials with Mujer LGBT+ Organisation What makes this achievement particularly noteworthy is the lack of a national anti-discrimination law in the Philippines, which has remained unresolved in the Congress for the past 24 years. This void has left LGBTQIA+ communities reliant on local legislation for protection and deprived them of their basic human rights for decades. The passage of this ordinance is a strong message that local communities are determined to initiate change and create an inclusive and safe environment for all. Panglima Sugala Municipality - Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Ordinance No. 001 Under the newly enacted anti-discrimination ordinance, the LGBTQIA+ community in Panglima Sugala will be afforded vital protection against all forms of discrimination, including denial of access to public services, education, employment, and healthcare due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. The ordinance also empowers victims of discrimination to seek legal redress by providing a clear avenue to file complaints and ensuring the enforcement of penalties against offenders. ''Whether people agree with it or not, it is a fact that people with different SOGIEs are humans as well. They deserve protection along with every Filipino in the Philippines. The passage of this ordinance is sending a message of inclusivity and acceptance to my colleagues in the Bangsamoro region. It shows that Panglima Sugala local government recognizes the rights and needs of all sectors of society, including those with varying SOGIEs and those living with HIV. By enacting this ordinance, we hope to set a precedent and inspire other municipalities in the Bangsamoro region to follow suit and implement similar measures to protect the rights of marginalized groups.'' - Vice Mayor Sahali strongly affirmed. Panglima Sugala Vice Mayor Dayang Iman Sahali This historic passage of comprehensive anti-discrimination ordinance No. 001 adds momentum to the ongoing struggle for equal rights in the Bangsamoro region. It is seen as a beacon of hope for the LGBTQIA+ community, setting a precedent for other municipalities and cities in the region to address their own local legislation and embrace inclusivity.While this ordinance is a positive step forward, advocates and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community continue to push for the timely passage of the national anti-discrimination bill in the Philippines Congress. The hope is that such a law will provide comprehensive protection and recognition of the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals in the country.As society progresses towards acknowledging and respecting the diversity of its citizens, the passage of this anti-discrimination ordinance in Panglima Sugala is a commendable milestone in the long journey towards equal rights and acceptance for all, irrespective of sexual orientation and gender identity. The post Bangsamoro Municipality Passes A Landmark Ordinance On LGBTQIA+ Community appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BOC, PCG, PNP bust P2.2-B shabu from Mexico shipment
Combined elements of the Bureau of Customs, the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, among other enforcement units, uncovered a shipment from Mexico containing 323 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) at the Manila International Container Port terminal in Manila on 4 October, Wednesday. A belated report from the BOC said the contraband's estimated street value was P2.2 billion, concealed in a jerky beef shipment from Mexico. The shipment arrived at the MICP on 24 February 2023 from Logistica Integral Aduanal Meyma and Aime Express Logistics SA DE CV, Mexico, and was consigned to a certain Salesbeat Within OPC. Incidentally, the BOC Intelligence and Investigation Service received “derogatory information that the subject shipment contain illegal drugs”, and accordingly monitored closely the declaration, processing, and/or movement of the same. However, despite considerable lapse of time, no goods declaration was filed for the subject shipment. On 29 September 2023, CIIS-MICP requested the District Collector of MICP to issue a Pre-Lodgment Control Order against the subject shipment described in the covering Bill of Lading to contain laminated beef jerky. Pursuant to PLCO issued by District Collector Romeo Rosales dated 29 September 2023, in the presence of operatives from the Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, BOC-X-Ray Inspection Project, Philippine National Police-Drug Enforcement Group, BOC-Enforcement and Security Service, PCG), Chamber of Customs Brokers, Inc., and CIIS-MICP, the shipments were subjected to X-ray scanning last 2 October 2023 and 100 percent physical examination, which yielded more or less 323 kilograms of shabu concealed inside the laminated beef jerky. Thereafter, the identified shabu was temporarily loaded back inside the subject container, padlocked, and sealed with the signatures of the assigned Customs examiner and afore-identified witnesses. Deputy Commissioner for Customs Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy said that this latest operation is not only a coordinated response to the President’s call but also a fulfillment of the agency’s mandate to protect the country’s borders and ensure the security of all ports of entry. On the other hand, District Collector Romeo Rosales stressed that: “Our officers continue their dedication to our border security mission, which led to this latest shabu interception. Their drive, vigilance, and alertness on a daily basis made this operation possible. We remain committed to keeping our communities safe from these narcotics while facilitating lawful goods entries.” The post BOC, PCG, PNP bust P2.2-B shabu from Mexico shipment appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Furlough looms for 1.8M federal employees
United States federal agencies started notifying 1.8 million workers of their temporary furlough with the impending shutdown of the government due to a congressional impasse on the budget. Funding for much of the federal government will expire at midnight on Saturday but lawmakers are mired in perennial deadlock on a new funding bill. A small group of hardline Republicans are demanding deep spending cuts on the budget but Democrats disagree. The American Federation of Government Employees said federal workers would go unpaid for the duration that there is no legislated funding but their salary will be retroactively paid when the new budget law is passed. “If there is a shutdown in just a few days, our service members would be required to continue working but would be doing so without pay, and hundreds and thousands of their civilian colleagues would be furloughed,” Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said Thursday. The Treasury Department added that among other implications, “most core tax administration functions will stop” and more than half of the Internal Revenue Service staff will be furloughed. Anti-McCarthy protest Dozens of American teenagers occupied the office of the top Republican lawmaker on Thursday to protest against a looming government shutdown that they say will exacerbate the climate crisis. The Sunrise Movement, a nationwide youth environmental campaign, said around 30 of its members flooded inside House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s office while over a hundred more crowded the hallway outside. The group says 18 protesters were detained by police after refusing to disperse. McCarthy was not present during the protest at the Rayburn House Office Building, across the road from the US Capitol. The Sunrise Movement has voiced concerns over funding for emergency disaster relief and pro-climate provisions in Biden’s signature Inflation Reduction Act. “In my state, in Oregon, people are dying from wildfire smoke and extreme heat in the summers. People are dying in hurricanes across the country and climate disasters everywhere,” activist Adah Crandall, 17, from Portland, told Agence France-Presse. “The GOP has blood on its hands, and if it shuts down the government... and fails to continue providing the support that people need to literally stay alive, they should be ashamed of themselves,” she said. WITH AFP The post Furlough looms for 1.8M federal employees appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
British Chamber extends support to anti-agricultural smuggling act as a priority bill
The British Chamber warmly extended its support as Malacañang announced the twenty priority bills under the Marcos administration and are set to be passed in December 2023......»»
Fools in suits
When a ranking Department of Agriculture official was asked in a recent Congress hearing what steps the agency had taken to break the rice cartel, he replied that he did not believe that a “mafia” existed. Coming from a high DA official, the statement revealed that nothing was being done to stop the syndicate that everyone in the industry knows about since, to the authorities, it does not exist. In the reenacted Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and forming cartels for agricultural and fishery products are considered economic sabotage and are non-bailable offenses for which a long jail term could be meted out. The strengthened law, however, lacks strong teeth against government officials who are in cahoots or protect the syndicates. Contained in the proposed bill is a provision indicating that any government officer or employee found to be an accomplice in the commission of the crime will “suffer the additional penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, exercising the right to vote, from participating in any public election, and forfeiture of employment monetary and financial benefits.” The bill is pending in both houses of Congress. With the slow grind of justice in the country, a public official looking for a fast buck will not hesitate to risk his job in exchange for a huge payback. The recent series of events showed the markets are being manipulated by the big players in the sugar, vegetable and rice businesses. These syndicates are known to be deeply entrenched due to their connections with government bigwigs who facilitate their domination of the markets either through edicts or the use of public resources. In the most ridiculous situation, the recent spike in onion prices was found to be artificial since farmers were even throwing away their harvests because of low farmgate prices, thus there was no reason for prices to surge. Later, it was exposed in a congressional hearing that a cartel had succeeded in manipulating the onion market to create a condition that would require its importation, from which its members would make a killing. The warehouse and storage facilities are controlled by the mafia which makes it easy to create artificial conditions to which the market reacts by raising retail prices. The ultimate goal is to coax the government to allow importation from suppliers in overseas markets that are also flooded with the commodity, The cartel rakes in profits from both the high markup and the kickbacks from the overseas suppliers desperate to sell their surplus. The woeful victims are the Filipino farmers whom the cartel boxes out of the market. In extreme cases, these farmers just throw away their harvest since they cannot afford to transport their products without the middlemen who are also in the pocket of the cartel. The same goes for the rice industry, where the market was manipulated for a different reason, which was to kill the rice tariffication law that kicked the National Food Authority out of the import business. Rice prices then surged to as high as P56 a kilo, which pushed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to impose price ceilings. The NFA used to have a monopoly on importation, but that resulted in acrimonious confrontations at the apex of government. The tariffication law, in turn, opened importation to all grain traders and relegated the NFA to buying rice from local farmers. Under the new anti-smuggling bill which has the endorsement of Mr. Marcos, an Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Council headed by the President or his designated permanent representative will be formed. The proposed body will have the power to investigate and file charges, as well as freeze violators’ funds, properties, bank deposits, placements, trust accounts, assets and records. The creation of the body looks good on paper but in the real world, it might just add another layer of bureaucracy and source of corruption unless the cartel, which DA officials claim does not exist, is dismantled. Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile has a simple solution for breaking the cartel, which is for the government to confiscate all the rice overstock and let the owners of the warehouses prove that their huge inventory is legitimate. Such a move would prompt the traders to release more rice into the market to avoid confiscation. The imposition of the price cap on rice indicated that the prices are artificial since the markets are now selling at lower than the manipulated prices despite conditions being constant. An expected bumper harvest is also prompting the prices to go back to normal, after the attempt of the cartel to create a price shock to support their effort to return to the old ways. To know the real situation, President Marcos goes out of his way to see what is on the ground. His underlings, particularly at the Department of Agriculture, should do better. The post Fools in suits appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senate to approve 17 bills up for final reading says Zubiri
The upper chamber will approve 17 bills that are set for the third and final reading, said Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Saturday. Zubiri noted that four of these bills are part of the priority legislation of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council or LEDAC while 12 are local bills for the improvement of state universities and colleges. “In fact, on Monday, we will approve four measures that are part of our LEDAC commitments. And so far, we are on track to meeting our deadlines because, by the end of this year, we hope to approve all 20 LEDAC priority measures pending in the Senate,” the Senate President said. Zubiri noted that the Senate has approved a total of five bills on second reading during the previous week which includes Senate Bill 2001 or the New Philippine Passport Act; SB 1846 or the Internet Transactions Act of 2023; SB 2224 or the Ease of Paying Taxes Act; SB 2028 or An Act Recognizing the Octogenarians, Nonagenarians, and Centenarians; and SB 2233 or the Public Private Partnership Act. These bills, except for SB 2028, are LEDAC priority bills, he said. “These measures will be up for final reading on Monday. The deliberations on these bills have been exhaustive and I am confident that we did a good job of crafting these pieces of legislation, the efforts and expertise of the legislative staff in the Senate included,” he added. There are two bills pending President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s signature including the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act and the Local Government Unit Income Classification Act. The Philippine Salt Industry Development Act, meanwhile, has been approved by the Senate on final reading and is on standby for bicameral committee action. Zubiri said there are 12 local bills involving SUCs that are also up for approval on final reading. After the approval of the four LEDAC measures on Monday, the Senate will set the schedule for the bicameral conference committee hearing with their counterparts in the lower house, bringing the measures closer to enactment into law. Undergoing amendments before their approval on the second reading is the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers while the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act—which has been certified as urgent and has a high possibility of being approved in its third reading. Further, the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act, Waste-to-Energy Bill, Mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, and National Service Training Program, as well as the National Disease Prevention Management Authority/Center for Disease Prevention Bill are all in the interpellation and are pending approval on second reading. Zubiri assured that the Senate will meet its commitment to approve on final reading the remaining 17 of the 20 LEDAC measures before the session adjourns in December of this year. The remaining LEDAC bills, he added, are all up for deliberations and discussions. ”With our pace in approving these LEDAC measures, I am confident that come December, all of our LEDAC commitments will have been met," Zubiri said. The post Senate to approve 17 bills up for final reading says Zubiri appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Parlade, Badoy reprimanded for red-tagging
The Office of the Ombudsman has found guilty former anti-communist task force officials Antonio Parlade Jr. and Lorraine Badoy over the red-tagging of human rights lawyers and members of various progressive groups......»»
Anti-agricultural economic sabotage bill marked as urgent
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has certified as urgent a measure defining the crime of agricultural economic sabotage, providing penalties, and also creating an anti-agricultural economic sabotage council. The President approved Senate Bill No. 2432 as urgent earlier this week through a letter addressed to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri. In the letter to Zubiri, Marcos said there is a need to facilitate the passage of SB No. 2432, "especially now that the country is beset by rising prices and shortages in agricultural products, partly due to the nefarious acts of smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and cartel." The bill repeals Republic Act No. 10845, or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, and seeks to promote the productivity of the agriculture sector and protect farmers and fisherfolk from unscrupulous traders and importers and ensure reasonable and affordable prices of agricultural and fishery products for consumers. The bill also imposes severe sanctions on the nefarious acts of smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and cartel of agricultural and fishery products, including a penalty of life imprisonment and a fine thrice the value of the agricultural and fishery products subject of the crime as economic sabotage. Any government officer or employee found to be an accomplice in the commission of the crime shall "suffer the additional penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, exercising the right to vote, from participating in any public election, and forfeiture of employment monetary and financial benefits," the bill read. When the offender is a juridical person, criminal liability shall be attached to all officers who participated in the decision that led to the commission of the crime, with a penalty of perpetual absolute disqualification to engage in any business involving importation, transportation, storage, and warehousing, and domestic trade of agricultural and fishery products. Government authorities also have the right to confiscate the agricultural and fishery products that are subject to the prohibited acts and the properties used in the commission of the crime of agricultural economic sabotage, such as, but not limited to, vehicles, vessels, aircraft, storage areas, warehouses, boxes, cases, trunks, and other containers of whatever character used as a receptacle of agricultural and fishery products. The proposed measure is among the expanded Common Legislative Agenda discussed during the 3rd LEDAC Meeting. The bill is now pending in the period of interpellations in the Senate, while a Technical Working Group is currently finalizing the version of the House of Representatives. The post Anti-agricultural economic sabotage bill marked as urgent appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos certifies as urgent bill imposing tougher penalties vs agri economic sabotage
Senate Bill 2432 seeks to repeal Republic Act 10845, also known as the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016. .....»»
GCash backs bills running after scams
GCash is expressing its full support for the urgent passage of a proposed law that will boost the fight against scammers and fraudsters. “As we place utmost priority on trust and security, we believe that House Bill 7393, or the ‘Anti-Financial Scamming Act’ and Senate Bill 2039, or the ‘Anti-Mule and Financial Fraud Act of 2023’ will greatly help deter financial cybercrimes in the country,” Ren-Ren Reyes, president and CEO of G-Xchange Inc., the mobile wallet operator of GCash, said. The proposed legislations will primarily punish cybercriminals and their accomplices such as the so-called money mules who are used by scammers to receive stolen or illicit money and obscure the source of funds while keeping the criminals’ identity secret. While some money mules are aware that what they’re doing is illegal, others are more unwitting. “If urgently passed and implemented, the measures penalizing money mules and scammers can further accelerate the country’s digitalization and financial inclusion agenda,” Reyes indicated. GCash has been proactively blocking suspicious accounts to keep these bad actors from victimizing customers. Rounding up mules From January 2022 to June 2023, GCash had barred 4 million accounts from accessing the platform for fraud. The leading e-wallet is also in close coordination with the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center and the National Bureau of Investigation to ensure scammers and fraudsters are stopped in their tracks. House Bill 7393, once passed, will penalize any person who acts as a money mule or performs social engineering schemes. When done by a group of three or more persons, perpetrators will also face charges of economic sabotage. As for Senate Bill 2039, it expressly prohibits phishing and account takeovers — two of the most common schemes that criminals use to steal money from unsuspecting users. The post GCash backs bills running after scams appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Red-tagged individuals have only themselves to blame
These human rights groups and activists have been haranguing the government for every perceived action that threatens their democratic space or their existence as an organization. They are always at the forefront, slamming the government and its officials who do not conform to their progressive and radical views. They rev up people into a frenzy and rally them against certain policies and programs that will neutralize the revolutionary activities of the armed left and its front organizations. They organize protest marches and rallies and call on the people to reject government initiatives to eradicate the more than 50-year-old communist urgency, like the establishment of the NTF-ELCAC, which has successfully stopped the resurrection of the communist rebels. The NTF-ELCAC is an ingenious program commenced in the previous Duterte administration, institutionalizing the government’s “whole of nation” approach in confronting the ongoing communist rebellion and against groups that are front organizations of the Communist Party of the Philippines or CPP. The socio-economic program of the NTF-ELCAC at the barangay level succeeded in dismantling the communist hold on the depressed and neglected barangays. It led to hundreds of NPAs surrendering and returning to the law’s fold. These left-leaning individuals and aggregations exhibit their nationalist pretensions by embroiling themselves with national issues related to the people’s needs and sufferings, picturing themselves as victims of human rights violations committed allegedly by the government against them. They use social media to whip up support for them and use compelling political propaganda subjects like alleged summary killings, unlawful arrests, tortures, and harassment of political activists and progressive groups. Their comrades in Congress who managed to be elected have become effective political mouthpieces against the government. They are good at using the mass media, which is just too happy to accommodate them to boost their sales. Some have infiltrated the government bureaucracy and used their positions and offices to advance their political ideologies in the guise of good government. They have been successful, too, in recruiting young students of impressionable minds to embrace their causes, who end up either young NPA rebels, leading student activists, or dead resulting from government clashes with government troops. These self-proclaimed nationalists have peppered the air with accusations of extrajudicial killings against the government and have defended suspected terrorists and subversives when arrested and prosecuted. They readily proclaim their innocence. They have taken the cudgels of citizens murdered by common criminals or political warlords — but they are deathly silent when the communist armed rebels waylay, ambush, and murderously assault military men and women as well as civilians engaged in humanitarian missions during the occurrence of natural disasters. Even when they are confronted with this telling inconsistency and dared to condemn these terrorist atrocities, these leftists remain tight-lipped. They have never condemned the New People’s Army for its terroristic and undemocratic activities. Given this implied but glaring support to the enemies of the state by their deafening silence, can we reasonably accuse the government officials of classifying or describing them as supporters of the NPA or closeted members of the armed rebellion? Certainly not. They have only themselves to blame for being tagged as red supporters. Why should they be afraid, ashamed, or embarrassed to be called communists or communist supporters? The Anti-Subversion Law, where being a member of the CPP is a crime, has long been repealed. So why the fear or shame of being called a communist advocate or supporter? These democratic pretenders must unclothe themselves of their camouflage and join the parliamentary struggle. They should publicly articulate the virtues of communism against democracy and seek elective posts based on their true ideological selves. They should not use the Bill of Rights to undermine the authority of the constituted authorities, remaining as secret enemies of democracy while masquerading as its champions. It is about time they unmask themselves and be proud of their ideological beliefs. They should put an end to their pretense. They should be principled enough to present themselves as ideologues of communism — own to their loyalty to such ideology — and profess it publicly. Let the people judge who — and what they are — and not what they pretend to be. The post Red-tagged individuals have only themselves to blame appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
GCash backs urgent passage of legislation against scammers
In line with its thrust of building the safest platform for its users, GCash is expressing its full support for the urgent passage of a proposed law that will give a big boost to the fight against scammers and fraudsters. “As we place utmost priority on trust and security, we believe that House Bill 7393, or the ‘Anti-Financial Scamming Act’ and Senate Bill 2039, or the ‘Anti-Mule and Financial Fraud Act of 2023’, will greatly help deter financial cybercrimes in the country,” said Ren-Ren Reyes, president and CEO of G-Xchange, Inc., the mobile wallet operator of GCash. The proposed legislation will primarily punish cybercriminals and their accomplices such as the so-called money mules who are used by scammers to receive stolen or illicit money and obscure the source of funds while keeping the criminals’ identity secret. While some money mules are aware that what they’re doing is illegal, others are more unwitting. “If urgently passed and implemented, the measures penalizing money mules and scammers can further accelerate the country’s digitalization and financial inclusion agenda,” noted Reyes. GCash has been proactively blocking suspicious accounts to keep these bad actors from victimizing customers. In fact, from January 2022 to June 2023, GCash has already barred four million accounts from accessing the platform for fraud. The leading e-wallet is also in close coordination with the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG), the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to ensure scammers and fraudsters are stopped in their tracks. House Bill No. 7393, once passed, will penalize any person who acts as a money mule or performs social engineering schemes. When done by a group of three or more persons, perpetrators will also face charges of economic sabotage. As for Senate Bill No. 2039, it expressly prohibits phishing and account takeovers — two of the most common schemes that criminals use to steal money from unsuspecting users. Both proposed measures define money mules as persons who sell, buy, or lend e-wallets or other financial accounts, including those who register for such accounts using fake names or stolen identities to commit a crime. Other bills in the Senate aimed at beefing up the fight against fraudsters and scammers are SB 336, SB 2171, SB 2306, and SB 2407. “We look forward to collaborating with our legislators and other stakeholders for the protection of the Filipino people against evolving threats in this increasingly more digital world,” emphasized Reyes. The post GCash backs urgent passage of legislation against scammers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Solon pushes farmers’ protection
To protect the country’s farmers from usurious lenders, marked by excessive loan interest rates and unauthorized lending practices, Davao City First Congressional District Representative Paolo Duterte has filed a bill intended for the institutionalization of the accepted interest rates on the loans of farmers and providing sanctions for those who will violate the measure. “It is disheartening that regardless of the invaluable contribution of the farmers to the country’s food security, they remain to be living below the poverty line,” Duterte said. The lawmaker added that the lack of access to formal credit facilities and excessive interest rates charged by predatory and opportunistic lenders remain as one of the primordial issues faced by the agricultural sector. House Bill 9094 or the Anti-Usury Against Farmers Act of 2023 aims to safeguard farmers not to become victims of usurious lenders and to their unauthorized lending practices. Duterte stressed that several factors have forced the poor farmers to the brink of debt, which include natural calamities, worsening climate change, fluctuating economic forces and unforeseen global pandemic that resulted in the ballooning prices of farming capital and the exposure of agricultural lands to dilapidation. “As a result, the country’s farmers are faced with unabated losses and financial burden which results in their increased financial vulnerability. It left them with no other choice but to obtain more and more credit from loan sharks in order to secure short term relief with the hopes of mitigating their losses from the effects of devastating calamities, disrupted economies, and exorbitant farming capital,” said Duterte. He also cited reports from the Philippine Institute of Development Studies showing that despite the availability of government-directed credit programs and the significant amount of government funds spent for its implementation, farmers or the intended target beneficiaries still do not have access to credit and are still dependent on informal lenders who charge unreasonable interest rates due to lack of collateral to secure loans and lack of awareness or familiarity with the processes and requirements needed. Under the proposed measure, interest on loans to farmers whose landholding does not exceed seven hectares, whether with collateral or without, shall not exceed an effective interest rate of six per cent per annum. The same rate will likewise apply to forbearance of any money, good or credit, and in judgments. Any figure above this shall be considered usurious and illegal. Violators would be fined or penalized with imprisonment. The post Solon pushes farmers’ protection appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Brazil opens first ‘ExpoCannabis’ amid pot debate
Bubbling with euphoria as thick as the haze in the air, marijuana enthusiasts flocked this weekend to Brazil's first "ExpoCannabis," amid a national debate over decriminalizing the drug for personal use. Launched in Uruguay a decade ago, the huge marijuana fair opened its first international edition Friday in Sao Paulo, complete with DJs, guest speakers, myriad pot products and a large outdoor space packed with hundreds of visitors, nearly all of them smoking up. Organizers said they expected 20,000 people to attend the three-day event, which aims to showcase cannabis in its many uses, and not just recreational and medicinal. "We want to show the public all the plant's capabilities. We're not just talking about the pharmaceutical industry. The plant can also work in the food and beverage industry, the construction industry, the textile industry and biofuels," organizer Larissa Uchida told AFP. "It's a plant that has been demonized for many years, so there needs to be a whole deconstruction of this idea." Uchida said the event respected Brazilian legislation, with vendors selling cannabis accessories, extracts and derivatives -- but not the actual drug. Those smoking it at the fair likely purchased it illegally, but authorities appeared willing to turn a blind eye. Brazil’s 2006 drug law imposes prison terms for drug trafficking, and lighter penalties such as community service for possession, but has faced criticism for a lack of clarity over the line between the two. - Landmark court case - ExpoCannabis got its start in Uruguay in 2013, the same year the small South American country became the first in the world to fully legalize the regulated production and sale of recreational marijuana. The event in neighboring Brazil comes as the Latin American economic powerhouse re-evaluates its own prohibitionist drug laws. Brazil's Supreme Court is currently hearing a case that could decriminalize small-scale possession and use of cannabis and certain other drugs in the nation of 203 million people. Five of the court's 11 justices have so far ruled for decriminalizing marijuana for personal use, just one vote short of the majority needed. Ruling to decriminalize in August, Justice Alexandre de Moraes condemned existing anti-narcotics laws, which he said principally penalized "young people, especially uneducated Blacks, who are treated as drug traffickers for possessing small quantities." However, in a sign of how controversial the subject remains, Senate president Rodrigo Pacheco announced plans Thursday to introduce legislation to amend the constitution to explicitly make the possession of any amount of cannabis a crime. - Budding mega-industry - "I think it's very important to have the first edition (of ExpoCannabis) in Brazil right now," Sao Paulo state legislator Caio Franca told AFP at the fair. "We're at a very opportune moment for a conversation on cannabis-based medicines and recreational use, both from a legislative point of view and also in the courts," said Franca, who has introduced a bill to include medical marijuana in the Sao Paulo public health system. Marijuana for medical use also remains a touchy subject in Brazil. Patients have had to go to court to win the right to use the active ingredient cannabidiol, or CBD, for treatment of conditions such as epilepsy. Gabriel Vieira, an exhibitor at the fair, called for Brazil to join the growing number of countries that have partially or fully legalized cannabis. "We have to see the truth: there are a lot of people who consume it, whether it's medicinal or recreational. I think we need to follow in the footsteps of countries like Germany, the United States," said Vieira, who is 29. The economic potential of the budding global cannabis industry -- valued at $43.7 billion last year, and projected to grow to more than 10 times that by 2030 -- was on full display at the fair. Visitor Luciano Narita, 40, grinned as he showed off his haul of products. "I came here looking for new products, like this chocolate I bought, pipes, leaves," he said with a smile. "I like it for recreational use." fg-jhb/bbk/tjj © Agence France-Presse The post Brazil opens first ‘ExpoCannabis’ amid pot debate appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Stiffer penalties for economic sabotage backed
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said imposing stiffer penalties against individuals engaged in economic sabotage will serve as a “proactive and prompt response” to the alarming cases of smuggling in the country. Dela Rosa backed the introduction of Senate Bill 2432 or the “Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act,” at the recent Senate plenary session earlier this week. “I must say that this is truly a proactive and prompt response to the alarming number of cases of smuggling in the country,” Dela Rosa said. “At the same time, and more importantly, this is a decisive action towards the protection of our Filipino farmers,” he added. The proposed bill seeks to repeal Republic Act 10845 or the “Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016” which the lady senator deemed as a “failure” after the Bureau of Customs, its lead implementing agency, recorded zero number of convictions seven years after its enactment. Dela Rosa stressed the need to create an Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Council, “in order to more fully and effectively implement” the proposed law should it would be enacted. “To assist the Council in the prosecution of crimes, a Special Team of Prosecutors shall be created. At the same time, the bill also proposes to create an Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Enforcement Group to assist the Council in matters relating to enforcement,” Dela Rosa added. Dela Rosa then urged Congress and the public to support the measure to ensure justice, bring renewed hope, and build a better life for our local farmers. “If we take care of our farmers, of their dreams and hopes for the future, then we are also taking care of the dreams and hopes of the rest of the nation. Let us cultivate, rather than destroy, their optimism,” he said. The post Stiffer penalties for economic sabotage backed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Elon Musk’s X sues over having to post moderation policies
Elon Musk's X Corp. on Friday sued the state of California over a law requiring social media companies to publicly post their policies regarding hate speech, disinformation, harassment, and extremism. The parent company of X, formerly known as Twitter, argued in a federal suit that the law referred to as AB 587 violates its free speech rights. "The true intent of AB 587 is to pressure social media platforms to eliminate certain constitutionally-protected content viewed by the State as problematic," the suit contended. "The state is compelling social media companies to take public positions on controversial and politically charged issues." The suit railed against the law, which requires social media companies to publicly post policies regarding hate speech, disinformation, harassment, and extremism on their platforms, and report data on their enforcement of the policies. "California will not stand by as social media is weaponized to spread hate and disinformation that threaten our communities and foundational values as a country," California Governor Gavin Newsom said when he signed the bill into law a year ago. "Californians deserve to know how these platforms are impacting our public discourse, and this action brings much-needed transparency and accountability to the policies that shape the social media content we consume every day." Musk early this week said he is considering suing the Anti-Defamation League, a leading anti-hate group, arguing that its accusations of anti-Semitism have led X to lose revenue. Musk accused the US-based Jewish organization of making unfounded complaints against him and X that have scared away advertisers. "Advertisers avoid controversy, so all that is needed for ADL to crush our US & European ad revenue is to make unfounded accusations," Musk wrote in a long X thread that started with a clarification that he favors free speech but is "against anti-Semitism of any kind." In a 2016 report, the ADL said anti-Semitic attacks against journalists had exploded on Twitter, "thanks to the rhetoric in the 2016 presidential campaign." It accused the social network of failing to control its "trolling problem." Billionaire Musk has been accused of fueling anti-Semitic tropes, including attacks against Jewish philanthropist George Soros. According to the ADL and the Center for Countering Digital Hate, problematic and racist speech has sharply risen on X since Musk completed his $44 billion takeover in October. Since then, the Tesla boss has fired thousands of the platform's employees, cut content moderation, and reinstated former president Donald Trump's account. Last month, Musk sued the CCDH, accusing it of a smear campaign that damaged the social network's relationship with advertisers. The post Elon Musk’s X sues over having to post moderation policies appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bills seek tougher rules vs scammers
Consumers will be better shielded from Internet fraud under two pending bills that seek to add teeth to agencies implementing laws on cybercrime and imposing imprisonment of individuals acting as cyber “mules.” Lawmakers recently filed House Bill 7393 or the Anti-Financial Scamming Act, and the counterpart Senate Bill 2039 or the Anti-Mule and Financial Fraud Act of 2023. The first measure penalizes person acting as a money mule or performs social engineering schemes, considered as a form of economic sabotage when carried out by a group of three or more persons. On the other hand, SB 2039 expands the punishable acts to include those who engage other persons to act as “money mules.” Likewise, phishing and account takeover are part of the prohibited acts. In both proposed bills, money mules include those who sell, buy or lend e-wallets or other financial accounts, as well as those who register e-wallets or other financial accounts using a fictitious name or stolen identity to perpetrate a crime. In a press statement on Monday, PLDT and Smart Communications president and CEO Alfredo Panlilio committed to support the legislation. State must offer protection “PLDT and Smart will support any form of timely and relevant legislation that protects our customers. For us, consumer protection is a significant part of our overall customer experience,” Panlilio said. “Since every Internet user is vulnerable to attacks that target our identity and our finances, protection by the State is equally vital to getting more Filipinos to maximize the opportunities that the Internet can offer,” he added. Based on figures provided by the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, online fraud incidents in Metro Manila alone rose from 1,551 in the first half of 2022 to 4,446 in the first half of 2023, representing an increase of 186 percent. A report from the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, based on the digital forensic investigation of the SIMs confiscated in raids against scammers, unscrupulous individuals have been selling their registered pre-paid SIMs with verified e-wallet accounts for use in various cybercrime operations. The post Bills seek tougher rules vs scammers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»