BREAKING: Duterte signs anti-terror bill into law
MANILA, Philippines — Despite massive opposition, President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the controversial anti-terror bill into law. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque confirmed this in a text message to INQUIRER.net on Friday. The anti-terror bill seeks to strengthen the Human Security Act of 2007 and criminalizes incitement of terrorism “by means of speeches, proclamations, writings, emblems, banners or […] The post BREAKING: Duterte signs anti-terror bill into law appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
BREAKING: Duterte signs anti-terror bill into law
MANILA, Philippines — Despite massive opposition, President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the controversial anti-terror bill into law. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque confirmed this in a text message to INQUIRER.net on Friday. The anti-terror bill seeks to strengthen the Human Security Act of 2007 and criminalizes incitement of terrorism “by means of speeches, proclamations, writings, emblems, banners or […] The post BREAKING: Duterte signs anti-terror bill into law appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Drug killings 95 percent lower than in previous admin
The number of deaths recorded under the Marcos administration’s war on drugs has decreased by over 95 percent, in contrast to the bloody anti-drug campaign of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte......»»
Failure of Manila s anti-China bloc in S. China Sea is determined
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s file photo. /XinhuaEditor's note: CGTN's First Voice provides instant commentary on breaking stories. The column clarifies emerging issues and better defines the news agenda, offering a Chinese perspective on the latest global events. The Philippines and Vietnam on Tuesday signed two memorandums of understanding (MOUs) on ma.....»»
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......»»
US says anti-Iran strikes in Syria hit ammunition depots
The United States said Friday it sought to degrade ammunition supplies of Iranian-linked militias with strikes in Syria but insisted it did not want to widen the Middle East conflict. The Pentagon on Thursday announced air strikes on two sites in eastern Syria it said were used by Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) after a string of attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. "The purpose for those two sites that we targeted was to have a significant impact on future IRGC and Iran-backed militia group operations," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Friday. "It went right at storage facilities and ammo depots that we know will be used to support the work of these militia groups, particularly in Syria." "The main goal was to disrupt that ability and also to deter -- to prevent -- future attacks," he said. The White House earlier said that President Joe Biden had relayed a direct warning to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei against militias' strikes on US troops in Syria and Iraq, where US forces are stationed as part of efforts against the Islamic State group, which also has clashed with Shiite Iran. There have been at least 14 attacks on US and allied forces in Iraq and six in Syria since October 17, a period in which 21 American military personnel suffered minor injuries and one contractor died from a cardiac incident, according to the Pentagon. The US strikes on Thursday were the first on Iranian interests since March, breaking a stretch of calm after the Biden administration opened quiet diplomacy with the US arch-enemy that led to a prisoner swap and conversations on Iran's disputed nuclear program. The October 7 assault by Hamas and Israel's retaliatory strikes have inflamed the region. Iran's clerical leaders back Hamas, while the United States is the foremost ally of Israel. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in a statement Thursday, said that the strikes were "narrowly tailored" to protect US personnel. "They are separate and distinct from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, and do not constitute a shift in our approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict," Austin said. The Pentagon said Friday evening that its current assessment is the strikes did not cause casualties. 'Finger on the trigger' In new pressure, the United States -- which already considers Hamas and the Revolutionary Guards to be terrorist organizations -- said it was imposing sanctions on a Hamas official based in Iran and members of the IRGC. The Biden administration has vowed to target the finances of Hamas, which holds hundreds of millions of dollars in global assets, according to US Treasury Department estimates. Iran also has a close relationship with Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militia and political movement that has repeatedly fired at Israel but has so far stopped short of opening a full second front. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Friday that he has spoken with Lebanese and Palestinian militants and they "have their finger on the trigger" if Israel expands its ground operation into Gaza. Speaking to US National Public Radio from the United Nations, Amir-Abdollahian said the militants' actions would be "much more powerful and deeper than what you’ve witnessed." "Therefore I believe that if this situation continues and women and children and civilians are still killed in Gaza and the West Bank, anything will be possible," he said. Amir-Abdollahian insisted, however, that militants would decide their own actions, saying, "We don't really want this conflict to spread out." Addressing the General Assembly on Thursday, Amir-Abdollahian said that the Palestinians "as a nation under occupation" have the "legitimate right to resist the occupation using all available methods, including armed struggle." Hamas militants on October 7 stormed out of the blockaded Gaza Strip and killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians, including children, the elderly and revelers at a music festival, and took more than 220 hostages in the deadliest attack in Israel's history. Israel has struck back with a relentless bombing campaign which Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says has killed 7,326 people, mostly civilians, among them 3,038 children. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, meeting Friday with Amir-Abdollahian, urged Iran to work toward the "unconditional and immediate release of hostages held in Gaza." The post US says anti-Iran strikes in Syria hit ammunition depots appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
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......»»
US experts carry out second pig-to-human heart transplant
A 58-year-old man this week became the world's second patient to receive a transplant of a genetically modified pig heart, the latest milestone in a growing field of medical research. Transplanting animal organs into humans, called xenotransplantation, could offer a solution to the chronic shortage of human organ donations. More than 100,000 Americans are currently on waiting lists for organ transplants. Both heart procedures were carried out by experts from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, with the first patient dying two months after his transplant last year due to "a multitude of factors including his poor state of health" prior to the operation, the university said in a statement Friday. The latest operation took place on Wednesday, with patient Lawrence Faucette ineligible for a donated human heart due to pre-existing vascular disease and internal bleeding complications. Without the experimental transplant, the father of two and a Navy veteran was facing near-certain heart failure. "My only real hope left is to go with the pig heart, the xenotransplant," Faucette was quoted as saying prior to the procedure. "At least now I have hope, and I have a chance." Following the transplant, Faucette was breathing on his own and the new heart was functioning well "without any assistance from supportive devices," the university said. He was taking conventional anti-rejection drugs as well as receiving a new antibody therapy to prevent his body from damaging or rejecting the new organ. Xenotransplants are challenging because the patient's immune system will attack the foreign organ. Scientists are trying to circumvent the problem by using organs from genetically modified pigs. In the past few years, doctors have transplanted kidneys from genetically modified pigs into brain-dead patients. The NYU Langone Hospital Transplant Institute in New York announced this month that a pig kidney transplanted into a brain-dead patient had functioned for a record-breaking 61 days. Early xenotransplantation research focused on harvesting organs from primates -- for example, a baboon heart was transplanted into a newborn known as "Baby Fae" in 1984, but she survived only 20 days. Current efforts focus on pigs, which are thought to be ideal donors for humans because of their organ size, their rapid growth and large litter, and the fact they are already raised as a food source. The post US experts carry out second pig-to-human heart transplant 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......»»
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......»»