PAHAYAG NI ATTY. RODRIGUEZ NA ABOGADO NI BONGBONG SA DESISYON NG PET
NGAYON, mga kababayan ko, basahin natin ang naging pahayag ni Atty. Vic Rodriguez, tagapagsalita ni dating Senador Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, sa naging desisyon ng Presidential Electoral Tribunal bilang tugon sa pinakahuling desisyon ng PET tungkol sa election protest ni Bongbong. Ayon kay Atty. Rodriguez, nang binasa niya ang 92-page decision na sinulat ni Justice Mavic […] The post PAHAYAG NI ATTY. RODRIGUEZ NA ABOGADO NI BONGBONG SA DESISYON NG PET appeared first on REMATE ONLINE......»»
LTO chief seeks full gov’t takeover of IT system from German contractor
Land Transportation Office Chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II on Thursday said he is seeking a full takeover of the IT system which the government contracted with the German company Dermalog to handle all the transactions in the agency in 2019. This is in line with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.'s order to Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista to digitalize all government transactions as part of giving faster and more convenient services to the public. Mendoza said the LTO's takeover of the Land Transportation Management System will address the technical issues raised by the Commission on Audit and the Department of Information and Communications Technology. The assessment and evaluation of the DICT disclosed 14 deficiencies in the LTMS system and 166 needed enhancements to further improve the system. “Our IT experts are capable of operating and maintaining the system. In fact, sila po ang talagang nagtrabaho at patuloy na nagta-trabaho para ayusin ang sistema para maging madali at komportable sa ating mga end-users, and eventually maging fully utilized na ang ating online platform,” Mendoza said. The issuance of driver’s license is now 10 percent under LTMS, while the renewal of motor vehicle registration is now at 95 percent under the LTMS system from 70 percent when he assumed the top LTO post late July this year, said Mendoza. The focus right now, he added, is to further improve the registration of newly-registered units or NRUs, which is currently at 60 percent under the LTMS system. The LTO is pushing for full digital transactions before the end of November this year. “Magiging mas madali ang pag-maintain ng system at mas makakatipid ang gobyerno na maayos ang lahat ng deficiencies na nakita ng DICT because we are moving towards 100-percent utilization of the computer system na nabayaran ng goyerno ng mahigit P3 billion,” said Mendoza. “Kayang-kaya nating i-take over ito. In fact, this was the reason why I created a Technical Working Group and right now, we are in the final phase of review and assessment for full implementation by next month,” said Mendoza. Mendoza also belied the statement attributed to the representative of Dermalog that LTO personnel have been resisting the use of LTMS. “This is not true, Nakita ko mismo ang ginagawa ng ating mga frontline employees so it is unfair to issue inaccurate statements like that,” Mendoza said. The post LTO chief seeks full gov’t takeover of IT system from German contractor appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
High BoI figures show capital swing
As a testament to the strides taken to raise the country’s laggard investments, the country’s main investment promotion agency, the Board of Investments reported registering P720 billion worth of investments for the year until August. In a forum on Thursday, BoI Governor Marjorie Ramos-Samaniego said they now see positive investment growth for the rest of the year. “As of August of 2023, the BoI approvals amounted to 72 percent of the P1-trillion investment target for the year,” she added. Last Tuesday, BoI chairperson and Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said he is confident of hitting and even surpassing the 2023 investment approvals target of P1.5 trillion. He said the investment promotion agency has projects in the pipeline, some of which came from past foreign trips of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and the investment missions of the Department of Trade and Industry. Last year, the BoI approved an estimated P729 billion worth of new projects, which is 11 percent higher than the P655.4 billion approved in 2021. On Thursday, the BoI announced that it granted green lane endorsement to five floating solar power projects in Laguna Lake under Executive Order 18 or “Constituting Green Lanes for Strategic Investments,” meant to expedite, streamline and automate government approval and registration process of priority and strategic investments. “In keeping with the government’s goal of accelerating the realization of green investments in the Philippines, the BOI has given the go-ahead to ACEN Corporation’s requests for Green Lane processing of several renewable energy ventures located in Laguna Lake,” Pascual explained. The approved projects include SolarAce4, AC Laguna, AC Subic, GigaWind1 and Ingrid Floating Solar Power Plants, which are consistent with the government’s mission to accelerate the growth of eco-friendly investments. In accordance with EO 18, the five renewable energy. or RE, projects are now identified and designated as strategic investments, which are expected to be completed between 2026 and 2027. Obtaining green lane status expedites permit and license issuance, including resolving strategic investment issues. Trade Undersecretary and BoI managing head Ceferino Rodolfo awarded the Green Lane Certificates of Endorsement to ACEN president and CEO Eric Francia in an awarding ceremony at the BoI Main Office in Makati City last 6 September 2023. BoI Governor Ramos-Samaniego and Executive Director Bobby Fondevilla of the Investment Assistance Center are present in the ceremony, and ACEN representatives namely Anabelle Natividad, authorized representative; Atty. Lucky Aranas, project lawyer; and Miguel Ignacio, project manager. SolarAce4 covers 100 hectares of the lake surface area in Santa Cruz, Laguna, and will produce a 140-megawatt peak of clean energy. AC Laguna Floating Solar Power Plant — AC Laguna is located on 200 hectares of lake surface area in Victoria and Pila, Laguna, and will generate 280MWp of clean energy. The AC SUBIC Floating Solar Power Plant, occupying 200 hectares of lake surface area in Victoria and Santa Cruz, Laguna, is expected to produce 280MWp of clean energy. GigaWind1 Floating Solar Power Plant covers 200 hectares of lake surface area in Kalayaan and Paete, Laguna and will generate 280MWp of sustainable energy. Finally, Ingrid Floating Solar Power Plant is located on 100 hectares of lake surface area in Lumban, Laguna and will produce 140MWp of clean energy. At the forefront of Asia Pacific’s renewables revolution, ACEN is the first energy company in Southeast Asia to announce a Net Zero roadmap. ACEN, established in 2011, is the renewable energy platform of the Ayala Group. Its portfolio continues to grow with new solar and wind farms under construction in the Philippines, Australia, Vietnam, Lao PDR and India. ACEN aims to be the largest listed renewables platform in Southeast Asia and is targeting to reach 20 GW of renewable capacity by 2030. Its key markets are the Philippines, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia and India. The post High BoI figures show capital swing appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Davao co-op hits expansion bills
Northern Davao Electric Cooperative or NORDECO blasted the proposed House Bills 5077, 6740, 6995 and 7047, all seeking to expand the franchise area of Davao Light and Power Company Inc. as a possible source of a “constitutional crisis.” In a press statement on Tuesday, NORDECO legal counsel Atty. Jeorge Rapista lamented that these four bills, if passed into law, might substantially amend the existing franchises of electricity distributors in Mindanao, including the one it is maintaining. “The constitution does not allow laws that impair contracts. With HBs 5077, 6740, 6995 and 7047, existing contracts of NORDECO will be substantially impaired. For example, power supply contracts will be servicing a much smaller franchise area,” Rapista explained. The bills were recently deliberated upon by lawmakers on the possible violation of the Constitution and Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001. As such, instead of a franchise area amendment that may adversely affect the industry, some policymakers recently pointed out that what Mindanao needed is a measure to help improve the services of the island’s power distributors. Congressmen APEC Partylist Rep. Sergio Dagooc and PHILRECA Partylist Rep. Presley de Jesus, at a recent hearing, proposed that the House should work on creating measures that will protect the existing contracts of electric cooperatives. Project areas reviewed Likewise, they agreed that policymakers should adopt a bill instituting proper administrative processes to review franchise areas. It can be recalled that in July 2022, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., vetoed the bill proposing to expand the franchise of the Davao Light “due to, among others, its susceptibility to infringe on the franchise coverage area of the NORDECO.” NORDECO currently serves most of the municipalities and cities that were proposed to be transferred to Davao Light. Meanwhile, Davao Light’s franchise area covers Davao City, areas of Panabo City, and the municipalities of Carmen, Dujali and Santo Tomas in Davao del Norte. MBr The post Davao co-op hits expansion bills appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Michael Ted Macapagal: Making tracks in public service
If life were a train, then Michael Ted Macapagal’s has been quite a ride. Raised by a labor leader and human rights lawyer father who served the people of Olongapo, including the workers of the US American Base in Subic, Michael Ted Macapagal had always wanted to become a public servant. It took Ted, though, a long journey to reach his goal, first achieving success in the insurance field in the United States where he lived for 20 years starting in 1991. Today, he is the chairman of the Philippine National Railways, a position “that allows me to make a difference in the lives of my countrymen,” he shared during his recent visit to the Daily Tribune office in Makati. Ted, good-looking and affable, proudly spoke of a father, his namesake, Atty. Teddy C. Macapagal who, early on, exposed his son to a firsthand view of a gentleman who looked beyond himself and his personal interests, and instead dedicated his career to protecting the common man and bettering their lot. The elder Ted served as a city councilor for 10 years. In 1984, he ran for the Batasang Pambansa, and in the late 1980s, for city mayor. “In all these electoral processes, I was involved and saw for myself how my father related to the people. He was a sincere man who helped them in the best way he could. He provided free legal services to those in need,” Ted recounted. Ted grew up in Olongapo, his place of birth. It was in the neighboring province of Pampanga, though, at the Don Bosco Institute in Bacolor town, where he first studied, but he eventually returned home to Olongapo, where he finished high school at the St. Columban. Aiming to become a lawyer, he enrolled at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, where he majored in History, which he intended as his pre-law course. Not unexpectedly, he joined the Upsilon Sigma Phi, his father’s fraternity. He also joined rallies where he stood with those who wanted the retention of US bases in the Philippines, in keeping with the sentiments of his townsmen. “It was the one concern where the whole of Olongapo was united,” he recalled, “because the people’s livelihood was connected to the base and the American presence in the community.” As a lawyer who specialized in labor, his father himself handled cases for the base employees. In 1988, his father lost his mayoralty bid in Olongapo. He fought against his fraternity brother, Richard Gordon. Actually, the two had been fighting it out for decades. “Olongapo became too small for them,” shared Ted. “A vivid memory to me to this day was the night I cried after my father lost. I was heartbroken because, for the most part of my life, I saw him give his all to the people. Throughout all those years, I just loved assisting my father. I followed him whenever he visited his constituents. I was a witness to everything that happened to him, his conflict with his political adversary and the loyalty of the people who believed in him and saw in him the man who would change the face of politics in our city.” The elder Macapagal became OIC-Mayor in 1986, but only two months after he received his appointment from the new president because the incumbent mayor did not easily give up his post which he was required to vacate under the new revolutionary government. “The next local election was the most expensive political exercise that our family ever waged,” Ted recounted. “It was then that my father decided that I pursue a new life in the United States, away from politics back home. “All the while, my heart never left the Philippines. Even before I left, I promised myself I would return to continue what my father started.” First non-white president Ted stayed in San Francisco for 20 long years. He had a tough time at the beginning of his new life. “I started off doing odd jobs. I worked as a security guard, janitor and waiter in a pizza parlor. “I also guarded the heavy equipment in a construction site in San Francisco. Thievery was a problem in that kind of situation. We would sleep in a trailer. “I transferred to a construction firm because I found out it offered a bigger salary. But I didn’t know the technical aspects of construction. Once, I made a portable ladder, but it fell apart, for which I was scolded by the owner of the company. I was fired on my third day on the job. Too bad because it paid high.” Ted then decided to pursue another degree, one that would be more useful in the United States. He took up Human Resource Management, a four-year course at the University of California in Berkeley. When he finally entered the corporate world, his first job was as a clerk. It wasn’t long before he became Division President of Stewart Title Company, one of the largest underwriters in the world, with offices across the United States, and in some 80 countries around the globe. He was based in the San Francisco Bay Area. “I may have been the first non-white president,” he said. “And I was a division president for the whole of North America. I was the first Filipino to reach that level.” Of his trailblazing accomplishments, he shared, “I was able to bring cultural diversity to the company, which enhanced its value. I got the top post because I asked for a meeting with the president. I told him we were not diverse enough to appeal to the non-white clients, and there were many of them who were first-time home buyers. Then, I told him to make the rounds. He would see that none of the home buyers was white. They were of different ethnic groups. I told him that if he appointed me as vice president, I would give him multi-cultural buyers because I would appeal to them and they would be our first-time buyers. So, he appointed me, and one month later, he made me president.” As an adjunct, he lectured on the topic of title insurance and escrow procedures in several community colleges in and around the San Franciso Bay Area. Through it all, he chose to keep his Filipino citizenship. The ‘Railway President’ For all the successes he was enjoying, the Philippines beckoned. He felt he still had a mission to accomplish. “My father was surprised. He asked me why I would still want to go home when I was doing well in the States. I insisted, so I came back and I plunged into political life. I worked on difficult campaigns, like the one for Rodrigo Duterte.” Back to his first love and passion, the political arena, he was in his element and served as president of PDP LABAN in Olongapo City from 2016 to 2021. In 2022, he joined LAKAS-CMD as its local chairman. This engagement led to his original target, as his father had achieved in his lifetime — serving the people. This time, he would be appointed to key posts in the government. He became director of the Clark Board and Gulf Oil Philippines. He took his oath of office as chairman of the Philippine National Railways on 28 April 2023. It is a job in a government agency where he is confident “I could make a difference because I can see that President Bongbong Marcos is really intent on improving the railway system of the country. “On my part, I want to make a difference. I want to be able to contribute whatever I can to help the president to achieve that objective. I call him now the ‘Railway President’ because I consider him the father of the railway system in our country.” Of course, he noted that many plans have been formulated during the time of President Rodrigo Duterte. Moreover, he recognized that President Gloria Arroyo “navigated our country through the global crisis. I was in the United States when the global economic crisis happened, and the Philippines was one of the countries spared, and I give credit to her. The economic fundamentals were very strong during her time. Being an economist, she was there at the right time when the country needed her the most.” With President BBM at the helm, he is confident “we will be able to push through with our development plan and finish the projects we have started, like the North-South Commuter Railway, which is a 147-kilometer stretch from Clark to Laguna. We hope to have the dry run in 2026 and it will be fully operational in 2027.” He also looks forward to the completion of the Bicol South Long Haul project. He is equally hopeful for the North Long Haul, the Subic-Clark and the Mindanao railways. He clarified that “we are now talking with the proponents, while some negotiations are being undertaken.” Working boots and a hard hat It would seem that this successful insurance executive was out of place in the railway sector. He pointed out, though, that “coming from the outside, I have the technical advantage of being able to look outside the box. So, I’m looking at it from outside the box, looking in. I am able to see the problems that need to be fixed. Stoppage is one of the problems so we have a bus augmentation program. We will also deploy UV Express units. We are closely coordinating with the LTFRB to provide emergency alternative transportation.” On the other hand, his exposure to people of all backgrounds from his youth, being his father’s son, has given him the advantage of “knowing how it is to be one of the boys. Something that I also experienced in the United States. “When people ask me what my management style is, I tell them straight I like to go down to the ground. I like hands-on supervision. I want my hands to be dirty. If you open the trunk of my car, you will find my working boots and my hard hat. I enjoy going to the construction sites and seeing for myself the progress, the problems, whatever it is that needs to be attended to. “Finally I want those working in the field doing the most difficult tasks to be satisfied and never to be hungry. Gusto ko, busog sila lagi. I am not happy when I get invited by the constructors and I am honored with a feast-like lunch or dinner, and not knowing what the workers are eating. I am on a diet anyway, so I make sure that my hosts bring the food to where the workers are eating. I can only eat so much and I would rather that the workers and the staff are full and happy. I am vocal about my displeasure when the construction workers are not eating the same food that is served to me. I may not be able to invite them to where I am eating but I can have the food brought to them.” Smiling from heaven Without a doubt, the old man Atty. Teddy C. Macapagal is smiling happily from his heavenly perch. He had served his fellowmen well, but he had done right as well by raising a son who took after his heart, to whom service to the people and compassion for the less fortunate matter more than any personal gain. His father, according to Ted, “died a broken man at the young age of 63. But whatever he lacked in longevity and riches, he made up for it with his compassion for others, for the free legal services that he gave to the people of Olongapo. “If you didn’t have money, you went to him because he was generous with his time and expertise. He would even give you some cash to use for your transportation fare to go home. That was my father. “The people whom he helped in turn would come to our home and bring him gifts like eggs, fruits, fish, vegetables and native chickens that they raised in their backyards. My father accepted them all. When I came home and saw all this, I teased him and said that he should probably open a sari-sari store so he could resell them. “Of course, we had a good laugh. But beyond the laughter, we both knew in our hearts that doing good to one’s fellowmen is its own reward and nothing in this world can take the place of personal fulfillment for having put a smile on people’s faces because you somehow made their lives better. “I am grateful that I have been raised by such a great father.” The post Michael Ted Macapagal: Making tracks in public service appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Huge difference (2)
Former Commission on Audit chairperson Ma. Gracia Pulido Tan and Commissioner Heidi L. Mendoza worked in tandem but their ill-fated partnership was marred by their mishandling of the audit of lawmakers’ pork barrel, which turned into a global disaster. The dysfunctional CoA turned Noynoy’s straight path into a crooked one, losing total control which led to the holocaust in Philippine fiscal administration under the triumvirate of Florencio Abad, Pulido Tan, and Mendoza. The appointees of then-president Aquino in CoA were the obstacles to the ability of President Rodrigo Duterte to fulfill his promises and meet the high public expectations. In one instance, he ordered the CoA chairman to audit the accounts of the Philippine National Red Cross, given the President’s controversy with Senator Gordon. The CoA chief rebuffed the President, saying the CoA had no jurisdiction over the PNRC. That was indeed a rebuff and a disrespect because it was incredible that a 7th placer in the Bar did not know her constitutional power to audit. But when the President directed the Solicitor General to take action and make CoA audit the Red Cross, the CoA chief blinked and said CoA would conduct an audit “next week.” Such was the naughtiness of President Noynoy’s appointees to constitutional offices. President Digong appointed the former chief accountant of Davao as CoA chief in 2022. Digong’s decision had a lot of logic and common sense. First, it would remove hindrances to the fulfillment of his promises to the people. Then Chairperson Rizalina Justol was greeted warmly by the CoA officials and staff. “I am glad to be back at CoA, an institution that I had served for 10 years as an auditing examiner,” Chairperson Justol said. She chose 1 March as the date of her assumption as chairperson, it being a significant date as it was when she left the Commission in 1996. Justol, however, was not confirmed by the Commission on Appointments, and her term was overtaken by the assumption into office of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. President Marcos then appointed National Telecommunications Commissioner Gamaliel A. Cordoba as CoA. He took his oath of office before Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Alexander Gesmundo. Cordoba obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1992. He entered the Ateneo School of Law and obtained his law degree in 1996. He passed the Bar in 1997. Atty. Cordoba was supposed to enjoy life with his appointment to the exalted post of chairman of the Commission, not far down the line of succession from the Head of State, but his life has been complicated by the backlog of more than 6,000 cases left behind by the former Commission Proper who wasted their official time on too much foreign travel, on the unconstitutional citizen participatory audit, and simply with their lack of direction. Cordoba was conferred the Order of the Rising Sun by Japan as a rising star of the Philippines. (To be continued) The post Huge difference (2) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QC LGU pananagutin ang guwardiyang naghagis ng tuta kapag napatunayang ‘guilty’
NAGSASAGAWA na ng “full investigation’ ang Quezon City government sa pagkamatay ng tuta matapos ihagis ng security guard sa isang shopping mall mula sa footbridge. Ayon sa isang pahayag ng abogado ng local government unit na si Atty. Niño Casimiro, bukod sa mahigpit sila sa pagpapatupad ng Republic Act No. 8485 o ang Animal Welfare […] The post QC LGU pananagutin ang guwardiyang naghagis ng tuta kapag napatunayang ‘guilty’ appeared first on Bandera......»»
Showbiz Politik
There appeared to be political turbulence ahead as we approached the one-year mark of the presidency of Bongbong Marcos Jr., which is on the 30th of June, a year from the Presidential Inauguration after the May 2022 elections. This will now come on a positive note, however, with the welcome appointments of two Cabinet members, one of whom ran in the elections but lost and has now surpassed the mandated one-year election ban for losing candidates, Atty. Gilbert Teodoro. He has slid into the role of Defense secretary, a position seemingly reserved for him since last year. On the other hand, the newly appointed Health secretary, Dr. Ted Herbosa, did not run in the 2022 elections. The distinguished Secretary Herbosa is a high-ranking official of the University of the Philippines and served as undersecretary in the Department of Health during the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He is the brother of my former boss at ACCRALAW, former SEC Chairperson, Atty. Tess Herbosa. This begs the question — why did it take so long for President Marcos Jr. to appoint a Health Secretary? It was rumored that the secretary position was reserved for Dr. Willie Ong, the running mate of Isko Moreno, who obviously lost in the vice-presidential race. It may be possible that Dr. Ong, upon being invited, respectfully declined the appointment. This was headline-grabbing news, supposedly. But the biggest news of the week came from the world of showbiz and involved very political personalities. The bolting of Tito, Vic and Joey, the hosts of the noontime show “Eat Bulaga,” from TAPE Productions and, effectively, GMA 7, to join TV5 was as enthralling as any political drama given the undisputed heavyweights entangled in this mess that was months in the making. Further, it is difficult not to think that the reasons for the departure of TVJ, or their removal by TAPE, had political motivations. The TVJ machinery created the Filipino noontime show as we know it today. It helped mold the Filipino entertainment industry through its creative segments and talents. Countless Filipinos have benefitted from “Eat Bulaga,” be it monetarily or emotionally. The show has churned out several politicians on the local and national levels, with Senate President Tito Sotto at the forefront of it all. Notably, Tito Sotto’s daughter, Ciara, is the chairperson of the MTRCB, while his son, Gian, is the vice mayor of Quezon City. Vic Sotto’s son, Vico, is the mayor of Pasig City. TAPE Productions, on the other hand, is owned by the Jalosjos family from Zamboanga del Norte. The patriarch, Romeo Jalosjos, a former congressman, is no stranger to controversy. His son, Romeo Jr., the president of TAPE, won the congressional elections in 2022 but was later delisted from the roster of the House of Representatives by a status quo ante order. Another son, Seth Jalosjos, CFO of TAPE, is a former congressman and is now mayor of Dapitan City. With the undetermined fate of Romeo Jr. in the House, we can safely assume that their stronghold in the district is not as fortified as before. In an interview with Senator Tito Sotto, it was insinuated that one of the reasons for their dispute with the Jalosjos family was the planned use of the “Eat Bulaga” brand to jumpstart a party-list group, taking a page from the playbook of the Tulfo brothers who almost instantly built their own political dynasty from media. The bolting of TVJ to TV5, owned by tycoon Manny Pangilinan, has political and business ramifications that have yet to be felt. All this merely proves that in our country, showbiz is king and the line between politics and showbiz has been blurred now more than ever. For comments, email him at darren.dejesus@gmail.com The post Showbiz Politik appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Late appointment
It’s already the first week of June and still Malacañang has not made any major announcements as to the Cabinet revamp that was mentioned early this year by no less than President Bongbong Marcos. The reckoning period should have been last May when the one-year appointment ban on those who had sought national elective posts lapsed. By now, the President should have a free hand to choose from among his many supporters who ran in the last elections but did not make it. As early as the fourth quarter of last year, there were already several names floated for this and that department, some of them controversial for belonging to the hated opposition collectively known as the Yellows. And, yes, there was a collective cringe that could be felt across the country when names such as Mar Roxas were bannered as soon-to-be appointed. Because while we would want to understand the mindset of PBBM as one going after true unity, the problem is that “unity” alone is not really an acceptable virtue for the majority of our people to embrace the yellow brand once more. No, Mr. President, we can’t accept it, so please perish the thought. Also, a word of advice. Before you even consider the Yellows, you may want to look first inside your own base camp and address the issues of your loyal lieutenants and supporters who are now being sidelined. I believe you will be facing bigger problems than the yellow backfire if people like Attys. Larry Gadon and Glenn Chong are not given responsibilities as members of your Cabinet. These are the leaders who really fought for you, tooth and nail, and they gave everything they had just for you. Also, they have solidly been there, even when you were still not looking that presidentiable, standing by you and your family all through the years that you suffered and were abandoned by many. Your leaders like Larry Gadon have gone through hell and high water defending you and ensuring that your voice and your narrative are not drowned out by the vitriol and venom being spewed against Marcos’ name. Staunch is an understatement in describing Atty. Gadon, who has staked his profession as a lawyer to hold the trenches. Now is the best time to recognize them with the Cabinet appointment they deserve, not really as a reward for their fealty, but because it will be in the best interest of your administration to have them as your official subalterns. They have proven their hard-core loyalty, and you know very well how deeply dedicated they will be to helping you attain your vision. They should be top of mind for you now, rather than that outrageous notion of allowing the Yellows to return to power under your helm. Appoint them now, Mr. President. Before all hell breaks loose. Mark my word. The post Late appointment appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Real Cabinet
The countdown is on as the expiration of the one-year ban on appointing officials who ran (and lost) in the 9 May 2022 national elections draws near. The 1987 Constitution provides that no candidate who lost in any election shall be appointed to any office in the government or any government-owned or controlled corporation or any of their subsidiaries within one year after the election. In other words, in a month or so, we shall see the true Cabinet of President Bongbong Marcos Jr., and we can smell the politicking from this side of town. In last year’s elections, the BBM-Sara ticket had some notable personalities who gave their hearts and souls to the campaign but unfortunately fell short of winning. The nation saw how their senatorial candidates sang and danced before thousands in their campaign sorties. We can expect these guys to be rewarded with handsome appointments to their desired offices. However, only a handful of vacant positions remain to be filled. The question now should be, who will be removed or replaced leading up to the expiration of the election ban? Early in the administration of President Marcos Jr., we saw a shuffling of appointed officers mainly due to the ruckus caused by the short-lived stay of Atty. Vic Rodriguez. In the aftermath, appointees were removed and replaced, and slowly we saw the preferred officers receive their official and legitimate appointment papers, some of whom are still warming their seats. But if we review how President Marcos Jr. chose his Cabinet officials, we see objectivity and a preference for experience and technical knowledge. Gone are the days, nearly, of appointments based on loyalty and political ties. In the next wave of appointments, we can safely assume that these will be based more on politics, but there are certain candidates whose credibility and competence are unquestioned. An outlier candidate for a choice position who will be eligible soon is Gilbert Teodoro, a one-time candidate for president of the Philippines under the party of then-outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Teodoro is a shoo-in for any position given his brilliance and experience. In the next weeks, there might be loyalty checks on the current Cabinet officials to see if they remain fit for their designations. News items on officials resigning due to health reasons, or taking leaves to pursue personal matters, would be cropping up more often than usual. This should give the President more leeway in crafting the most appropriate set of officers, given his leadership style and how they will best harmonize with the people close to him. It is noteworthy as well that the barangay elections, after a long hiatus, will be pushing through later this year, thereby opening a fresh round of changes in the local government units. While we may consider the administration to be in its early stages, the honeymoon period is over. Our President has put a stop to his foreign trips, focusing more on governance and bringing his agenda to fruition. As President, he is faced with countless issues non-stop daily. The plate will always be full, and he should be armed with a Cabinet that is both loyal and competent, at the same time. Sometimes, the most loyal ones are not the sharpest tools in the shed and may cause burgeoning problems later. We pray for thorough discernment on our President’s part in deciding who his new Cabinet will be. For comments, email him at darren.dejesus@gmail.com The post Real Cabinet appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marina marred by conflict
Maritime industry stakeholders are calling the attention of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to review the installation of Atty. Hernani Fabia as head of the Maritime Industry Authority or Marina despite a clear conflict of interest for owning a maritime school and training center. United Filipino Seafarers president, Engr. Nelson Ramirez, and Cargo Safeway Inc. president, Capt. Reynaldo Casareo, among others, have called on Malacañang to scrutinize Fabia’s posting since July 2022 and the implementation of some ridiculous mandates that are detrimental to the industry, particularly to seafarers. Fabia allegedly implemented the Management Level Course or MLC under Marina Advisory 2022-06, making it mandatory, and explaining that it is a crucial finding of independent evaluators hired by Marina to help the country pass the European Maritime Safety Agency audit. Casareo and Ramirez joined calls to reinstate Marina Advisory 2021-23 dated 7 May 2021, Marina Advisory 2021-45 dated 3 August 2021, and Marina Advisory 2021-49 by then Marina administrator, retired Navy Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad was rescinded by Fabia but made as the basis of an extension by the EU recognizing the Filipino crew’s certificates. “With the above, we can rectify all the malicious words thrown at his good person when he (Empedrad) was replaced as Marina’s administrator. Better, if he can be reinstated to his former position as administrator of Marina so he can continue a steady improvement in the areas indicated in the annexed documents stated in the letter of Mr. Henrik Hololei of the European Commission,” Casareo and Ramirez, both members of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association Inc., said in a statement. Conditional okay The EU decision released on 31 March provides that Filipino seafarer certifications will be honored but the Philippines has to address six deficiencies which are monitoring, supervision and evaluation of training, examination, and assessment of competence, program and course design, availability, and use of training facilities and simulators, on-board training, and issue, revalidation, and registration of certificates, but it did not mention the MLC. The MLC has been hit as an added burden to seafarer officers by seamen and manning agencies because aside from its skyrocketing price that starts from P45,000 and 40 days of completion, it is marred with controversies. After all, some seamen can even avail of the said training course even if they will not attend it, “if the price is right.” Casareo, for his part, revealed that MLC with “no show” is being priced at a whopping P80,000 to P120,000. Fabia, back then, insisted that implementing the MLC is a solution for the country to produce competent seafarers and finally pass the EMSA Audit, which was also backed by Transportation Secretary Jimmy Bautista saying that seafarers should avail such training to be at par with the regulations of the European shipowners and regulators. Casareo said the MLC was supported by various training centers “because they are the ones who will benefit from it, as well as Fabia who owns PNTC Training Center.” The MLC, according to Casareo, is in the curriculum already and there is no need to make it mandatory but attestation of the actual shipboard experience as Chief Mates/2nd Engineers must be recognized by Marina as a prerequisite so they can take the Management Level exam. “During the time of Vice Admiral Empedrad, attestations were accepted, so many were able to take exams, and many passed. Only training centers that are offering MLC, are the ones benefiting from the circular issued by Fabia making it mandatory before they can take the exam. Many opted to board again rather than taking MLC as a waste of time and money, so manning agents’ deployment is affected because they cannot be promoted without Management licenses to be Master or Chief Engr,” he said. The website of the PNTC Colleges and Maritime Training Center showed that Fabia founded the institution on 18 April 1994. But the Marina administrator maintained he had relinquished his posts at PNTC when he took the helm at Marina in July 2022. The post Marina marred by conflict appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BANTAG, ZULUETA, ARESTUHIN NA!
Naglabas na ng kautusan ang Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 206 na arestuhin na sina dating Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag at dati niyang deputy officer na si Ricardo Zulueta, kaugnay sa pagkamatay ni Jun Villamor, ang umano’y middleman sa pananambang at pagpatay sa broadcaster na si Percy Lapid. Ang arrest warrant laban kina Bantag at Zulueta ay pirmado ni Muntinlupa RTC Branch 206 presiding judge Gener M. Gito at nakasaad sa arrest warrant walang piyansa na inirerekomenda sa dalawang dating opisyal para sa kinakaharap na kasong murder kaugnay sa pagkamatay ni Villamor. Sinabi naman ng abogado ni Zulueta na si Atty. Lauro Gacayan, na wala pa silang natatanggap na arrest warrant, at hindi pa niya nakakausap ang kaniyang kliyente. Noong Marso 14, isinampa sa korte ng panel of prosecutors ng Department of Justice ang kasong two counts of murder laban kina Bantag at Zulueta, kaugnay sa pagpatay kina Lapid at Villamor. Binaril at napatay si Lapid sa Las Piñas City noong October 3, 2022, habang pinaslang si Villamor sa New Bilibid Prison noong October 18, 2022. Sa isinagawang awtopsiya ni forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun sa mga labi ni Villamor, lumabas na pinatay ang biktima sa pamamagitan ng pagsuklob ng plastic sa ulo nito hanggang sa hindi makahinga. Nauna nang itinanggi nina Bantag at Zulueta ang mga alegasyon laban sa kanila. Samantala, sinabi naman ni Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla na dapat harapin na ni Bantag at Zulueta ang kanilang sitwasyon matapos nang maglabas ng arrest warrant laban sa kanila. “If you think you’re innocent, just come in and face the music. Ano naman yan e, the judges would be able to know if the truth is there. Alam naman nila yung totoo at hindi totoo,” saad ni Remulla sa isang pahayag. “That’s due process. The wheels of justice are turning. So that’s a welcome development. Law enforcement na yan. It’s already up to the prosecutors to do their job…we take custody of him. Hopefully we can arrest him or he will surrender, hopefully,” sabi ni Remulla. “The law has a protocol on how to handle persons who will be arrested. So we will let the protocol of the law, the way that it runs, run its course. Yun naman talaga yung nangyayari. Pag may warrant of arrest, sini-serve yan in due time,” dagdag niya. The post BANTAG, ZULUETA, ARESTUHIN NA! appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Election lawyer defends PBBM vs wrong info on Maguindanao issue
A prominent election lawyer who supported President Bongbong Marcos, Jr. during the last elections defended the President against what he described as ‘forces feeding wrong information’ to the President, particularly on the issue of appointing new officials in Maguindanao Del Norte. Atty. Manuel Luna said that he was forced to come forward “out of malasakit” […].....»»
Kampo ni Vhong Navarro umaasang makakapagpiyansa ang TV host-comedian
UMAASA ang kampo ng TV host-comedian na si Vhong Navarro na makakapagpiyansa ito kaugnay sa kinakaharap na kasong rape na isinampa ng model na si Deniece Cornejo. Sa isang panayam sa abogado ng TV host-comedian na si Atty. Alma Mallonga, sinabi nitong tapos na ang pagdinig nitong Huwebes para sa kanilang petisyon na pansamantalang makalaya […] The post Kampo ni Vhong Navarro umaasang makakapagpiyansa ang TV host-comedian appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Kampo ni Vhong Navarro umaasang makakapagpiyansa ang TV host-comedian
UMAASA ang kampo ng TV host-comedian na si Vhong Navarro na makakapagpiyansa ito kaugnay sa kinakaharap na kasong rape na isinampa ng model na si Deniece Cornejo. Sa isang panayam sa abogado ng TV host-comedian na si Atty. Alma Mallonga, sinabi nitong tapos na ang pagdinig nitong Huwebes para sa kanilang petisyon na pansamantalang makalaya […] The post Kampo ni Vhong Navarro umaasang makakapagpiyansa ang TV host-comedian appeared first on Bandera......»»
Aviation industry lalago sa administrasyong Marcos
MANILA, Philippines – Maraming mga dayuhang negosyante ang nagpahayag ng kanilang interes na mamuhunan sa aviation at engineering companies sa Pilipinas sa administrasyon ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Sa isang press briefing, binigyang diin ni Atty. Manolito Manalo ng Ocampo, Manalo, Valdez, Lim Law Office ang pangangailangan ng ‘whole nation approach’ upang ihanda ang […] The post Aviation industry lalago sa administrasyong Marcos appeared first on REMATE ONLINE......»»
‘Hindi dapat sumasali sa isang kaso kung sa tingin niya ay iba ‘yung kanyang opinyon’ — Atty. Ferdinand Topacio
TRENDING si Atty. Ferdinand Topacio nitong Biyernes dahil nagbitiw na siya bilang abogado ni Deniece Cornejo sa rape case nito laban kay Vhong Navarro. Marami kasi ang nagulat kaya kaliwa’t kanan ang humihingi ng panig niya kahit may statement na siya kay ABS-CBN reporter Nico Baua nitong Huwebes ng gabi. Isa si Julius Babao sa […] The post ‘Hindi dapat sumasali sa isang kaso kung sa tingin niya ay iba ‘yung kanyang opinyon’ — Atty. Ferdinand Topacio appeared first on Bandera......»»
Ogie Diaz nag-react sa post na kuning endorser ng Facebook si Toni Gonzaga
HINDI napigilan ng talent manager at showbiz personality na si Ogie Diaz na i-call out ang isang Facebook page na nakapangalan kay Atty. Larry Gadon. Ito ay patungkol sa diumano’y mungkahi ng abogado na sana’y kunin ng naturang social media website ang Multimedia Star na si Toni Gonzaga bilang endorser rin ng Facebook. “Mga Katropa […] The post Ogie Diaz nag-react sa post na kuning endorser ng Facebook si Toni Gonzaga appeared first on Bandera......»»
Abogado ni Vhong Navarro may pasabog na anggulo sa rape case na isinampa ni Deniece Cornejo
NANININDIGAN ang abogadong si Atty. Alma Mallonga na hindi totoo ang bintang na rape laban sa kanyang kliyenteng si Vhong Navarro. Hanggang ngayon kasi ay malaking palaisipan pa rin dahil tila nabaligtad ang mga pangyayari lalo na’t ilang beses na ring nabasura ang kasong rape na isinampa ni Deniece Cornejo laban sa Kapamilya TV host. […] The post Abogado ni Vhong Navarro may pasabog na anggulo sa rape case na isinampa ni Deniece Cornejo appeared first on Bandera......»»
‘Pekeng’ BI appointment paper pinaiimbestigahan ni PBBM
MANILA, Philippines- Iniatas ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. na imbestigahan ang source ng appointment document na pinaniniwalaang pineke, ayon kay Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles nitong Martes. Sinabi ni Cruz-Angeles na ang dokumento ng appointment ni Atty. Abraham Espejo bilang bagong Immigration chief ay hindi mahanap sa records ng Office of the President, Office of […] The post ‘Pekeng’ BI appointment paper pinaiimbestigahan ni PBBM appeared first on REMATE ONLINE......»»
Pamilya ni ex-Lamitan mayor Furigay bukas sa Ateneo shooting probe
MANILA, Philippines- Bukas ang pamilya ni dating Lamitan City mayor Rosita Furigay, na namatay sa pamamaril sa Ateneo de Manila University, sa imbestigasyon ng mga awtoridad, ayon sa abogado ng pamilya nitong Linggo. Sinabi ni Atty. Quirino Esguerra na makikipag-ugnayan ang pamilya Furigay sa mga awtoridad sa imbestigasyon sa pamamaril sa Ateneo campus aat sa […] The post Pamilya ni ex-Lamitan mayor Furigay bukas sa Ateneo shooting probe appeared first on REMATE ONLINE......»»