PSC launches organizational revamp, promotes Atty. Iroy as acting executive director
The Philippine Sports Commission launched a revamp in the agency’s organizational setup in light of an employee’s fraudulent actions discovered last week. PSC chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez announced Wednesday noon that changes were approved in an executive meeting held that same morning. “It was a collective decision of the board as part of a plan to re-stabilize the organization,” he said. Part of the said revamp is the appointment of Atty. Guillermo Iroy, Jr. as acting Executive Director. Merlita Ibay resumes her old position as Deputy Executive Director for Finance and Administrative Services after she served as acting ED while Queenie Evangelista will head the Bureau of Coordinating Secretariat and Support Services as its Acting Deputy Executive Director. Ramirez in a statement acknowledged the lapses in the agency and vowed to ensure that necessary investigation, correction, and sanction are done. Last week an employee of the agency was caught padding the payroll of national athletes and coaches. “As the highest accountable official of the agency, I take responsibility to effect changes, to make sure that there are no gaps in the organization. I feel sad, frustrated, and hurt but we all have to have composure,” shared Ramirez, adding that he hopes all stakeholders and partners “are at peace with these decisions and continue to support us through this.” So far, the National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice and the Office of the Solicitor General have been asked to assist with the investigation and case. Other leadership changes within the agency are set to be undertaken within the week......»»
‘Under a Piaya Moon’ director hopes he made mentor Peque Gallaga proud
In receiving the award for Mowelfund Film Institute Special Citation (full-length film category) at the just-concluded Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival at the Gateway Cineplex, “Under a Piaya Moon” director Kurt Soberano dedicated it to all his film and acting mentors, including the late multi-awarded filmmaker Peque Gallaga, Lawrence Fajardo, Jay Abello, and all the Ilonggo and Negrense directors......»»
Lovi Poe may bagong Hollywood movie, sisimulan ang taping this year
BUKOD sa Hollywood independent film na “Bad Man,” may bagong international movie na pagbibidahan ang Pinay actress na si Lovi Poe. Grabe! Ibang level na talaga si Lovi, pang-Hollywood na ang kanyang acting skills! Hindi pa nari-reveal kung ano ang titulo ng bago niyang proyekto, pero ito ay pinangungunahan ng American producer-director na si Garry.....»»
Indonesia catches illegal Philippine fishing vessel
JAKARTA, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia has caught an illegal fishing vessel from the Philippines and its four crew members with fake documents in the Sulawesi Sea, the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry has reported. Acting Director General of Marine Resources and Fisheries Supervision, Pung Nugroho Saksono, said Thursday that the vessel was caught on Monday, when it was transporting around 2 tons of tuna to.....»»
MMDA muling nanawagan sa NCR LGUs: Magtalaga ng fireworks display zones
MULING nananwagan ang Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) sa local government units (LGUs) sa Metro Manila ngayong malapit na ang pagdiriwang ng Bagong Taon. Ang nais ng ahensya, magkaroon ng designated fireworks display zones sa oras ng putukan. Ayon kay MMDA Acting Chairman Atty. Don Artes, ito ay para mas maging ligtas ang naturang holiday.....»»
A positive difference
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others,” Mahatma Gandhi once said. Marian Wright Edelman states, “Service is the rent we pay for being. It is the very purpose of life, and not something you do in your spare time.” Two memorable statements capture the essence of Attorney Kelvin Lester Lee, hailed by Dean Antonio La Viña of Ateneo School of Government as “one of the finest and most visionary individuals to have emerged from Ateneo Law School.” It’s no surprise that Atty. Lee became a Commissioner at the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2019. While his position may be formidable, those who have met him in person can attest to his kind-hearted nature and willingness to devote his time generously. When expressing his views, he displays a remarkable level of candor, always taking the time to carefully consider his words before speaking. Aside from his sense of humor, Lee possesses a remarkable ability to engage in meaningful conversations. When he speaks, he has a way of looking directly into your eyes, underscoring the significance of his words. Even in intense situations, he maintains a calm demeanor and is known to offer a comforting smile, lightening the atmosphere. In his role as Commissioner at the SEC, Atty. Lee assumes the responsibility of overseeing various crucial departments and divisions. These include the markets and securities regulation department, the information and communications technology department, the PhiliFintech innovation office dedicated to Philippine financial technology, and the international affairs and protocol division. Moreover, he holds authority over capital markets, sustainable finance, Fintech and information technology, and international affairs, ensuring their effective management and implementation. While the enormity of those tasks might induce vertigo in most individuals, Atty. Lee remains unfazed. “It is perhaps the best job I have ever had,” he admitted. “I enjoy making a positive change in the sector I am handling. I enjoy pushing innovations and encouraging improvements in the financial sector and capital markets.” With great responsibility, Lee adopts a heightened level of caution. Recognizing the potential impact of his words, he expressed the need to exercise carefulness in his public statements, as any statement he makes can influence the stock market. This awareness underscores his commitment to acting with prudence and considering the far-reaching implications of his words. Let’s delve into the life of Lee, who began his journey in the humble city of Davao, his birthplace. He embarked on his educational path at the Ateneo de Davao University for his grade school education, followed by his enrollment at Davao Central High School, then called Davao Chinese High School. After completing his schooling in Davao, he ventured to Beijing, China, where he pursued studies in the Chinese language and gained work experience with a foreign company. However, after two years, he returned to the Philippines and enrolled in Ateneo de Manila University to pursue a law degree. This journey showcases his diverse experiences and the foundation of his educational and cultural background. “The Ateneo de Manila entrance exam was the only one I could take that year when I came back from China,” he said, adding that he never dreamed of becoming a lawyer. “I just wanted to give it a try. And found I was a surprisingly good fit for it.” As a lawyer, he has five ideal lawyers. Only one is a foreigner: Sir Thomas Moore, an English lawyer, social philosopher, author, and statesman whom Roman Catholics venerated as Saint Thomas More. “He stood by his faith and principles,” he said. Fresh from hurdling the Bar exam, he worked at the Siguion-Reyna Montecillo and Ongsiako law firm, where he learned the importance of being enterprising and putting in a diligent effort to succeed. However, despite his professional growth, he decided to quit and return to his hometown of Davao, placing the deeply rooted value on family and prioritizing personal and familial responsibilities above career pursuits. As a father to two daughters, Atty. Lee expressed that fatherhood has had a profound impact on him, bringing about significant changes. He considers it one of the greatest blessings he could ever receive. According to him, the love that his children show him is genuine and unmatched. He believes that the love of young children is unparalleled. Experiencing this level of love is indescribable, knowing someone loves you unconditionally. This extraordinary bond makes fatherhood one of the most precious and fulfilling aspects of his life. “The love your kids show you is real,” he said. “You will never be as loved as you are by your young children. There is no feeling quite like it to know that someone loves you as much as that. That’s what makes it one of the best things.” Working in government “It is an honor to serve. Very few people get an opportunity to help the country and serve the president and the people,” said Lee, who is a former assistant secretary at the Office of the Executive Secretary in Malacañang, where he was also designated to sit on the Board of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. Atty. Lee’s dedication to public service earned him well-deserved recognition in his field. In March this year, he received two international accolades for his role in driving the advancement of financial technology in the Philippine business sector, highlighting his visionary thinking and influential impact solidifying his reputation as a trailblazer in the field. In the 10th annual Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, Lee was bestowed the Gold Stevie award for his outstanding contributions as a Thought Leader of the Year. These awards celebrate workplace innovation across all 29 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. From a vast pool of over 800 regional nominations, winners were selected in various categories, including the Award for Excellence in Innovation in Products & Services, the Award for Innovative Management, and the Award for Innovation in Corporate Websites, among others. “It feels great. It’s always wonderful to be recognized for all the hard work and changes you pursue at a government agency. And I was quite surprised to get the Gold Stevie Award, the highest level of the award for thought leadership. I feel so honored!” In the next decade, Atty. Lee, now 44, envisions continuing his career in law, possibly incorporating elements of technology, and hopes to stay actively involved in government work and make a significant impact by fostering meaningful transformation. “Working in government can be quite fulfilling. I encourage young lawyers and professionals to enter the arena and work in government to try and make a positive difference.” The post A positive difference appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MMDA lays down Oplan Undas
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has activated its “Oplan Undas 2023” to ensure the orderliness of this year’s traditional observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on 1 and 2 November, respectively. MMDA acting Chairperson Atty. Romando Artes said 1,448 traffic enforcers and other personnel from the Traffic Discipline Office, Road Emergency Group, Metro Parkways Clearing Group, and Task Force Special Operations will be deployed in key areas in the metropolis. Artes said they expect a lot of people to visit cemeteries and memorial parks during All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, so they are taking steps to ensure that traffic is managed smoothly and that everyone is safe. In addition to “Oplan Undas 2023,” the MMDA has also implemented traffic management measures to alleviate expected heavier traffic congestion during the holidays. Among the measures is the temporary suspension of excavation activities in Metro Manila effective midnight of 13 November up to midnight of 8 January 2024. Exempted from the moratorium are flagship projects of the government, bridge repairs and constructions, and flood interceptor catchment projects, among others. Shopping mall operators will also be required to submit respective traffic management plans to the MMDA for their respective mall sales and other promotional events two weeks before the scheduled dates of such events. Mall-wide sales shall only be allowed on weekends and the deliveries of shopping mall operators shall only be allowed during nighttime, from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following day. To ensure maximum visibility of traffic enforcers during the holiday season, nighttime duty of traffic enforcers would be extended until 12 midnight, effective 13 November to 8 January. The MMDA said traffic enforcers were told to avoid kumpulan or grouping and unnecessary use of cellular phones while on duty except when reporting traffic situations or accidents in their areas of assignment. Traffic management shall be prioritized, the agency stressed. Thus, apprehension of simple moving violations which may cause traffic congestion shall be avoided. The post MMDA lays down Oplan Undas appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NEA wants Primelectric deal to aid consumers
The National Electrification Administration or NEA has asked Primelectric Holdings, Inc., a unit of MORE Electric and Power Corp., to ensure that its joint venture agreement or JVA with Central Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc. or CENECO will uphold consumers' interest. "I hope we can address the concerns of the opposition. We must also consider them. Regarding the participation of the Member-Consumer-Owners, it has been concluded during the plebiscite so we will put this into motion with all the required legal objectivity,” NEA Administrator Antonio Almeda said on Monday. Last week, Almeda met with Primelectric and CENECO officials to address the opposition concerns to improve the JVA of the involved parties. Primelectric and CENECO presented their joint venture to the NEA board to discuss service improvements for consumers. “This venture seeks to magnify the electric industry in Central Negros by not just streamlining the internal and external operations of concerned parties but also rehabilitating and modernizing the distribution system, which is deemed crucial in providing quality service to our consumers,” Primelectric President Roel Castro said during the hearing. For his part, CENECO acting general manager Atty. Arnel Lapore also supported the critical role the JVA plays in the area, adding that it “strongly” supports the NEA’s objective to achieve efficient service for all consumers. “I’m one with NEA in facilitating the service for the benefit of our consumers. That’s why I strongly support and cooperate through this JVA to ensure we deliver quality operations internally and externally. Rest assured that we duly consider all the suggestions raised by Admin Almeda during the hearing,” Lapore said. Primelectric has already conveyed that it is ready to pour in investments to modernize the system of CENECO. Castro highlighted that the target P2.1 billion initial investment in the capex of its operations will bankroll cutting-edge and top-of-the-line systems for a better consumer experience. Castro also emphasized that the JVA will help achieve the 100 percent total electrification target in the franchise area by 2028 “in alignment” with the present administration’s agenda of achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth. “We need to rehabilitate the system because if you don’t put in the additional P2 billion investment or even bigger, you will be inheriting a distribution system that is just the same as now that is inefficient. That’s why we have to put (the investment) in P2.1 billion to start rehabilitating and improving the system,” he said. Primelectric and CENECO signed the JVA last 3 June purposely to improve the electricity services in Central Negros. The proposal received support from local leaders, the business sector, and consumer groups. No less than Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez described the partnership as “a White Knight that would save our consumers from the looming disaster.” The post NEA wants Primelectric deal to aid consumers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PPA, BOC probe rotting cadaver in Phl cargo in Thailand
The Philippine Ports Authority said on Thursday that it has already coordinated with the Bureau of Customs to find the consignee of the container that contains two decomposing dead bodies that were delivered and discovered in Thailand last 2 October 2023. PPA general manager Atty. Jay Daniel Santiago told the DAILY TRIBUNE that there is an ongoing coordination with the BOC, while a thorough investigation is underway. “As soon as we received info on the discovery of the corpses, we immediately initiated our own investigation and did a traceback on the movement of the container,” he said. Santiago added that they had a hard time tracing back the origin of the cargo container, said to be owned by Evergreen Marine Corporation, because of the lack of technology to do so. “It would have been easier for us if there was immediately available digital data on the identity of the container but instead, we had to do a manual traceback,” he said. The PPA has been pushing for the roll-out of the Trusted Operator Program-Container Registry and Monitoring System or TOP-CRMS, a digitized system that will register and monitor the movement of containers that enter and exit the ports that are strongly opposed by several shipping lines and the Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organizations. Under the TOP-CRMS, if passed, the containers going in and out of the country will have a proper electronic log and cargoes will have a container insurance policy to ensure that they arrive safely to their destination. There are about a dozen stakeholders and business groups who objected to the Philippines having TOP-CRMS in the public consultation held in recent months. Confirms Manila origin Meanwhile, PPA-NCR South Harbor acting port manager Catherine Esto confirmed that the cargo indeed originated at the Port of Manila. “The container was declared empty by its owners. The BOC has the responsibility for the release of cargo from the port to its destination. We are also conducting our own investigation on why the container was declared empty,” she said in a radio interview, also on Thursday. Port authorities in Thailand said the container arrived at Laem Chabang Port, but when the warehouse personnel opened the said container to clean it, they discovered the decomposing bodies of two unidentified Filipinos. The Thai Police, on the other hand, assumed that the two bodies might have been dead for two weeks with no signs of torture. The post PPA, BOC probe rotting cadaver in Phl cargo in Thailand appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PAGCOR taps Development Academy of the Philippines for reorganization push
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) today, 19 September, announced another major move towards the privatization of its casinos by partnering with the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) in facilitating its reorganization process. PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco said they tapped DAP’s technical assistance to comply with the requirements of the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) in the implementation of its Compensation and Position Classification System or CPCS which is needed prior to privatization. “We thank the Development Academy of the Philippines for being a prime mover of competency building in government,” Mr. Tengco said. “We need their help to comply with the (documentary) requirements of the GCG and in our efforts to eventually implement the CPCS that our employees have been eagerly waiting for,” he said. Tengco made the remarks after he and DAP president and CEO Atty. Engelbert Caronan Jr. signed the memorandum of agreement for PAGCOR’s reorganization at the New Coast Hotel in Manila last 12 September. PAGCOR Vice President for Human Resource and Development Group Angelito Domingo and DAP Vice President for Mindanao Dr. Mark Lemuel Garcia also signed the agreement. Tengco said he also wants to engage DAP in the facilitation and conduct of training for PAGCOR officers and employees to enhance their skills and competencies. Caronan, for his part, expressed gratitude to PAGCOR for believing in DAP’s capability to help implement organizational changes that would be beneficial to the state gaming firm’s workforce. “We would like to thank PAGCOR for their trust and confidence in this partnership; we are ready to provide the necessary technical services to make the agency GCG-compliant and help it carry out its reorganization efforts,” he said. The DAP is a government-owned and controlled corporation mandated to assist agencies and local government units in their development efforts by acting as a change catalyst and capacity builder. It helps facilitate the shaping of new government policies, crafting development programs, and modernizing the management structure of government agencies and private enterprises alike. The post PAGCOR taps Development Academy of the Philippines for reorganization push appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Critically ill
One thing that is very wrong about the local film industry is that we have an abundance of film critics who know next to nothing about movies. While the right to free speech guarantees that even the most doltish person can write about anything (and many of them do in this country), the problem is that there are still many people who can be led to believe in idiocy. Unfortunately, although there are laws that prevent people who have not studied the course and passed the requisite government examination from practicing medicine, law, or engineering (just to name a few), no such legislation prevents the ordinary “tambay sa kanto” from passing judgment on movies based on nothing more than baseless opinions. As a film critic for another major broadsheet, I once attended a film symposium. One kid bewailed what he said was the penchant of our movie makers for the happy ending (no, not the one that you get in shady massage parlors). He particularly zeroed in on the classic Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit. The poseur critic questioned why, after both lead characters died, the last sequence was a fantasy scene wherein they were both “resurrected,” which he opined was “a case of pandering to the masses.” I pointed out to him that that was because the movie was a close adaptation of the 1936 Hollywood classic Wuthering Heights, starring the legends Merle Oberon, Laurence Olivier and David Niven, which had the exact same ending (and which I had already seen, not once, but twice). Red-faced, he made some rambling oratory about the Filipinos’ slavish imitation of Hollywood, before shutting up. And therein lies the rub, to use one of my favorite Shakespearian paraphrases. In this country, anyone who has a laptop and can construct a half-decent sentence, can style himself a movie critic, never mind if all the movies he has seen are those of Tito, Vic and Joey and Vice Ganda. Real film critics work hard at their craft, and know the ins and outs of making a movie. The great Joe Morgenstern is a Pulitzer Prize winner, his film reviews erudite because he was close to many acclaimed producers and had a ringside view of movie making owing to his being the former husband of actress Piper Laurie. The late Andrew Sarris was a professor of film at Columbia University. He was married to Molly Haskell, a fellow film critic who wrote scholarly theses on movies. Francois Truffaut was not only a critic, but a director, screenwriter, actor and producer, and as an auteur, was one of the founders of the French New Wave. Leonard Maltin, famous for the book, Leonard Maltin’s Movie Guide (updated yearly), was a journalism graduate of the prestigious New York University and a film lover. Roger Ebert had a master’s degree in writing and was mentored by the best film critics; he eventually received the Pulitzer Prize. I became a film critic because of my unremitting love for movies, which I no doubt got from my late father, Atty. Arturo Topacio Jr., who not only brought me to cinemas weekly since as far as I can remember, but being a film lover himself would patiently explain to me how movies were made, and why he thought a particular scene, or acting, or script, was good or bad. On my own, I have seen thousands of films of all genres, local and international. I own literally thousands of movies on DVD: primitives, silents, contemporary, most of them critical successes. And through Borracho Films, I have produced two critically acclaimed films (Deception and Mamasapano). In the Philippines, I am the only film critic who is a film maker. And while there are many excellent critics around (Butch Francisco being a prime example), there are just as many who are, when it comes to film education, critically ill. The post Critically ill appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Panelo: Resolve Maguindanao Norte predicament
Former Presidential Legal Adviser Atty. Salvador Panelo on Thursday has called on the provincial government of Maguindanao del Norte to resolve the problem of having two governors, saying that it stalls the basic public services that should be delivered to the public. “The law is very clear, you cannot have vacancy in government elected position, otherwise problems will occur like what is happening now in Maguindanao del Norte where it has Bangsamoro Ministry of Interior and Local Government-endorsed Governor Abdulraof Macacua and designated acting Governor Fatima Ainee Sinsuat who was the former Vice Governor,” Panelo said. He added that the Supreme Court also have already ruled “that the designation of Sinsuat is valid,” as the local government employees are also caught in the middle of controversy of having two governors for their province. Sinsuat’s spokesperson Atty. Samuel Divina earlier explained that the situation of the province is getting bleaker as the MILG continues to block the funds supposedly intended for the people of Maguindanao del Norte, as well as the plans and programs of the local government supposedly governed by the designated acting governor since Maguindanao was separated into two by the plebiscite last year. He added that Malacañang was not swayed by the prodding of the MILG and should now recall the appointment of Abdulraof Macacua, who was not even voted by the people of Maguindanao. “Recall the appointment of Macacua, for the basic services to the people to roll,” Divina said, pleading Malacañang to cancel or nullify the appointment of Macacua. Divina also stressed that the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s Bureau of Local Government and Finance, the MILG and the Land Bank in the province are allegedly holding the budget hostage because of the confusion it brought when they endorsed Macacua to Malacañang to be the governor. Divina said that the MILG was even a respondent to the Petition for Mandamus filed by Sinsuat at the Supreme Court which ruled on her favor. The post Panelo: Resolve Maguindanao Norte predicament appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chavez vows greater role for NDCPAAI
Led by Transportation Undersecretary Cesar B. Chavez, the newly elected officers of the National Defense College of the Philippines Alumni Association Inc. took their oath before Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin on Monday. Chavez, a consistent appointee to various government agencies by seven successive presidents, was elected president of the NDCPAAI for 2023-2025. He is currently Undersecretary for Railways under the Department of Transportation. “Grateful to Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin for administering our oath in Malacañang this morning as the newly elected officers of the National Defense College of the Philippines Alumni Association Inc.,” Chavez said. “Our association will strive to be more meaningful and relevant for its members and the country. We will actively foster a platform that encourages greater collaboration between the NDCP, its alumni, and stakeholders, contributing to the national discourse and policy development on all aspects of national security,” he added. Chavez pursued a military and national security education, completing courses such as basic and advance intelligence, psychological warfare, and command and general staff management. He earned a Master’s degree in National Security Administration at NDCP, a Ph.D. in Peace and Security Administration from Bicol University, and a Senior Executive certificate on national and international security from Harvard Kennedy School. He also finished the Strategic Management Program at the National University of Singapore. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs Jesus “Gary” Domingo was elected vice president. Domingo has served as ambassador to New Zealand and held positions in the Philippine Missions to the UN, in New York and Geneva, as well as the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh. NDCP executive vice president Aldrin Cuña was elected secretary general of the association. Captain Luidegar “Lloyd” Casis will head the committee on military affairs. He graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy. Casis is a member of the Philippine Military Academy’s Tanglaw-Diwa Class of 1992. He is currently chief of the capabilities and weapons systems division of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, OJ5, of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Aboitiz InfraCapital first vice president Christopher Camba will chair the Committee on Ways and Means. With over 20 years of corporate experience within the Aboitiz Group, he has had diverse roles spanning audit, finance, operations, marketing, risk management, and government relations. Commission on Appointments director and NDCP professor Vladimir Mata was elected head of the Homecoming Committee. He is a lieutenant colonel and currently acting commander of the Marine Reserve Brigade in Northern Luzon. Zamboanga del Sur First District Rep. Divina Grace Yu will serve as chairperson of the Committee on Chairmanship. She has been serving as Deputy House Speaker since 2020. Morong, Rizal RTC Branch 79 Judge Maria Josefina San Juan-Torres was chosen to chair the Committee on Awards. She is vice president of the International Association of Refugee and Migration Judges (Asia Pacific Chapter). Valenzuela City Administrator Atty. Jaime De Veyra will join Judge San Juan-Torres in the Awards Committee. He has held roles in the Public Estates Authority and the Philippine Mining Development Corporation as chief legal counsel and CEO. CGA Capt. Jeremias “Jerry” Simon will chair the Committee on Membership. The post Chavez vows greater role for NDCPAAI appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fortun files case at QC PLEB vs QCPD, re gun-toting incident
Atty. Raymond Fortun, acting as a concerned citizen, has filed a case with the Quezon City People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) over the weekend, against personnel of QCPD Traffic Sector 4 of Kamuning in relation to the viral gun-toting incident that happened last August 8. Fortun filed the charges against P/Staff Sergeant Darwin Peralta, P/SSg. Joel Aviso, and P/Executive Master Sergeant Armando Carr, all from the QCPD Traffic Sector 4 of Kamuning. The lawyer charged them with Oppression, Irregularities in the Performance of Duties and Incompetence, under Rule 21 of NAPOLCOM Memorandum Circular 2016 – 002. Fortun said that it appears the cyclist and ex-policeman Wilfredo Gonzales were first brought to the QCPD Kamuning Police Station 11, since the incident was first considered as a mere traffic incident by the first responders of QCPD Galas Police Station. Eventually, no charges were filed in Kamuning, and the parties were instead referred to the Galas Police Station late in the evening. “Despite the clear and imbalanced status of the parties, the same police officers failed to protect the rights of the cyclist when they failed to provide a legal counsel for him so that the latter would be duly appraised of his rights. Further, they failed to secure the CCTV footages in the area in order to ferret out the real facts in the conflicting statements made by the parties. Finally, and for reasons known only to them, and despite there being sufficient basis to do so, the same police officers failed to file the appropriate charges,” Fortun explained. On the other end, Mayor Joy Belmonte lauded this act of Atty. Fortun. “What we need now are little acts of heroism from ordinary Filipinos to stand up for what is right to exact accountability from those in power. This move of Atty. Fortun in filing a case with our PLEB is a vote of confidence that here in Quezon City, we will get things done. The proper process in the proper forum, which is the PLEB, will now take its course,” Belmonte said. “This incident also highlights the need to institutionalize the presence of PLEB in other cities and municipalities to hear and decide the complaints filed against erring policemen. I am confident that the case filed in the PLEB will be handled without fear or favor,” she added. Meanwhile, PLEB Chairman and Executive Officer Atty. Rafael Vicente Calinisan said, “The institutions, particularly the PLEB, are in place so that the community will feel safe and secure in their homes. We commit to serve as an effective watchdog against abusive cops, and at the same time serve as partners to our men in uniform towards nation-building.” “As far as the case filed by Atty. Fortun is concerned, we promise to act on this case with absolute dispatch,” Calinisan added. The PLEB is the check and balance mechanism created by Republic Act 6975 or An Act Establishing the PNP Under A Reorganized Department of the Interior and Local Government and For Other Purposes as amended by R.A. 8551 (The PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998) where ordinary citizens are empowered against erring policemen. PLEB can summarily dismiss, demote, suspend and reprimand abusive policemen. The post Fortun files case at QC PLEB vs QCPD, re gun-toting incident appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Disability Benefits
Dear Atty. Joji, My father sustained a back injury due to the heavy lifting involved in his current job. In his recent check-up, he received advice to refrain from heavy lifting to prevent further aggravation of the injury. In this situation, Atty., would he be eligible for compensation considering that his injury resulted from the nature of his job? Javier Dear Javier, Disability benefits are granted to an employee who sustains an injury or contracts a sickness resulting in temporary total, permanent total, or permanent partial, disability. For the injury and the resulting disability to be compensable, they must have necessarily resulted from an injury or accident arising out of and in the course of employment. Citing the case of Iloilo Dock & Engineering Co. v Workmen’s Compensation Commission, the Court explained the phrase “arising out of and in the course of employment” in this wise: The two components of the coverage formula — “arising out of” and “in the course of employment” — are said to be separate tests that must be independently satisfied; however, it should not be forgotten that the basic concept of compensation coverage is unitary, not dual, and is best expressed in the word, “work-connection, because an uncompromising insistence on an independent application of each of the two portions of the test can, in certain cases, exclude clearly work-connected injuries.” The words “arising out of” refer to the origin or cause of the accident, and are descriptive of its character, while the words “in the course of” refer to the time, place and circumstances under which the accident takes place. As a matter of general proposition, an injury or accident is said to arise “in the course of employment” when it takes place within the period of the employment, at a place where the employee may reasonably... be, and while he is fulfilling his duties or is engaged in doing something incidental thereto. Thus, for injury to be compensable, the standard of “work connection” must be substantially satisfied. The injury and the resulting disability sustained by reason of employment are compensable regardless of the place where the injured occurred, if it can be proven that at the time of the injury, the employee was acting within the purview of his or her employment and performing an act reasonably necessary or incidental thereto. Hope this helps. Atty. Joji Alonso The post Disability Benefits appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Commuters’ group asks Makati Business Club to mind own business
A commuters' group on Sunday said business groups should mind their own business, instead of dipping their hands into the exclusive affairs of the Office of the Ombudsman. Atty. Ariel Inton, who heads the Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection, particularly chided the Makati Business Club (MBC) for criticizing the dismissal order by the Ombudsman leveled against officials of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA). "The Makati Business Club has no personality to the case," Inton, a former official of the LTFRB, said. Inton was reacting to the MBC statement urging Ombudsman Samuel Martires to reconsider the dismissal of MIAA acting general manager Cesar Chiong and acting assistant general manager Irene Montalbo, who were accused of grave abuse of authority. The Office of the Ombudsman earlier this month ordered the two officials dismissed after ruling that they were guilty of grave misconduct and abuse of authority in ordering the reassignments of nearly 300 MIAA employees. Inton said it is Chiong and Montalbo who should be appealing to the Ombudsman by filing a motion for reconsideration on its decision, "rather than the MBC do the talking." Inton also rebuked Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista on how the latter handles the transport system (air, land, and sea) like "hinalong kalamay (mixed rice cake)", adding that the transport chief should have an "iron fist" for his subordinates to focus on their jobs. "As transport commuter advocates, we feel the pressure of his job. He (Bautista) should look to his subordinates to focus on their jobs," Inton said referring to how Bautista should run the DOTr. Critics find Bautista "too soft" in running the DOTr making the NAIA one of the worst airports in Asia, based on passengers' queueing experiences, according to data obtained by property management and hospitality company Casago. The DOTr, they said, should be run by those coming from the land transportation system, not like Bautista who came from the private sector. Inton's group recommended Thomas "Tim" Orbos who was once the general manager of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure of the Department of Transportation under the Duterte administration; former Party-list Congressman Jonathan A. Dela Cruz and Jess Manalo (Angkla Party-list) as Bautista's possible replacements. Meanwhile, Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Secretary Larry Gadon said he stands by the decision of Martires in his ruling to dismiss former airport GM Chiong and former Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) head Lloyd Christopher Lao from service with perpetual disqualification from holding public office. "I know that OMB Martires is apolitical as his decisions are based on the merits, facts, and evidence and beyond personal biases," Gadon said. He emphasized that it should be noted that decisions on removing public officials are not based solely on criminal intent or the consequences of a criminal act. "It may be based also on incompetence or acts of omission the effect of which resulted in irreparable damage to the public and the government. So even if the official is not criminally charged nor proven guilty as yet, the official may still be removed for utter lack of competence or lack of responsibility and due diligence in performing his functions. More so if the acts or omissions have inflicted great damage to the public," the Malacañang official explained. "OMB Martires does not look at personalities but more on the issues and acts that are proven by mere preponderance of evidence," Gadon added. The post Commuters’ group asks Makati Business Club to mind own business appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DA wants new agrarian law IRR hastened
Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III, over the weekend, ordered the committee tasked with the formulation of the Implementing Rules and Regulations, of Republic Act 11953, or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, to proceed with dispatch in the crafting of the IRR. In his remarks at the first joint meeting of the committee, Estrella reiterated the need for a comprehensive IRR for the law’s smooth implementation and within the 60-day deadline provided for, after its effectivity on 23 July 2023. The secretary also directed the committee and the technical working group to conduct public consultations in key agrarian reform communities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, for their input with regard to the IRR. The condonation of the debt burden of agrarian reform beneficiaries will cost P57.57 billion and benefit 610,054 agrarian reform beneficiaries, covering 1,173,101.57 hectares of agrarian reform lands. The government will also shoulder the balance of the obligations of 10,201 ARBS, tilling 11,531.24 hectares of agrarian reform lands, under the voluntary land transfer/direct payment scheme, amounting to P206,776.41. The seven-man committee is headed by Napoleon U. Galit, DAR Undersecretary for Legal Affairs as chairman; Engr. Alex Lorayes, LandBank Executive Vice President as Vice Chairman and Atty. Marilyn B. Barua-Yap, DAR Undersecretary for Special Concerns and External Affairs and Community Operations, Engr. Eduardo G. Guillen, NIA Acting Administrator, Atty. Gerardo P. Sirios, LRA Administrator, Atty. Marife O. Pascua, LandBank vice-president and Atty. Luis Meinrado C. Pangulayan, DAR Undersecretary for Policy Planning and Research, as members. The technical working group is composed of Dr. Fermin D. Adriano of the Kapatid Angat Lahat Program and Foundation for Economic Freedom, Atty. Christian S. Monsod, former Comelec Chair and Legal Counsel for various farmers groups, Leonardo Q. Montemayor, president of the Federation of Free Farmers Cooperatives, Margarito B. Teves, former Finance Secretary and board member, Foundation for Economic Freedom, Engr. Rosendo So of Samahang Industriya sa Agrikultura, Atty. Kazel G. Celeste, DAR Undersecretary for Field Operations, Marjorie P. Ayson, DAR Assistant Secretary for Field Operations, Atty. Rolando S. Cua, board member III, DAR Adjudication Board, Atty. Sheila B. Enciso, DAR Region 6 Director, Jamil P. Amatonding, Director, DAR Policy and Research Service, and Lilibeth G. Lee, Director, DAR Bureau of Land Tenure Improvement. The committee was created by virtue of a memorandum from the Office of the President issued by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, on August 3, 2023, and DAR Special Order 508, pursuant to Section 12 of Republic Act 11953, on 7 August 2023. The post DA wants new agrarian law IRR hastened appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Estrella accelerates formulation of IRR of New Agrarian Emancipation Act
Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III over the weekend ordered the committee tasked with the formulation of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 11953, or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, to proceed with dispatch in the crafting of the IRR. In his remarks at the first joint meeting of the committee, Estrella reiterated the need for a comprehensive IRR for the law’s smooth implementation within the 60-day deadline provided for, after its effectivity on 23 July 2023. The Secretary also directed the committee and the technical working group to conduct public consultations in key agrarian reform communities in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao for their input with regard to the IRR. The condonation of the debt burden of agrarian reform beneficiaries will cost P57.57-billion and benefit 610,054 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), covering 1,173,101.57 hectares of agrarian reform lands. The government will also shoulder the balance of the obligations of 10,201 ARBS, tilling 11,531.24 hectares of agrarian reform lands, under the voluntary land transfer/direct payment scheme (VLT/DPS), amounting to P206,776.41. The seven-man committee is headed by Napoleon U. Galit, DAR undersecretary for legal affairs as chairman; Engr. Alex Lorayes, LandBank executive vice-president as vice-chairman; and Atty. Marilyn B. Barua-Yap, DAR undersecretary for special concerns and external affairs and community operations; Engr. Eduardo G. Guillen, NIA acting administrator; Atty. Gerardo P. Sirios, LRA administrator; Atty. Marife O. Pascua, LandBank vice-president; and Atty. Luis Meinrado C. Pangulayan, DAR undersecretary for policy planning and research, as members. The technical working group is composed of Dr. Fermin D. Adriano of the Kapatid Angat Lahat Program and Foundation for Economic Freedom; Atty. Christian S. Monsod, former Comelec chair and legal counsel for various farmers groups; Leonardo Q. Montemayor, president of the Federation of Free Farmers Cooperatives; Margarito B. Teves, former Finance secretary and board member of Foundation for Economic Freedom; Engr. Rosendo So of Samahang Industriya sa Agrikultura; Atty. Kazel G. Celeste, DAR undersecretary for field operations; Marjorie P. Ayson, DAR assistant secretary for field operations; Atty. Rolando S. Cua, board member III, DAR adjudication board; Atty. Sheila B. Enciso, DAR Region 6 director; Jamil P. Amatonding, director, DAR policy and research service; and Lilibeth G. Lee, director, DAR Bureau of Land Tenure Improvement. The committee was created by virtue of a memorandum from the Office of the President issued by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin on 3 August 2023, and DAR Special Order No. 508, pursuant to Section 12 of Republic Act No. 11953, on 7 August 2023. The post Estrella accelerates formulation of IRR of New Agrarian Emancipation Act appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Loose firearms recovered from SGA
ZAMBOANGA CITY — At least 22 assorted high-powered loose firearms were collected by the military in Pigcawayan, North Cotabato from the Special Geographic Area of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in support to the “Balik Baril Program” of the government. Joint Task Force Central commander Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera on Tuesday disclosed that 12 barangay chairpersons of Pigcawayan voluntarily surrendered to the 34th Infantry Battalion 22 loose firearms on Saturday. Rillera added that the turnover ceremony of the loose firearms was held at the 34IB headquarters in Barangay Salunayan, Midsayap in North Cotabato and was witnessed by Pigcawayan Acting Mayor Neil Jake Casi. The activity was also witnessed by Dr. Vince Tejada, municipal administrator and Johan Sinarimbo, cluster president, Pigcawayan Cluster, SGA-BARMM. Among the surrendered firearms were two Cal .50 Barret-type Sniper rifles, five rocket-propelled grenade launchers, four 7.62mm Sniper rifles, six 12-gauge Shotguns, one Caliber 9mm pistol, one Caliber 22 revolver, one Caliber 38 revolver, one caliber 45 pistol, and one Caliber 357 revolver. Also surrendered were six pieces of RPG ammunition, four magazines for Shotguns, four magazines for 762 Sniper rifles and one Cal .45 magazine. Meantime, BARMM Ministry of Interior Local Government Minister Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo expressed his gratitude to the men and women of the 34th IB and Pigcawayan Municipal Police Station for their support in the campaign against loose firearms in the town. The post Loose firearms recovered from SGA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MMDA, DepEd-Makati ink deal
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the Department of Education Division of Makati City forged an agreement to partner in providing students in select schools in the city with lectures on anti-smoking and anti-vaping. The memorandum of understanding, signed during the Brigada Eskwela 2023 Division Kick-Off held in Makati High School, seeks to implement a smoke-free and healthy environment among public schools. MMDA acting chairman Atty. Don Artes said one of the keys towards a smoke-free and healthy environment in the school is to educate and capacitate the learners. “We will teach the students the importance of health and the dangers of smoking, vaping, as well as second-hand smoke, to our wellbeing through social media and/or video conferencing platforms,” said Artes during the MoU signing rites. The MMDA Health, Public Safety and Environmental Protection Office will facilitate the anti-smoking lectures on the dangers of smoking and vaping to one’s health. An orientation on anti-littering will also be provided aimed at informing students on the effects of throwing small litters that may cause clogging of waterways leading to flooding. Likewise, the students will undergo a course on Basic First Aid and Disaster Management for incidents of fire, flooding and earthquake. The agency will capacitate the students on training that will enhance their skills in using the website as a platform for educating young people on the effects of smoking and vaping to a person’s health. “The MMDA believes that one of the keys to a successful implementation and sustainability of an integrated health program is the active involvement and participation of partner organizations and school communities in identifying problems brought about by smoking and vaping, seeking for feasible solutions and tapping into existing resources,” Artes added. DepEd Makati, for its part, is responsible for securing the health and wellness of students, thus enjoining the MMDA to serve as a major partner in its campaign for a healthy and smoke-free environment. Schools to be given lectures are: Makati High School, San Isidro National High School, San Antonio National High School, Gen. Pio del Pilar National High School, Bangkal High School, Maximo Estrella Senior High School, Fort Bonifacio High School, Benigno Ninoy S. Aquino High School, Makati Science High School, Pitogo High School, Tibagan High School and Nemesio I. Yabut Senior High School. The discussions, which will be done either online or face-to-face, will have a maximum of 50 students per session, per school. It will be a mix of junior and senior high school students. The project will be a continuing program and is set to end in June 2025. Also present in the MOU signing are Makati Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo, officials from DepEd Makati, and their private partners such as China Bank Savings, and Young Men’s Christian Association. The post MMDA, DepEd-Makati ink deal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MMDA lauds LGUs, SK for smoke-free parks in the metropolis
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) commended the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and their respective local government units (LGUs) for declaring the parks under the Adopt-A-Park program as smoke- and vape-free areas. The agency, in collaboration with the Department of Interior and Local Government, National Youth Commission, The Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Vital Strategies, and Action on Smoking and Health, recently conducted two rounds of communications planning with the SK Federation of the 17 Metro Manila LGUs. Various activities will be conducted at the Adopt-A-Park locations to promote a healthier and safer environment as a result of the said planning activity. MMDA acting chairman Atty. Romando Artes said the youth must be provided with healthy surroundings and public parks must be conducive for activities that would strengthen children’s bodies and protect them against any danger. Starting this week, dubbed as the “Linggo ng Kabataan”, LGUs and their respective SKs will conduct several activities aimed at increasing the awareness of the youth on health and safety. Dr. Madeleine Valera, senior technical adviser of the Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease said that “tobacco use remains a significant public health concern, causing more than 87,000 Filipinos [to lose] their lives to tobacco-related diseases.” She added that “involving the youth in the campaign can make a lot of difference.” “The MMDA and SKs Smoke-Free Parks initiative marks a pivotal stride in creating healthier public spaces where citizens can truly flourish. Vital Strategies is proud to support this endeavor, one that safeguards the public’s health and wellness by hindering the use of cigarettes, vapes, and other deadly tobacco products," said Kaloi Garcia, senior communications manager of Vital Strategies, an international health nonprofit organization. Seminars, a song-making contest, book trade, clean-up drive, focus group discussions, Pinoy games, planting, and social media party, are among the advocacy activities identified by the Sangguniang Kabataan to be conducted this month. The post MMDA lauds LGUs, SK for smoke-free parks in the metropolis appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»