Tax racketeering proposed as non-bailable offense
The head of the House Committte on Ways and Means wants tax racketeering to be a non-bailable offense, saying the government is losing as much as P100 billion to tax evaders......»»
Negros Island Region law set for signing
President Marcos is expected to sign the proposed Negros Island Region law, according to lawmakers......»»
Philippines, US air forces back together for Cope Thunder
The Philippine Air Force and the US Pacific Air Force are set to embark on joint exercises – involving their advanced fighter jets – from April 8 to 19 for this year’s iteration of Cope Thunder, an annual air defense and offense training event to be held in Luzon......»»
Belle Corp sets PLC tender offer price at P0.85/share
Belle Corp and Premium Leisure Corp were both voluntarily suspended for the day yesterday after BEL disclosed details of its proposed tender offer to acquire PLC’s public float and eventually delist PLC from the exchange......»»
6 cops in teenage slay ordered arrested
The Regional Trial Court of Navotas City has ordered the arrest of six policemen charged with a non-bailable case of murder for the killing of teenager Jerhode “Jemboy” Baltazar last 2 August. The order was issued last Tuesday, 3 Oct. by Judge Pedro T. Dabu Jr. of RTC Branch 286. Ordered arrested were PSSg. Gerry S. Maliban, PSSg. Antonio B. Bugayong Jr., PEMS. Roberto D. Balais Jr., PSSg. Nikko PInes C. Esquillon, PCpl. Edmar Jade S. Blanco and Pat. Benedict D. Mangada — all members of the Navotas City police station. Judge Dabu in his order said “the Court finds probable cause to issue a warrant of arrest against all the above-named accused to place them under the custody of the law in order not to frustrate the ends of justice.” “Considering that the accused stand charged with murder, they are not entitled to bail as a matter of course,” the judge also said. The Department of Justice filed the murder charges before the RTC last Monday, 2 October. Record showed that Baltazar was fishing when he was shot dead last 2 August in Barangay NBBS Kaunlaran in Navotas City. In fending off responsibilities, the policemen claimed that they were conducting follow-up operations against robbers when they mistook the victim as one of the suspects. The post 6 cops in teenage slay ordered arrested appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fools in suits
When a ranking Department of Agriculture official was asked in a recent Congress hearing what steps the agency had taken to break the rice cartel, he replied that he did not believe that a “mafia” existed. Coming from a high DA official, the statement revealed that nothing was being done to stop the syndicate that everyone in the industry knows about since, to the authorities, it does not exist. In the reenacted Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and forming cartels for agricultural and fishery products are considered economic sabotage and are non-bailable offenses for which a long jail term could be meted out. The strengthened law, however, lacks strong teeth against government officials who are in cahoots or protect the syndicates. Contained in the proposed bill is a provision indicating that any government officer or employee found to be an accomplice in the commission of the crime will “suffer the additional penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, exercising the right to vote, from participating in any public election, and forfeiture of employment monetary and financial benefits.” The bill is pending in both houses of Congress. With the slow grind of justice in the country, a public official looking for a fast buck will not hesitate to risk his job in exchange for a huge payback. The recent series of events showed the markets are being manipulated by the big players in the sugar, vegetable and rice businesses. These syndicates are known to be deeply entrenched due to their connections with government bigwigs who facilitate their domination of the markets either through edicts or the use of public resources. In the most ridiculous situation, the recent spike in onion prices was found to be artificial since farmers were even throwing away their harvests because of low farmgate prices, thus there was no reason for prices to surge. Later, it was exposed in a congressional hearing that a cartel had succeeded in manipulating the onion market to create a condition that would require its importation, from which its members would make a killing. The warehouse and storage facilities are controlled by the mafia which makes it easy to create artificial conditions to which the market reacts by raising retail prices. The ultimate goal is to coax the government to allow importation from suppliers in overseas markets that are also flooded with the commodity, The cartel rakes in profits from both the high markup and the kickbacks from the overseas suppliers desperate to sell their surplus. The woeful victims are the Filipino farmers whom the cartel boxes out of the market. In extreme cases, these farmers just throw away their harvest since they cannot afford to transport their products without the middlemen who are also in the pocket of the cartel. The same goes for the rice industry, where the market was manipulated for a different reason, which was to kill the rice tariffication law that kicked the National Food Authority out of the import business. Rice prices then surged to as high as P56 a kilo, which pushed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to impose price ceilings. The NFA used to have a monopoly on importation, but that resulted in acrimonious confrontations at the apex of government. The tariffication law, in turn, opened importation to all grain traders and relegated the NFA to buying rice from local farmers. Under the new anti-smuggling bill which has the endorsement of Mr. Marcos, an Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Council headed by the President or his designated permanent representative will be formed. The proposed body will have the power to investigate and file charges, as well as freeze violators’ funds, properties, bank deposits, placements, trust accounts, assets and records. The creation of the body looks good on paper but in the real world, it might just add another layer of bureaucracy and source of corruption unless the cartel, which DA officials claim does not exist, is dismantled. Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile has a simple solution for breaking the cartel, which is for the government to confiscate all the rice overstock and let the owners of the warehouses prove that their huge inventory is legitimate. Such a move would prompt the traders to release more rice into the market to avoid confiscation. The imposition of the price cap on rice indicated that the prices are artificial since the markets are now selling at lower than the manipulated prices despite conditions being constant. An expected bumper harvest is also prompting the prices to go back to normal, after the attempt of the cartel to create a price shock to support their effort to return to the old ways. To know the real situation, President Marcos goes out of his way to see what is on the ground. His underlings, particularly at the Department of Agriculture, should do better. The post Fools in suits appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘No evidence of plunder vs PS-DBM, Pharmally execs’
There is no evidence to prove plunder had been committed in the anomalous awarding of P4.165-billion supply contracts for COVID-19 test kits to Pharmally Corp., Ombudsman Samuel Martires said yesterday, defending his office’s resolution to charge officials involved in the deal only with the bailable offense of graft......»»
Lolit Solis, ‘naawa’ kay Jay Sonza
Trust the irrepressible showbiz wag Lolit Solis to have her own take on the explosive news that former prominent broadcaster Jay Sonza has ended up in a most humiliating situation: clapped in jail for alleged estafa and syndicated, large-scale illegal recruitment, a non-bailable offense. Solis took to Instagram to express pity at Sonza's fall from grace. "Para naman naawa ako kay Jay Sonza, Salve. Hindi ba nakakaawa na sa dati niyang kinalalagyan, ganyan ang magiging ending niya, sa kulungan," she wrote. The former TV personality had been good to her, she added, so she could only wish that Sonza would get proper help soon. "Wala akong puwede ireklamo kay Jay Sonza dahil naging mabait siya sa akin nuon, sana naman matulungan siya ng mga dati niyang kasama at kaibigan na puwede tumulong para maayos ang anuman gusot na napasukan niya." Sonza has been detained at the Quezon City Jail in Payatas since 3 August after he was arrested nearly one month ago by the Bureau of Immigration and turned over to the National Bureau of Investigation after trying to leave for Hong Kong at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. The post Lolit Solis, ‘naawa’ kay Jay Sonza appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NIA arrests 2 key aides of Canada-based listed terrorist Arsh Dala on arrival in Delhi from Manila
New Delhi [India], August 11 (ANI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two key operatives of Canada-based'listed terrorist' Arsh Dala in an early morning operation soon they landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport from Manila, Philippines. Manpreet Singh alias Peeta and Mandeep Singh were both'wanted' close operatives of Dala and had non-bailable arrest warrants against them for carrying out te.....»»
Long arm of law catches up on woman
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — A 35-year-old woman found herself in the grasp of the law after eluding capture for six long years in connection to a case involving human trafficking. Michelle Gardoce, a resident of Taytay in northern Palawan, experienced a stroke of misfortune when she visited the local police station seeking a routine clearance, only to have her name trigger an alarm in the system, revealing an outstanding warrant for her arrest. It was at the Puerto Princesa City Police Station 1 where personnel, under the command of Major Pearl Manyll Marzo, apprehended Gardoce on 14 July at approximately 5:15 p.m. She was in the midst of applying for a police clearance when her past caught up with her. Captain Maria Victoria Iquin, the spokesperson for the Puerto Princesa City Police Office, said Friday that Gardoce was being sought for violating the provisions of Republic Act 9208, also known as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003. The warrant of arrest against her pertaining to the offenses stated in Section 2 and Section 4(a) of the aforementioned legislation. “When a person’s name triggers an alert while obtaining a police clearance, it is promptly verified in the system for any outstanding warrant or the issuing authority is contacted. In this case, a positive match was found, leading to her immediate arrest, especially since it was a non-bailable offense. Perhaps she believed she would never be caught, considering the warrant was issued back in 2016. It took almost six years before she was apprehended,” explained Iquin. Section 4 of the law encompasses a range of prohibited activities linked to human traffickings, such as recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, provision, or receipt of individuals through various means, including disguising it as employment, training, or apprenticeship, both locally and overseas. The ultimate intention is to engage these individuals in illicit activities, including but not limited to prostitution, pornography, sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery, involuntary servitude, or debt bondage. Given the severity of the charges against Gardoce, the court did not recommend bail, thereby denying her temporary freedom. She presently remains in the custody of City Police Station 1, awaiting further legal proceedings. The warrant for her arrest was issued on 28 June 2016 by Judge Ana Castillo of Branch 29, a trial court within the National Capital Judicial Region, situated in Metro Manila. She will soon face the issuing court, where her case will be appropriately addressed. The post Long arm of law catches up on woman appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Degamo Slay Case Answer raps, DoJ dares Teves
The Department of Justice has challenged suspended Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves to answer the complaint for multiple murder, multiple frustrated murder, and multiple attempted murder filed against him in the 4 March 2023 killing of Governor Roel Degamo and 10 persons. Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Anthony D. Fadullon said a subpoena has been issued by a DoJ panel of prosecutors against Teves to answer the charges. Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Mary Jane E. Sytat is the head of the panel of prosecutors that will handle the case. Fadullon, however, did not mention any deadline for Teves to file his counter-affidavit and the date of the start of the preliminary investigation. Earlier, Teves was slapped with a second 60-day suspension as a legislator, as he continued to return home despite the lapse of his travel authority on 9 March 2023 citing “security reasons.” The embattled solon has been tagged as “one of the masterminds” in the killing of Degamo, the deaths of nine other persons, and injuries sustained by 18 individuals. He has denied the allegations. He was reported to have applied for political asylum with the Timor-Leste government which denied his plea. He appealed the denial before Timor-Leste’s Supreme Court. It was not known, as of posting, the status of the appeal. The National Bureau of Investigation filed the criminal charges against Teves on 17 May 2023 in connection with the killings. Aside from Teves, also charged were Angelo V. Palagtiw, Neil Andrew Go, Capt. Lloyd Cruz Garcia, Nigel Electona, and a person identified only with the aliases “Gee-Ann” and “Jie-An,” allegedly a sister of Palagtiw. The suspects were charged with 10 counts of murder, 14 counts of frustrated murder, and four counts attempted under the Revised Penal Code. Under the RPC, murder is a non-bailable offense and a heinous crime. The post Degamo Slay Case Answer raps, DoJ dares Teves appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tax racketeering proposed as non-bailable offense
The head of the House Committte on Ways and Means wants tax racketeering to be a non-bailable offense, saying the government is losing as much as P100 billion to tax evaders......»»
DOJ reduces bail recommendation for indigents in criminal cases
The Department of Justice has ordered the reduction of bail for indigent persons charged in bailable criminal cases in a bid to address the perennial problem of prison congestion......»»
‘File economic sabotage raps vs agricultural smugglers’
The Bureau of Customs and the Department of Justice must speed up the filing of non-bailable charges of economic sabotage against agricultural smugglers taking advantage of the increased consumer demand during the Christmas holidays......»»
Here’s one way out of Remulla dilemma
There will indeed be a conflict of interest, and much anguish in the family, if Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla clings to his office and leaves his son Juanito Jose Diaz Remulla III to face by himself non-bailable drug-related charges filed against him......»»
Vhong Navarro hindi pinaboran ng korte, motion na manatili sa NBI facility nadenay
MUKHANG mangyayari na ang kinatatakutan ni Tanya Bautista-Navarro na posibilidad na mailipat ang asawang si Vhong Navarro sa Taguig City Jail. Kasalukuyang nakapiit ang komedyante sa National Bureau of Investigation detention center matapos matanggap ang warrant of arrest niya para sa kasong rape (non-bailable) na isinampa ni Deniece Cornejo noong 2014. At nitong Huwebes, Setyembre […] The post Vhong Navarro hindi pinaboran ng korte, motion na manatili sa NBI facility nadenay appeared first on Bandera......»»
Groups urge CHR to probe trumped-up murder charges against human rights defenders
“The arrest warrant is the legal cover for the potential commission of other human rights violations and irregularities such as the planting of firearms and explosives to justify additional non-bailable charges. Such was the experience of other activists such as Rey Casambre, Maoj Maga, Alexander Reyes and many others.” The post Groups urge CHR to probe trumped-up murder charges against human rights defenders appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Police appeal on non-bailable case blocks release of four of HR Day 7
Four of the seven activists arrested early in December, dubbed “Human Rights Day 7” will be spending Christmas in detention over charges they claim are trumped up......»»
Año orders probe of alleged BJMP violations during Nasino’s furlough
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said on Monday, Oct. 19, he has ordered an investigation over allegations that the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) committed violations in escorting political prisoner Reina Mae Nasino to the wake and burial of her dead baby River. (JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN) “Pinatitingnan ko rin kung meron silang violations diyan sa behavior nila para we will also apply appropriate sanctions (I have ordered a look into their behavior so we can apply the appropriate sanctions),” he said during an interview over CNN Philippines. “I already instructed the chief BJMP Director Allan Iral to look into the matter and to see if there (were) lapses committed by the BJMP officers,” added Año. On the other hand, Año expressed support to the personal statement made by Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) spokesperson Assistant Secretary Celine Pialago who said that the alleged cruelty committed against Nasino during her visit to the wake and burial should not be sensationalized anymore considering that not all persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) are granted furlough. “Tama yun. Hindi lahat pinapayagan (She’s right. Not all PDLs are granted furlough),” Ano said. “So that’s one big privilege talaga sa PDL, hindi lahat napagbibigyan ng ganyan (Furlough is one big privilege to PDL, not all PDLs are granted that),” he pointed out. The secretary explained that being a PDL “hanggang hindi natatapos ang kaso mo deprived of liberty ka kasama na ang ibang karapatan mo diyan sapagkat nahaharap ka sa kaso (until all you cases are done, you are deprived of liberty as well as you other rights because you are facing charges). He said that Nasino has been ordered detained by a Manila court due to non-bailable charges of illegal possession of explosives and firearms. With this, Año believes that BJMP officers and personnel who escorted Nasino to wake and burial of her baby were just doing their job. “Just the same we regret what happened but I will stand by my people, the BJMP. They are professional people. They don’t have personal or vested interests. They are just doing their job professionally,” he stated. He reminded that the BJMP was only ensuring that the court’s order was being followed, which included not allowing the PDL to escape, that she will not be harmed, and she is safely returned to detention. Año defended the decision of the BJMP to keep Nasino surrounded with security personnel and keep her handcuffed during the wake and burial. “Yan talaga kasi yung standard (That’s the standard),” he stressed. If Nasino had managed to escape because the security detail assigned to her did not follow regulations, Año said these BJMP officers would face sanctions. “It was supposed to be a solemn occasion and you know we also sympathize and condole with the family of Nasino. Pero hindi siya naging solemn kasi dinumog ng tao, dinumog ng media (But it did not become solemn because of the crowds and media),” lamented Año who noted that the BJMP officers were outnumbered by the number of people at the wake and burial. Año observed that the BJMP officers “assigned to escort Nasino were insulted, harassed and verbally abused by these leftist groups aligned with Ms. Nasino.” The secretary explained that BJMP officers were also doing their job in preventing Nasino from being interviewed by the media since this is part of the regulations. “Yung interview hindi siya pwede sa mga PDL (PDL interviews are not allowed). It’s a big, big violation of the regulations,” he stressed......»»
Babies have rights
#ASKGOYO Atty. Gregorio Larrazabal Quoted below is the statement of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines: “The tragic death of 3-month-old Baby River highlights the need to do MORE, BETTER, FASTER in the justice sector quoted below is the statement of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines: “Baby River was born at the Fabella Medical Center on July 1, 2020. Her mother, urban poor organizer Reina Mae Nasino, 23 years old, is a detainee at the Manila City Jail Female Dormitory who was arrested on November 5, 2019 at the Tondo office of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan. The police raids that resulted in the arrests of over 60 activists in Metro Manila and Bacolod were by virtue of various warrants issued by the RTC Branch 89 in Quezon City. Reina Mae and two others were charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives, a non-bailable offense. “Despite questions raised against the validity of the raids and arrests as well as petitions for the release of Reina Mae on health and humanitarian grounds or for continued breast-feeding, the frail and underweight Baby River was separated from her mother barely a month after birth. “The case went through RTC Manila Branch 20, the Supreme Court, back to RTC Branch 20, then RTC branch 42 and RTC Branch 37, and the Court of Appeals, until Baby River died on Oct. 12, 2020. “Manila RTC Branch 47 finally allowed Reina Mae furlough – this time to visit her dead daughter. Despite many fully armed BJMP escorts, police and military personnel monitoring and accompanying Reina Mae, she remained hand-cuffed while at the wake. “The heartbreaking and brief life-story of Baby River compel us to raise these questions: “1. Why can’t our justice system safeguard the needs and rights of an innocent child to breastfeeding and a better chance to survive? “2. Why don’t our jails have adequate facilities to address the needs and rights of children and women detainees duly recognized by domestic and international law? “3. Why does it take so long to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights? “4. Isn’t there double standard when “bigger” detainees are allowed similar or even greater privileges? “5. Can we not have justice with compassion? “Let our concern, dismay, or rage and the tears that we may shed for Baby River Nasino fuel our collective determination and action to improve our justice system. Let not our innocent children fall under the cracks. Babies have rights and we have duties to nurture them. Let our humanity rise above our personal comforts or the privileges of power.” DOMINGO EGON CAYOSA National President & Chairman of the Board of Governors *** We can talk about the law legal processes, and I’m sure many will. But at the crux of all this should be:“What is it to be human?” Have we sunk so low that we’ve lost our humanity? Have we forgotten what it is that separates us from animals? Have we been numb to peoples’ suffering and death? Have we been stripped of our sense of morality and compassion that we have lost our appreciation of what is right and wrong? People have discussed the trampled rights of the mother of the infant. But what about the rights of the baby? Stripping the legalese of the tragedy, we have to ask: What about the basic needs of the baby, as emphasized by the statement of the IBP? There is no justification to being deprived of the love and care his mother, and the warmth of her embrace. The soothing voice to say she’s going to get better, and she’s loved… Have we regressed to a point that we’ve been stripped of our empathy? More than the legality of this. After the furor will have died down, and it surely will, I think we have to ask ourselves, “Where are we now?” How low have we sunk and how to we get back up and regain some sense of decency? My heart broke when I saw pictures of Reina Mae Nasino covered in PPE, in handcuffs, unable to even hug her dead baby one last time. I still cannot understand the inhumanity towards not only the mother, but the baby, who had done no one wrong, yet was treated with so much hate, disrespect, contempt, and derision for her to be born in this world, yet stripped and deprived of human love and affection. I can never hate anyone that much to treat him or her so badly. I think we need to dig deep within ourselves and search our soul. To find the humanity which has clearly been missing. We need to find our moral compass, before we all lose our soul and drown in the abyss. Stay Safe. Pray for Baby River. Pray for OUR country......»»
Receiver of cargo found with P81.6M worth of drugs now in hiding
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA-7) is now preparing to file non-bailable charges against the sender and receiver of drugs intercepted in a courier express company warehouse in Mandaue City last Saturday, August 15, 2020. Read: P81.6M shabu found in three LED light boxes inside Mandaue City […] The post Receiver of cargo found with P81.6M worth of drugs now in hiding appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»