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FMJ congratulates Modi on election win, hopes for stronger Ph-India ties
By Nidz Godino
“My warmest congratulations to Prime Minister @narendramodi for securing fresh mandate from Indian electorate,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. congratulated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on winning historic third term in office and expressed hope Philippines’ partnership with South Asian nation would grow stronger.
“Last decade has shown India as sincere friend to Philippines & I look forward to further strengthening of our bilateral and regional partnership in years ahead,” FMJ stressed.
Philippines and India established formal diplomatic ties in 1949.
In March, Marcos stressed need for stronger collaboration between Manila and New Delhi amid security concerns in shipping routes such as Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Indian Ocean. Filipino seafarers comprise quarter of sea-based workers worldwide.
Marcos also expressed appreciation for India’s support in upholding Philippine sovereignty in West Philippine Sea during meeting with Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
Modi is set to be sworn in for third term after close election forced his Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) into coalition.
Despite expecting another landslide win, BJP lost its majority and formed 15-member coalition with National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024
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Rice tariff cut a stab in the back
By J.Lo
“NEDA has deprived industry stakeholders of their right to genuine consultation and due process,” Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) national manager Raul Montemayor said cutting rice tariffs to 15 percent is stab in the back of country’s three million rice farmers and grain industry.
National Economic and Development Authority Board, chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., approved new Comprehensive Tariff Program for 2024-2028, includes reduction of rice tariff for in- and out-quota rates from 35 to 15 percent.
“Normally, proposed tariff changes undergo hearings conducted by Tariff Commission…recommendations are then given to NEDA Board… procedure was not followed before lowering of rice tariff,” he explained.
Montemayor recalled during 2023 Senate hearings on ratification of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership trade treaty, the executive branch assured rice farmers rice and other sensitive agricultural commodities would not suffer diminution in tariff protection for duration of agreement.
“That honorable commitment has been rendered worthless by NEDA Board, our experience since trading in rice industry was liberalized under Rice Tariffication Law and tariffs were lowered also on non-ASEAN rice imports, it has not been salutary…our dependence on imports from volatile world market has grown from 10 percent of total domestic consumption to around 25 percent…rice retail prices have risen,” he said.
Claims that 15 percent rice tariff will provide major and lasting relief to consumers are “more shot in the dark than probable result,” Montemayor said.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. met with industry stakeholders as part of Marcos’ directive to reduce retail price of rice in the country.
“President Marcos wants more affordable rice prices to ease financial strain on consumers, particularly poor, as well as relieve price pressures that have kept inflation elevated and interest rates high,” Tiu Laurel said.
Marcos has lowered rice tariffs until 2028 to bring down rice prices to P29 per kilo, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.
Tiu Laurel said Department of Agriculture (DA) has started trial selling of rice at P29 per kilo at select Kadiwa centers.
During consultation, rice industry stakeholders vowed to cooperate in lowering rice prices.
Newly approved tariff rates aim to ensure access and affordability while balancing interests of consumers and local producers, Balisacan said.
This would benefit poor households, including beneficiaries of government’s conditional cash transfer program or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, he said.
Cutting rice tariffs from 35 to 15 percent will substantially reduce rice prices in market, Speaker Martin Romualdez said.
“Import levy reduction and direct sale of imported rice by government through its Kadiwa centers should bring down retail price of rice substantially, especially for consumers,” Romualdez said.
Farmers should not worry about government assistance they receive through Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund set up under Rice Tariffication Law, he noted.
As of May, fund had accumulated P16 billion from import tariff collections, he added.
“This means government has enough funds to help farmers, while it is trying to bring down rice prices through import tariff cut and direct Kadiwa sales,” he said.
House Deputy Minority Leader Mujiv Hataman also welcomed tariff cuts.
“We welcome the executive order being prepared to reduce tariff rates on rice and other commodities, as this also aims to reduce price of rice in the market… lower prices, the better for everybody,” he said.
Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024
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FMJ mulls creation of PNP legal department
By Nidz Godino
“We’ll create office, legal office within PNP who will be the defense council of any policeman who is charged with whatever complaint, crime,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told Philippine National Police (PNP) to protect police officers from harassment, he is eyeing creation of legal department within.
Marcos ordered PNP to study proposal during command conference he presided over at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
“They should have lawyer to run to just to give them advice and it will be internal, so they won’t have to pay,” he added. Marcos said there were instances when cases were “weaponized” against police.
Measure would protect PNP from influential groups harassing police force, he said.
Providing police with legal assistance within institution will embolden them to do their work, Marcos said.
“They can be charged with anything…some of them charge police officers are powerful figures…they have lot of capability, a lot of resources, a lot of money…they have lot of access to prominent lawyers…we need to have defense as well…yes, we have to protect our people,” he said.
PNP currently has legal service office, but it is reportedly lacking lawyers who will respond to legal needs of police personnel.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo maintained that Marcos’ command conference with PNP is not loyalty check.
The President has also presided over command conferences with military in past weeks.
These took place after former senator Antonio Trillanes IV had alleged that two police generals were plotting to destabilize government and oust Marcos.
Last month, Marcos called on PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines to remain professional and true to their sworn duties.
Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024
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Sr citizens urged to take precautions vs COVID-19
By J.Lo
“Vulnerable population, or those aged 60 and above, those with comorbidities, immunocompromised and children must take precaution,” he said. With detection of new COVID-19 variants in the Philippines, senior citizens and immunocompromised are advised to continue wearing face masks and get vaccinated.
There is no reason to panic despite entry of new variants as they have been classified as low public health risk by World Health Organization, infectious disease specialist Rontgene Solante said.
Filipinos inoculated with bivalent vaccines have better protection against severe symptoms, he stressed.
Hospitalization rate remains low, he noted.
New COVID “FLiRT” variants, or KP.2 and KP.3, are low public health risk and less likely to cause severe infection, Solante said.
Public should not be complacent as COVID continues to mutate, he maintained.
Meanwhile, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian reiterated calls for creation of Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
CDC would implement disease surveillance and field epidemiology activities and coordinate with Bureau of Quarantine.
Center would also have regional counterparts and provinces, cities and municipalities would be mandated to adopt and localize standards and guidelines developed by CDC.
Gatchalian is co-author of Senate Bill 1869 or Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control Act.
Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024
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Du30 can’t recall COVID-19 fund transfer to PS-DBM
By J.Lo
“I could not recall, for life of me..maybe what you are saying is true former president Rodrigo Duterte does not remember authorizing transfer of P47.6 billion to Procurement Service of Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) for purchase of COVID-19 protective equipment, as claimed by former health secretary Francisco Duque III.
Duterte, however, conceded: “Maybe what I said is, ‘go ahead.’ ”
But he stressed: “considering huge amount of fund transfer, I would have insisted as lawyer to put it in memo or something.”
Duque told House committee on appropriations that Duterte authorized transfer because of public health emergency.
While Duterte insists he “cannot recall accurately” what he said, he conceded that he might have given transfer go-signal.
Duterte explained since it was pandemic, government was hard-pressed to find solution on how to protect health workers.
“I ordered everybody to do everything they can do,” he said.
Salvador Panelo, who served as Duterte’s chief presidential legal counsel, said Duterte’s directive was “regular” and was meant to protect public from COVID-19.
Following calls to include Duterte in probe on government’s pandemic supply deals, Panelo said purpose of transfer was to do away with bidding for purchase of medical equipment like face masks, face shields and personal protective equipment that were urgently needed to respond to pandemic.
He added that regular bidding process would have delayed immediate response required by emergency situation and would have “disastrous effect” on the nation.
“It is to credit of political will of PRRD ,president Rodrigo Roa Duterte and his decisive action, enactment by Congress of Bayanihan To Heal As One Act I and II and people’s disciplined response that saved lives of millions of Filipinos,” he stressed.
At hearing by House appropriations committee, Duque said Duterte had ordered transfer of P47.6 billion in COVID-19 funds from DOH to budget department’s Procurement Service, move flagged by state auditors.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros said the former president should be included in investigation into pandemic supply contracts, since it can be proven that he was introduced to Pharmally officials by Michael Yang, his special adviser in 2017.
Duterte should, at the very least, explain policy considerations that resulted in his directive to Duque, Hontiveros added.
In recent statement, Duque said Duterte had been consistent and open in directing his administration to act swiftly and decisively and to do all that it could to fight pandemic from the very beginning of public health emergency.
“What has been lost in political noise is the fact that these CSEs ,common-use supplies and equipment were procured sometime in April 2020, during very beginning of pandemic when the only way we knew to protect ourselves, most especially our health workers, from COVID-19 virus was through face masks, face shields and PPEs, their procurement was not only necessary, but was of extreme urgency…moreover, having been declared CSEs, procurement of these items through PS-DBM is mandatory under the law, and not discretionary upon DOH…accordingly on basis of foregoing premises that president Duterte gave his approval to course procurement of said items through PS-DBM,” Duque said.
Former senator Richard Gordon calls Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. scandal “biggest scam.”
“What happened at Pharmally is biggest scam and the president of this country masterminded it… I can say that without batting an eye,” Gordon said during Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, adding it would never have happened without Duterte.
When Gordon was chairman of Senate Blue Ribbon committee, former senator had at least 18 hearings and submitted committee report to ombudsman.
“In fact, we filed case,” he said.
Gordon detailed misappropriation of funds, stating Duterte transferred P47 billion and “when COA investigated, Duterte cursed us…he was angry because Christopher Lao was exposed.”
“Duterte’s administration never answered for it…now they are scared…former senator Franklin Drilon said Duque is afraid and is now pointing to Duterte,” Gordon said.
He added he told Duque to resign if he didn’t want to follow orders.
“If he followed, he’s liable…his only chance is to be state witness against Duterte,” Gordon said.
Gordon also responded to statements that Duque’s comments were taken out of context, insisting that the former health secretary “cannot hide.”
“He should stand by his statement for his own salvation,” Gordon said.
Meanwhile, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV warned Filipinos not to be complacent as Duterte might again seek higher office, even in Senate, in 2025 polls.
“Duterte might run for senator in 2025…so, we have a year to spread truth about him to awaken his moderate supporters and so he’d be shunned by new voters,” Trillanes wrote on Facebook.
“Let’s not be passive or else he will win again,” he added, using hashtag #IbasuraSiDuterteSa2025.
Trillanes vows not to stop criticizing Duterte to make sure 78-year-old politician will not win any national post in next year’s polls.
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024
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Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez
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Pagcor has no role in issuing business permits
By J.Lo
“We are also not responsible for inspection of buildings that are not under our jurisdiction…we issue licenses based on our own guidelines and documents submitted by applicants,” Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) maintained that agency has nothing to do with issuance of local business permits and licenses.
“Pagcor’s regulations are clear cut…if our licensees are found violating terms of their licenses, whether these are provisional licenses or regular licenses, they are fined and penalized and, in most serious cases, licenses are revoked,” the state gaming regulator added.
Pagcor issued statement after Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo’s lawyer, Nicole Rose Margaret Jamilla, tried to pass blame on government agency reasons for criminal cases filed by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) against her client.
“It is only under present Pagcor administration that real anomalies in former POGO activities have been exposed,” Pagcor said.
Ten raids against POGOs have been successfully conducted, leading to exposure of criminal activities being perpetrated by some of licensees, agency said.
Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024
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Gov’t. urged to improve teachers’ working conditions
By Nidz Godino
“Every year, we pull out lot from our pockets to repair and renovate classrooms and even students’ learning materials, so it is big deal for public teachers to raise our teaching supplies allowance…it would be even bigger thing if salaries of teachers and staff could be raised to decent and viable level, which we have been calling for continuously,” Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) chairman Vladimer Quetua said in statement as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.signs into law Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, doubles public school educators’ teaching supplies allowance, teachers’ groups called on government to take more decisive steps to improve teachers’ working conditions.
ACT hailed passage of bill, raises teaching supplies allowance from P5,000 to P10,000 starting this coming school year, saying teachers have long been spending hard-earned money for school expenses should have been provided by government.
ACT campaigned and lobbied for increased teaching supplies allowance for teachers, with ACT-Teachers party-list representatives through years pushing to increase teaching supplies allowance from P700 in 2012.
Meanwhile, Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) expressed its gratitude for new measure, but stressed how P10,000 would not be enough to cover much of what public school teachers need for teaching supplies.
TDC chairman Benjo Basas explained P10,000 annual allowance would fall short of expensive needs of teachers such as laptops, internet connection, printers and other needs that “force us to spend from our own pockets.”
“Although it is small amount compared to teachers’ needs, it will also help reduce burden of our daily teaching expenses,” Basas said.
TDC vowed to continue campaigning for salary increase, with more than 30 versions of such proposals currently pending in both houses of Congress.
“If we can talk to the President tomorrow, we will ask him to address these proposals, which are also part of his 2022 campaign promise,” Basas said.
ACT also reiterated its call for salary increase, including P50,000 entry-level pay for teachers, P33,000 salary for SG1 employees, SG16 for Instructor 1 in state universities and colleges, and P33,000 national minimum wage for all workers.
Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024
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Collared Ch yields hacking equipt in Makati
By J.Lo
“We are investigating all possible angles as well as background of suspect,” Lt. Col. Imelda Reyes, public information officer of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) told reporters CIDG arrested Chinese man for alleged possession of firearm and communication hacking devices in Makati City.
CIDG is looking into background of Yuhang Liu to determine if he is working as spy for China.
Liu was apprehended by CIDG agents in Barangay San Isidro at around 4:19 in the morning.
Suspect’s arrest came after police received reportt he was threatening Filipino, whose identity was withheld, at the corner of Finlandia and Codornico streets.
Probers said Liu allegedly coerced victim to deliver communication hacking devices to his residence in Parañaque City.
Suspect allegedly instructed victim to move to different vital installations and hack or access international mobile equipment identities or IMEIs and other electronic devices.
Liu was taken into police custody after he yielded 9 mm pistol.
When police searched suspect’s vehicle, several gadgets and electronic equipment were found, including antenna system, battery units, solar inverter, radio receiver and transmitter, router, computer tablet, computer laptop and cell phones.
CIDG conducted follow-up operation at suspect’s condominium unit on Pacific Avenue in Parañaque City and seized aerial drone, inverter unit, computer central processing unit, portable power station and other gadgets.
Liu vehemently denied he is spy for China. He replied in affirmative when asked if he has been staying in the country for five to six years.
Reyes did not go into details, but said suspect had been under surveillance by police and Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Reyes have tapped experts to assist them in probe regarding gadgets and communication equipment seized from Liu.
“It’s alarming…why is he in possession of such gadgets?” Reyes said.
CIDG said complaints for violating Republic Act 10591 or Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition Act and RA 8484, also known as Access Devices Regulation Law, are being readied against suspect.
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