22 Mayo 2024, Miyerkules

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan

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supports International Nurses’ Day

happy Birthday Andrea Mae Sebugan, more birthdays to come

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

Hse ethics body ‘unanimously’ decides to sanction Alvarez

By Nidz Godino

“We discussed  merits of the case, but I’m sorry… I’m not at liberty to disclose  recommendations.;;but it was unanimous most certain,” Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon said at  news briefing House ethics committee has “unanimously” decided to impose  administrative sanction against former speaker Pantaleon Alvarez for alleged disorderly behavior, following his purported seditious remarks against Marcos administration.

Panel member  Bongalon refused to disclose to journalists administrative penalty recommended  whether  just  reprimand,  slap on wrist or  warning not to repeat  offense again.

He clarified  decision of  committee, headed by Rep. Felimon Espares of Coop-Natcco party-list, is only recommendatory and subject to  approval of  plenary.

“Committee is finalizing  report,” Bongalon said.

House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe,  heads  House committee on rules where  Alvarez report will be submitted, promised newsmen  panel would report to  plenary  administrative sanction at soonest time possible.

“We want to dispense with this Alvarez complaint right away…we will wait for  committee report…as soon as we get it, we can take it up any time before  sine die adjournment,” Dalipe said, referring to today being last day of sessions.

Complaint  against Alavarez,  filed by Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy, stemmed from his alleged remarks against local government officials and pronouncements during so-called “prayer rallies,”  have been  subject of  investigation by  Espares panel.

Alvarez,  counsel is former Ilocos Norte congressman Rodolfo Fariñas, refused to apologize to Uy and to his colleagues in the House, invoking his constitutional right to free speech.

Fariñas served as Alvarez’s majority leader when he was House speaker.

Alvarez,  buddy of former president Rodrigo Duterte, earlier faced three violations in his ethics complaint: disorderly behavior as public official, conduct unbecoming as well as violation of  libel provision of  Revised Penal Code and inciting to sedition.

He served as Duterte’s House speaker during his first two years in office until he was ousted in July 2018 and replaced by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who served as speaker until June 2019.

Bongalon earlier told journalists  House ethics probe on Alvarez for disorderly conduct is devoid of politics.

“I just want to clarify that this complaint started because  case was filed against him… committee on ethics has to act on complaint filed,” Bongalon said.

He said it just happened that  subject of  complaint is  member of  House and  committee “has to act on it.”

In rally of  supporters of Duterte in Tagum on April 14, Alvarez urged Armed Forces of the Philippines to turn their backs on Marcos, who is  commander-in-chief of  AFP.

22 Mayo 2024, Miyerkules

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan

Register now and vote in midterm polls

supports International Nurses’ Day

happy Birthday Andrea Mae Sebugan, more birthdays to come

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No travel halt amid COVID-19 surge

By J.Lo

“There is no scientific basis for travel restrictions to any country because of  increase in COVID-19 cases,” Department of Health (DOH) said despite emergence of new COVID-19 variants and surging cases in other countries, DOH sees no need to impose travel restrictions.

DOH assured  public  it continues to track COVID-19 case counts and newly designated variants under monitoring, in parallel with international developments.

“DOH remains to be in close coordination with international health authorities and its Bureau of Quarantine is keeping watch over points of entry nationwide,” DOH noted.

All Philippine regions remain at low risk for COVID-19, DOH said.

Based on reports in  DOH Data Collect application, 116 severe and critical COVID-19 cases were admitted to hospitals.

From May 7 to 13, 877 new cases were reported, or  daily average of 125 cases.

“While there is  observed increase recently, it is small and lower than previously observed increases,”  DOH said, noting that of  new cases reported, seven were severe or critical.

Five deaths were recorded between April 30 and May 13.

As of May 12, only 11 percent of dedicated COVID-19 ICU beds were occupied, while only 13 percent of dedicated COVID-19 non-ICU beds were occupied, DOH noted.

World Health Organization reported three new COVID-19 variants under monitoring: JN.1.18, KP.2 and KP.3, all  descendants of JN.1.

Variants KP.2 and KP.3 are proper names of what is informally known as “FLiRT” variants, as coined by some researchers.

To prevent  possible surge of COVID-19 cases in the country,  DOH recommended voluntary use of face masks along with standard precautions like hand washing, avoiding crowds and ensuring good airflow in spaces.

Meanwhile, Makati Medical Center reported  slight uptick in  number of COVID-19 admissions but  “overall situation is manageable.”

“After having zero occupancy for many days in  8th floor COVID wing, we had to increase capacity to  dozen beds since  few days ago,” said MMC medical director Saturnino Javier.

22 Mayo 2024, Miyerkules

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataa

Register now and vote in midterm polls

supports International Nurses’ Day

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

“Sorry Migz”- Bato

By Nidz Godino

“Being  good soldier, I wanted to tell him, ‘my commander, sorry, boss, I failed to win  war for you,’” Sen. Ronald dela Rosa said at  press briefing drug probe by  panel headed by himself was cited as key reason for ouster of Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri as Senate president.

It  was revealed that Dela Rosa was one of  15 senators who supported Zubiri’s replacement with Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

Dela Rosa apologized to Zubiri, saying he failed to defend the latter from  plot to unseat him.

Dela Rosa admitted signing  document  endorsed Escudero’s Senate presidency, correcting reports that he was among  seven senators who stood by Zubiri.

Dela Rosa  had no choice but to join his three other Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) colleagues  Senators Francis Tolentino, Bong Go and Robin Padilla  in voting Zubiri out, saying that it is  party deal to abide with  majority decision.

Tolentino was elected as Escudero’s majority leader, replacing Zubiri’s ally Joel Villanueva.

Dela Rosa  was also flattered  he was approached by Escudero’s camp to convince him to join them in the majority.

“I was close to joining minority, but I was persuaded otherwise into joining  majority,” Dela Rosa said.

“Senate president Chiz is  magnanimous victor…even though he did not need my vote anymore because  battle was won, he still convinced me to join  majority,” Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa was perceived as backing Zubiri because the former PNP chief was among  seven senators  Zubiri thanked in his valedictory speech during  Monday session.

Dela Rosa cried at the mention in Zubiri’s tearful farewell speech and saluted him.

Asked about his breakdown, Dela Rosa  was just overwhelmed by emotion when Zubiri thanked him for standing by him. Zubiri thanked Dela Rosa in his speech because he had thought Dela Rosa was with him.

“When Senator Migz saluted me in his speech, I could not help but cry… I felt ashamed…if he is heartbroken, I am also heartbroken…he is  good leader,” Dela Rosa said.

He also denied crying for feeling guilty that he had contributed to Zubiri’s downfall because of his motu proprio inquiry into  alleged leaked 2012 Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) pre-operation report targeting then senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“I was told that that was not  reason he was replaced,” Dela Rosa said, adding that he would continue with his “PDEA leaks” investigation.

Dela Rosa  was also assured by Escudero that he would not be stripped of his post as public order and dangerous drugs committee chair.

Zubiri had hinted that Dela Rosa’s investigation  Zubiri allowed in deference to  independent committee chairmanship  “ruffled  feathers” of  “powers that be” and led to his demotion.

“I failed to follow instructions from  powers that be…I fought  good fight…if I have ruffled some feathers in doing so, if I have upset  powers that be, then so be it,” Zubiri said in his speech before stepping down.

Those who backed Zubiri were Senators Loren Legarda, Joel Villanueva, Sonny Angara, JV Ejercito, Nancy Binay and Sherwin Gatchalian.

Two-member minority of Aquilino Pimentel III and Risa Hontiveros abstained.

Remaining  14 others voted to replace Zubiri with Escudero  Dela Rosa, Tolentino, Go, Padilla, Jinggoy Estrada, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid, Imee Marcos, Grace Poe, Bong Revilla, Raffy Tulfo, Cynthia Villar and Mark Villar.

Estrada was elected Senate president pro tempore, replacing Legarda.

Newly elected Senate majority leader Francis Tolentino  respected  feelings of former Senate president Zubiri, who said  he was  victim of  growing Marcos-Duterte rift.

“Let’s respect his feelings…let’s just leave it at that…we want everyone to be in  reconciliatory mode, and we don’t want to add to  heat from what happened, I cannot comment on that, but we respect  opinions of the former Senate president and we still consider him in high esteem,” Tolentino said.

In television interviews on Monday, Zubiri had to give way to the new Senate president Francis Escudero because of pressure from  factions of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.and of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.

He  drew  Marcos camp’s ire for allowing Dela Rosa’s motu proprio inquiry into an alleged leaked anti-drug operation report that implicated  then senator Marcos in illegal drugs.

Zubiri  also angered Duterte camp when he signed  arrest order against Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy, after Hontiveros cited  fugitive pastor in contempt for snubbing her hearings on alleged sexual abuses in his church.

“I was caught in  middle of  Duterte and Marcos factions… I’m caught in between, but I just did my job, and did it well… consequences of my action, why did it have to happen, I’m  loyalist… I am one of those who felt bad about rift in  UniTeam… I was caught in  middle of  growing fight between Duterte and Marcos factions…but we move on…we’re politicians… I am not  crybaby,” Zubiri said .

At separate press briefing  new Senate president pro tempore Jinggoy Estrada  would rather not fan speculation that Malacañang had  hand in removing Zubiri as Senate president.

“I don’t need to tell the whole story… already water under  bridge…they have nothing to do with  change of leadership here in  Senate,” Estrada said.

22 Mayo 2024, Miyerkules

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan

Register now and vote in midterm polls

supports International Nurses’ Day

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

HEADLINES

Halt  sought on Fb pages selling babies

By J.Lo

“Unregulated freedom in Facebook should come with responsibilities,” Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said Social networking service Facebook should take down pages engaged in online selling of children in  guise of adoption.

National Authority for Child Care has been monitoring social media sites since 2023 and found 20 to 30 Facebook accounts involved in child trafficking.

These Facebook pages are private accounts with thousands of followers, said NACC executive director Undersecretary Janella Estrada.

“Since February, we have been coordinating with Philippine National Police to stop  this illegal activity,” she added.

NACC has already sent  letter to Facebook requesting  removal of  pages. Facebook has yet to respond.

TODAY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

Galatians 5:13

Life by the Spirit

¹³ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh^[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

Footnotes

1. Galatians 5:13 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 16, 17, 19 and 24; and in 6:8.

21 Mayo 2024, Martes

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan

Register now and vote in midterm polls

supports International Nurses’ Day

happy Birthday Andrea Mae Sebugan, more birthdays to come

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

‘More than 20K repeat pregnancies among teens’

By J.Lo

“This means they got pregnant again for the second, third and even fourth time,” CPD acting Knowledge Management and Communications Division chief Mylin Mirasol Quiray said at Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon program.

 Commission on Population and Development (CPD) is alarmed after recording more than 20,000 repeat pregnancies among adolescents.

Latest CPD data showed there are over 22,000 repeat pregnancies involving teenagers.

 “Pandemic is  big factor for this, but it is also cultural because adolescent who got pregnant and the one who impregnated her are forced to live together,” she added.

Repeat pregnancies usually involve girls aged 13 to 15, she noted.

“Anecdotal or qualitative data showed girl and the man who got her pregnant are made to live in one house so  chance for the girl to get pregnant again is very high,most of those who get these girls pregnant are senior citizens so there is unequal power relations here…when you are in  relationship with someone older than you, what happens is that  latter is seen as  one powerful, and  younger one doesn’t have voice, and that is alarming,” she stressed.

Pregnant teenagers must be provided with social protection, she said.

“As much as possible we do not want  girl and her partner to cohabitate…or if they really have to be together, they should also practice family planning, for these young mothers to be able to practice family planning, there should be parental consent” she added.

CPD is pushing for  passage of  Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill.

21 Mayo 2024, Martes

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan

Register now and vote in midterm polls

supports International Nurses’ Day

happy Birthday Andrea Mae Sebugan, more birthdays to come

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

Senate ethics committee, 3 others without chairperson

By Nidz Godino

Some  committees left without  chairman on recent Senate shakeup  led to overhaul of its leadership two years since start of  19th Congress.

Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri,  bowed out of  role of Senate president due to what he said was his “failure to follow instructions from  powers that be,” was replaced minutes after by Senate President Chiz Escudero during Monday’s plenary session. 

Other Senate leaders loyal to Zubiri resigned from their leadership positions and committee chairperson roles. 

This includes former Senate Majority leader Joel Villanueva, former Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, former Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito, as well as Sen. Nancy Binay (former chair of ethics and tourism committees) and Sen. Sonny Angara (former chair of the Senate finance committee and subcommittee on constitutional amendments).

Senators who received plum posts were Sen. Jinggoy Estrada (Senate President Pro Tempore), Sen. Francis Tolentino (Senate Majority leader and chair of the rules committee). Meanwhile, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano is  new chair of  Senate committee on accounts.

The Senate’s latest list of committee chairpersons show that the following committees still do not have  chairperson:

• Ethics and privileges
• Finance
• Tourism
• Youth

Escudero said in an interview with reporters he  initiated talks about  leadership change in  Senate. 

In  press conference, Zubiri had already learned of  plan to unseat him since last week, and felt disappointed with those who messaged him to show support but later voted against him behind closed doors.

Former  Senate president said  discontent with his leadership may have begun with his refusal to speed up deliberations on Charter change.

In his speech on Monday, Zubiri said his “demise” may have stemmed from his insistence on keeping  Senate “staunchly independent.”

21 Mayo 2024, Martes

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan

Register now and vote in midterm polls

supports International Nurses’ Day

happy Birthday Andrea Mae Sebugan, more birthdays to come

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

Komedya o Komida

Ni Derek Jorge

Komedyang senado

KOMEDYA ang naganap sa pagdinig ng senado sa intriga ng bawal na gamot. Shout out muna kina Binang 1^st Barangay Chairman Alfredo Quiambao, secretary Michelle Santos at treasurer Con-con Adatu,admin Ricardo Sta. Ana, konsehal Aru Cando, Pepito Nicandro, Gerry Noel. Saksi ang buong daigdig Kiwal, bulati kong kikiwal-kiwal sa kabulastugan ng resource person na aminadong sinungaling maanyayahan lang sa senado. Napikon tuloy ang mga mambabatas, kulong ang damuho, basahin nyo na lang ang buong istorya sa iskup news-on-line daily para sorpresa. Kasambahay mukhang hindi basta illegal parking ang usapin sa  kontrobersyal na barkong MT Hyperline 988, nagwagayway ito ng watawat ng Pinas gayong rehistrado sa Siera Leone, ineresado tuloy ang NICA, may kinalaman kaya ito sa “national security?” Ano na mangyayari kay alkalde Alice Guo kapag nahubaran ng police power, baka pulis pawis matira? Napikon  si mayor sa pagpapabitay ni barangay captain sa mga magkakalat ng basura sa ikatlong pagkakataon. . Suspendido  kasambahay sina  Brgy. Calaba, Bangued, Abra  chairman Renato Brasuela, council members Marjun Santiago, Rosemel Viado,  Marlbour Valera,  Carmelita Venus at SK chairperson Darryl Blanes dahil sa “death penalty” sa sinuman doong mahuhuling magtatapon ng basura sa ikatlong pagkakataon. Kapag unang beses ay may multang isang bulig, sa ikalawa ay multang bulig at walong oras na “community service”. Ibig sabihin Kiwal, bulati kong kikiwal-kiwal babarilin ang ikatlong ulit na magkakalat ng basura. Ang tanong, makahuhuli naman kaya? Ipinakukonsidera ng Department of Transportation sa mga tsuper ng kulorum na mag-iba nan ang hanap-buhay. Mag-aral sa TASDA ng kursong pangkabuhayan at iyon ang isakatuparan. Pagbati sa mga kongresistang nagsisikap pagmalasakitan ang kapakanan naming mga nakatatanda-pagpapanatili sa 20% diskwento sa mga pangunahing pangangailangan. . Pero bakit kaya hanggang 20% lang Kiwal, bulati kong kikiwal-kiwal, dahil ba tinatanggal lang ang tubo sa puhunan at hindi ito kailangang galawin? Sa panukala nitong ilang deputado, ipinasasaklaw sa diskwento kahit mga produktong ipinakikilala pa lamang sa pamamagitan ng “promo”. Ipinaggigiitan ho ng mga hotel na ang mga ratang nasa promo gaya ng P500 ang sampung oras na pamamalagi na hindi saklaw ng 20% discount. Yun ho kasing promo ng kumpanya ay para sa kapakanan nito, paano naman ang batas na nilalabag na, dapat pang idiskwento ang nasa promo. Gusto ko ring tingkiin ang petrolyo, gasoline at krudo ng nagpapakargang senior citizen, dapat ikonsidera rin.   Komedya na naman ang magaganap sa mga lansangan sa pagtataguang pung at girian ng mga “unconsolidated traditional jeepney” at magsisiga-sigaang enforcer.  Tapos na kasi kasambahay ang grace period ng mga uncon at simul ana ng tugisan ng mga kulorum. Tyak magtatago ang mga kulorum hanggang manghinawa ang mga tugis boys. Alam nyo naman ang ugaling ningas-kugon, di pa rin nawawala at alam ng mga kulorum yun, pahinga muna, payagay-tagay muna. Pagkatapos ng sigwada, muling mamamayagpag ang mga kulorum, “happy days are here again”. Dyan nga Kiwal, bulati kong kikiwal-kiwal sa Imus City, Cavite, marami sa mga traditional jeepney ang ni walang ruta sa gilid, byaheng Dasmarinas City bayan-Imus City proper, kinunsinte ng mga awtoridad at pamahalaang lokal. Inutil rin dyan ang bantay-kulorum. Mababawasan kasambahay ang komedya sa munisipyo, city hall at barangay hall dahil mauudlot ang pamumulitika sa pamamahagi ng ayuda ng mga pulitiko. . Hindi na ho kasi kasambahay idaraan sa opisina ng mga ehekutibo lokal ang ayuda ni Social Welfare secretary Rex Gatchalian. Ito ho bang Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program o AKAP. Ang konswelo na lang ni Mayor at barangay chairman ay makapagmasid sa pamimigay, iniiwasan na ho kasi Kiwal, bulati kong kikiwal-kiwal na akalain ninyong mula sa pulitiko iyon kaya muling maiboboto sa nalalapit na naming halalan. Komedya  naman talaga itong nagaganap sa ating hudikatura, makaraan kasambahay ng mahigit isang dekadang paglilitis, katarungan nang tinatawag ang pagkakakulong ng tigagalawang taon ng dalawang saragateng tsuper na kahit tinawag ng korteng maingat naman sa pagmamaneho ay nakamatay pa rin ng beteranang mamamahayag at edukador. Makukulong nga kasambahay itong dalawang tsuper  Daniel Espinosa at Victor Ancheta makaraang mapatunayan ni Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 83 Judge Ralph Lee na nagkasala ng reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property with homicide sa pagkamatay ng journalist at UP Professor Chit Estella. Pinagbabayad naman kapwa ang Universal Guiding Star Bus Line Corp. at Nova Auto Transport Bus Corporation ng P7.46 milyong “moral and exemplary damage” sa pamilya ni  Estella o Lourdes Estella-Simbulan. Masasabing nasa “wrong place at wrong time” si Chit nang mga panahong iyon.   Itong  tsuper ng traditional jeepney byaheng Sto. Nino -Meycauayan City, mas pinili pang libre pamasahe kaysa tanggapin ang perang papel na P20, baka raw kasi hindi tanggapin mula sa kanya. Kasambahay, hangga’t hindi pinawawalang-bisa ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas ang pinalaganap nitong salapi sa bansa, kung nababasa pa naman ang serial number, hindi ito pwedeng hindi tanggapin. Isinukli din naman sa akin ang P20, at tinanggap ko naman kaya kailangang tanggapin mo rin driver, ang katangahan, hindi ipinag-aaraw-araw yan. Kung walang tatanggap, ang bangko, kahit anong bangko tatanggapin yan. Kasama yan sa hanap-buhay mo driver, kung wala pala akong alam, ibang salapi pa ang ibabayad mo, nungka. Consolidated na ba yang jeep mo, kung hindi magtago ka na. Tinutugis ho ngayon ng mga pulis ang kabaro nilang babae dahil nahuling nakikipagniig sa kapwa pulis at huli rin ng maybahay ang katalik. Hindi kinilala ni Col. Fajardo ang pasaway sa matinding kahihiyan, sino kaya ang life coach niyan? Nananawagan kasambahay ang obispong katoliko sa mga panatikong magdasal para ulanin. Noong araw ipinagpuprusisyon pa ng mga panatiko ang paghingi ng ulan kaya lang galit ang itaas sa pagkikilik ng imahen sa prusisyon dahil iyon ay dinidiyos pa kaysa Kanya. Paano diringgin kung mali ang pamamaraan. Lalo lamang lalala ang sitwasyon kung hindi matututuhan ng tao ang tamang pagtawag sa nasa Itaas.

Shout out muna sa Values Bocaue Advocates, Wilfredo Jimenez Jr., Alex Driodoco, Gemma Daseco, Delfin Lawa at Alex Castro. Shout out muna sa mga may “hang over” pang bagong Marked Men for Christ”. Nagsipagtapos ng phase 2 at 3 seminar sa Plaridel,Bulacan staff na kayo kung saka-sakali, unang staffing nyo ang Phase 1 sa San Carlos City, Pangasinan sa HUlyo 3-5,2024. Jonathan Fernandez, nagkakalimutan na yata a..    Salamat JO1 Adrian Montojo, magkatulungan tayo sa ikarereporma ng mga detenido.

21 Mayo 2024, Martes

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan

Register now and vote in midterm polls

supports International Nurses’ Day

happy Birthday Andrea Mae Sebugan, more birthdays to come

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

HEADLINES

Napolcom to strip Guo of police powers

By J.Lo

“Local officials have supervision over  police, so I have instructed  Napolcom to initiate proceedings for  withdrawal of  mayor’s deputization, meaning, after  investigation, with sufficient grounds, we would withdraw  deputization of Mayor Guo as  consequences of  privileges attached are revoked immediately, including its control and supervision of its local police,”  Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos has ordered  National Police Commission (Napolcom) to remove  police power of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.

At the same time, Abalos disclosed that government lawyers would formally file  complaint against Guo after Office of the Ombudsman said that  case against her should be forwarded to order  preventive suspension against  Bamban mayor.

“I want to clarify that  DILG,Department of the Interior and Local Government has no power to order preventive suspension against Guo… we have no authority to dismiss individual. ..we also have no power to suspend  person even to issue  reprimand…that’s not within  power of DILG… I want to clarify that because people are expecting,” Abalos said.

He added  he could only order  investigation and forward  result of  probe to  ombudsman.

“We created  task force… seven-man team and we had already submitted our findings to Office of  Ombudsman…if they want us to file  complaint, that’s not  problem…we will file complaint against her,” Abalos said.

The DILG chief has recommended putting Guo under preventive suspension for alleged “serious illegal acts” involving Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO).

DILG has recommended to ombudsman  issuance of  preventive suspension against Guo to prevent any influence on continuing investigations of agency and other agencies, according to Abalos.

He did not specify  illegal acts committed by Guo, as he said that this is part of  courtesy to  ombudsman.

Seven-man task force, headed by Benjamin Zaballa of  DILG Internal Audit Service, was formed in April to investigate  allegations on Guo’s link to illegal POGO in her municipality.

Abalos said they have yet to finish their investigation on the citizenship issues surrounding Guo.

The interior secretary again explained that they would refer any action to the ombudsman, which has the disciplinary authority over elected officials of local governments, and that the DILG has no power to directly suspend or dismiss local officials.

TODAY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

1 Corinthians 1:10

A Church Divided Over Leaders

¹⁰ I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,^[a] in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

Footnotes

1. 1 Corinthians 1:10 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verses 11 and 26; and in 2:1; 3:1; 4:6; 6:8; 7:24, 29; 10:1; 11:33; 12:1; 14:6, 20, 26, 39; 15:1, 6, 50, 58; 16:15, 20.