Red tape hinders Ph investments – German envoy

By J.Lo

“Streamlining processes and reducing red tape is one of the key concerns,” German Ambassador Andreas Pfaffernoschke told reporters persisting red tape is  biggest hindrance to expanding investments in the Philippines.

Businesses and investors still have lots of permits to secure to operate in the country, he noted.

To secure these permits, businesses have to deal with different layers and units of  government, he added.

There is corruption in certain bureaucratic processes that businesses and investors face, he said.

German companies interested in investing more “need red carpet and not red tape,” he added.

Pfaffernoschke lauded Marcos administration for addressing red tape, saying government is “doing right things” to provide businesses with  better regulatory environment.

“We need concrete results on ground and not just words and good executive orders… and we are optimistic that it is going to happen,” he added.

Berlin has been “talking much closely” to  Philippines since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.assumed office, compared to  previous administration, he noted.

Political stability is  factor in improving investments made by German firms in the Philippines, Pfaffernoschke said.

Political relations between Germany and the Philippines can “flourish” if there is political stability  stems from  secure and clear economic and political framework “valid for  long term, it does not mean martial law…it means  found democracy wherein everybody respects  rule of law and democracy,” he explained.

Germany remains one of the country’s investment partners with its foreign direct investments (FDIs) reaching nearly $150 million last year, its highest since 2005, according to  Department of Trade and Industry.

DTI noted Germany emerged as  “leading source” of FDI in 2023 as it contributed P393.99 billion.

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Hotter days ahead in May

By J.Lo

“We expect other areas could experience hotter temperatures,” Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section chief Ana Solis suggests prepare for hotter days and nights ahead, surpassing  already scorching heat as temperatures could reach over 40 degrees Celsius in  coming weeks.

Forecast  maximum temperature for May had been breached earlier this week, according to  Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

This comes as 40 degrees Celsius was recorded on April 15 in Isa town in Isabela province, Solis told media.

Hotter days are still coming as Philippines is being affected by  ridge of  high-pressure area, she noted.

Warm  and dry season and El Niño are contributing to soaring temperatures.

Even as El Niño is already weakening, its effects may continue to be felt until June, Solis noted.

Onset  of  wet season could be declared later than usual, or in the first or second week of June or later, due to possibility of  development of La Niña.

Public  is advised to take protective measures against  scorching heat.

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At least 20 areas are expected to reach dangerous heat index temperatures of 42 to 43 degrees Celsius today.

PAGASA warned of heat cramps and heat exhaustion, with heat stroke probable with continued exposure.

More than 1.14 million Filipinos in nine regions have already been affected by El Niño while summer is not even halfway through, according to  Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Some 244,712 families in 1,257 barangays comprised this number, based on  April 14 report of  DSWD’s Disaster Response Operations Monitor Center.

Affected families have received P37.8 million worth of assistance such as family food packs and other relief items.  DSWD provided P32.8 million and other partners gave around P5 million.

Standby  fund, currently pegged at P164.5 million in Quick Response Fund, has been made available at  DSWD central office while another P78.49 million is available in field offices.

“Effects of El Niño were felt in the Philippines, with conditions leading to agricultural damage and water shortages reported in various regions,”  report said.

Most  affected regions are Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Zamboanga peninsula, Soccsksargen, Cordillera Administrative Region and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

In Central Luzon,  town of Capas, Tarlac had reported as early as February 2023 that  livelihood of farmers, predominantly from indigenous families, has been severely affected by El Niño.

In Mimaropa, several local government units (LGUs) in Oriental and Occidental Mindoro declared  state of calamity due to severe drought, while farmers in towns in Romblon have experienced “exacerbating challenges” due to diminishing water sources for crucial crop irrigation.

In Western Visayas,  provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo and Negros Occidental also reported damage to crops, agricultural land and livestock.

State  of calamity was declared in Cebu City in Central Visayas and several LGUs in Sultan Kudarat and Northern Cotabato in Soccsksargen and Zamboanga City in Zamboanga peninsula.

In Cordillera,  effects of severe drought have become more prevalent in  provinces of Abra, Apayao, Ifugao and Mountain Province, which led to damage to crops and animal population.

In BARMM,  municipality of Hadji Muhtamad in Basilan experienced water shortage and insufficient crop supply due to  effects of El Niño, resulting in food scarcity.

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Smart blocks 13 M smishing msgs

By Nidz Godino

“Data is  new oil…cyber criminals steal personal information to defraud or use your identity to victimize people close to you…guard your data,” Smart senior vice president and chief information security officer Joseph Ian Gendrano said wireless leader Smart Communications Inc. prevented more than 13 million attempts to dupe its subscribers in the first quarter of the year, warning against  rising number of hijack profiles.

Apart from this, Smart also blacklisted nearly 200,000 SIMs involved in malicious activities, as  telco improved its coordination with authorities in preventing digital fraud.

Gendrano said  company is stepping up its fraud detection as cases of hijack profiles are on  rise.

 Hijack  profile happens when  hacker gains access to  victim’s social media account. Typically,  victim is locked out of his own account, and hacker then reaches out to social media contacts to ask for money, usually under  guise of sickness.

Gendrano said hackers gain access to social media accounts through phishing. As such, he asked customers to be cautious in clicking on e-mails, links and texts from unknown persons.

Further, Gendrano reminded subscribers phishing messages employ low-quality photos and wrong grammar in their attempt to emulate legitimate institutions like banks and  government.

Also, Gendrano advised against logging in personal credentials on unfamiliar websites, warning that hackers are skilled in creating fake channels that may appear legitimate on first look.

Meanwhile, connectivity provider Globe Telecom Inc. reported  significant drop in  number of spam texts  it blocked in the first quarter. All in all, Globe blocked 362.8 million attempts during the period, down by 67 percent a year ago.

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Globe also observed  74 percent decline in  number of bank-related scams that it blocked to 1.04 million, from 4.07 million.

Telco received 44 percent less customer reports on spam messages in its Stop Spam portal.

Globe chief information security officer Anton Bonifacio believes  decline in volume of blocked spams shows  telco is succeeding in minimizing digital fraud.

Globe has invested at least $101.2 million for cybersecurity upgrades since 2015, including $26 million for fraud detection.

Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) of  Philippine National Police  warned  public of another scam on social media platforms targeting online sellers.

ACG director Maj. Gen. Sidney Hernia said  modus operandi dubbed as “middleman scam” has fraudulent sellers posting items for sale on Facebook Marketplace.

Hernia said  suspects act as intermediaries between two parties in transaction.  Victims  are unaware  culprits are exploiting their trust to defraud them.

One particular case resulted in  arrest of  suspect, whom ACG identified as alias Juan, in an entrapment operation in Sampaloc, Manila last April 6.

Juan is now facing criminal complaints of estafa or swindling in relation to Republic Act 10175, or Cybercrime Prevention Act.

Hernia said  victim purchased  internet modem on Facebook Marketplace from  suspect, who pretended to be  legitimate seller.

Suspect  encouraged victim to pay for  first ten modems through e-wallet app. He then used  victim’s payment receipt to transact with  actual seller.

Hernia said  delivery was processed but  real seller cancelled  transaction after he did not receive  payment. It turned out  suspect tricked him and  buyer.

Hernia urged  public to always verify  identity of sellers and buyers they are transacting with on social media platforms and use secure payment methods.

“Communicate directly through  official contact information and avoid dealing with intermediaries or third parties who claim to facilitate  transaction,” he said. 

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Legal action vs Alvarez for alleged ‘seditious’ remarks

By J.Lo

“Any call for withdrawal of support when done by public official, more so one that is also  high-ranking reservist, is not only irresponsible but also illegal and unconstitutional,” National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said in  statement National Security Council (NSC) called on  Department of Justice to consider legal action against Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez (Davao del Norte) after ally of former leader Rodrigo Duterte told  military and  police to withdraw its support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 

NSC,  agency under  Office of the President, said Alvarez’s call over could be interpreted as “seditious or rebellious.”

Alvarez is  Philippine Marine Corps reservist with  rank of colonel.

“It erodes  very foundation of our democratic institutions and undermines  supremacy of civilian authority over the military,” Año added. 

Justice Secretary Jose Crispin Remulla  ordered investigation into  remarks of Alvarez to determine if they constitute sedition, incitement to sedition, or even rebellion. 

Under  Revised Penal Code, sedition is committed by individuals “who rise publicly and tumultuously in order to attain by force, intimidation, or by other means outside of legal methods.” 

Incitement to sedition occurs when  person incites others to accomplish any of the acts  constitute sedition, either by speech, proclamation, emblem, or banner. It also involves uttering seditious words against  government or its officials. 

Rebellion, on the other hand, is committed by “rising publicly and taking arms against  government for   purpose of removing allegiance to said government or its laws.”

“His words and deeds are  disservice to our men and women in uniform who risk their lives daily to safeguard our nation’s security, defend us from all manner of threats, and uphold  Constitution,” Año said.

Armed Forces of the Philippines and  Philippine National Police rejected Alvarez’s call. 

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HEADLINES

BFAR chief sacked for graft

By J.Lo

“OIC Isidro Velayo, director IV and assistant director for technical services, is  career professional and respected official of BFAR;;my marching order to him is to ensure that operations of  agency will not be affected by this legal development,” Ombudsman Samuel Martires has dismissed Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) director Demosthenes Escoto, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. confirmed.

Escoto was dismissed after he was found guilty of grave misconduct in  graft case arising from BFAR procurement of communication equipment in 2018.

Tiu-Laurel announced  appointment of Isidro Velayo Jr. as officer-in-charge of BFAR after receiving  ombudsman’s order against Escoto.

Tiu-Laurel added  ombudsman directed him to implement  order.

He said Escoto could still seek reconsideration of the ombudsman’s decision or directly appeal the decision to the Court of Appeals.

Velayo was  former national coordinator of BFAR’s seaweed program and previously  regional director for Zamboanga peninsula.

Dismissal  order against Escoto stemmed from  complaint filed by lawyer James Mier Victoriano, in connection with  alleged irregularities in  awarding of  P2.097-billion contract to British company SRT Marine Systems Solutions Ltd. – United Kingdom in 2018.

Contract  was for  supply of vessel monitoring system transmitters and transceivers,  vital component for implementation of  BFAR’s Integrated Marine Environment Monitoring System Project Phase II.

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Project  aimed to improve BFAR’s ability to fulfill its mandate of safeguarding and monitoring  country’s maritime resources by requiring all commercial fishing vessels to install  monitoring system that would show their location at sea. 

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Delisting  of Alvarez as military reservist

By J.Lo

“Any attempt to sway them away from this duty or to patronize them to support  partisan agenda is futile, particularly when this agenda dovetails with  foreign interest contrary to our own national interests,” Department of National Defense (DND) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are looking at  possible investigation of Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez and his delisting from  roll of reservists in  Philippine Marine Corps (PMC).

Move  came after Alvarez called on AFP to withdraw support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to force  Chief Executive to step down.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro reassured  public that “ AFP is standing steadfast in upholding  Constitution under leadership of the commander-in-chief, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.”

“Calls for them to ‘withdraw support’ will not amount to anything, but to  possible criminal investigation,” Teodoro said in  statement.

AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said Alvarez,  reservist with  rank of colonel, belongs to PMC under  Philippine Navy.

“There are two categories of reservist: active and standby…we will check which category Alvarez is in, we defer to  Philippine Marines whether they would be recommending something at this point, but I believe, at this point, Alvarez is not  active reservist,” Padilla told reporters in  press briefing.

Padilla said Alvarez is, of course, entitled to his own opinion, though AFP thinks his call for  withdrawal of support “is uncalled-for statement.”

Generally, she said if there are AFP policies, rules and regulations that would apply to what lawmaker did as  reservist officer, it will be looked into.

AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad, for his part, noted  there are cases already in  reserve force wherein there are violations of any regulation or the law, “they are delisted in their particular membership.”

“With reservists, we have what you call  ‘delisting’ and it also happens there are already many who have been delisted from  reserve force on breach of discipline  that they have not met standards that they require,” Trinidad said.

AFP had earlier and repeatedly assured that military is united, non-partisan and professional, and will follow  chain of command, which is headed by  commander-in-chief.

Philippine Navy, in  separate statement,  initiated  investigation against Alvarez who will be asked to explain. Based on  results of  probe, it will decide on what actions can be taken against  lawmaker.

“We take exception to  recent statement of the 1st District Davao del Norte Representative and Marine reservist, Pantaleon Alvarez,”  Philippine Navy said.

“The Philippine Navy has already directed  9th Marine Brigade to conduct  investigation and to ask Col. Alvarez to explain his statements… result of  investigation will be the basis of  Navy’s actions moving forward,” the statement read.

During  rally in Tagum City over the weekend, Alvarez said Marcos could lead tountry into a potential war between China and the US.

This prompted him to suggest that  withdrawal of AFP support for the president would bring peace and stability to the nation.

Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel III said  military should be kept free of politics, after Alvarez called on AFP to withdraw its support for the administration.

But the senator asked for calm, amid calls from his friends in Congress, like Surigao Del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, to file sedition charges against the former House speaker.

Pimentel said it should be the electorate  not the military  who should decide on the country’s leaders.

“Leadership of our country should not be determined or left to be determined by  armed forces or any armed group… political leadership in the Philippines should be settled through honest elections, let us insulate our armed forces from politics so that they can develop into more professional, disciplined and inspired group” the senator said.

The senator asked for calm from both parties and reminded Alvarez not to drag military into politics, and for others not to suppress free speech.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has ordered  investigation into whether Alvarez can be prosecuted for sedition, inciting to sedition or even rebellion.

“I have ordered  investigation on  statements of Congressman Pantaleon Alvarez to determine whether it has risen to  level of sedition, inciting to sedition or even rebellion,” he said in  statement. 

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PCG regains control of Fb page

By J.Lo

“CGPAS is also set to conduct another hardware check with IT experts from  Coast Guard Weapons, Communications, Electronics, and Information System Command to strengthen its cybersecurity measures,” Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has regained access to its Facebook page  hacked earlier.

In  statement  PCG said it recovered its Facebook account at 9 in the morning on Tuesday.

PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said e agency, through  Coast Guard Public Affairs Service, coordinated with  Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center of  Department of Information and Communications Technology and Meta to conduct “backend operations and assess  security breach.”

During  hacking incident,  Facebook account of PCG shared videos of movie summaries.

Prior to latest hacking incident,  PCG Facebook page was last hacked on February 26 but was recovered on February 29.

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Senate to comment on AQ petition

By J.Lo

“While we have yet to receive and read the order, we certainly will comply with  directive of  SC, cognizant of  principle of separation of powers and with only  highest respect for our institutions.,” Sen. Risa Hontiveros ‘ statement read. Supreme Court (SC) has asked  Senate to file their comment on petition filed by  camp of doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy assailing  legality of chamber’s warrant of arrest against him.

This has been confirmed by SC spokesperson Camille Sue Mae Ting in  media forum. 

Order  to comment is part of  high court’s procedures in handling cases or petitions.

On March 25, Quiboloy’s camp filed  petition with Supreme Court, asking the high court to halt  Senate from enforcing  arrest warrant issued against  preacher for his failure to appear in  Senate investigation into  alleged abuses of his “church,”  Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Along with Quiboloy’s petition is  request for  temporary restraining order or  writ of preliminary injunction to halt  enforcement of  arrest warrant. 

Ting said high court only asked  Senate for comment to hear “both sides” and did not deny nor grant  preacher’s request for TRO.

In  statement,  Hontiveros,  chair of  Senate Committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality, will respond to SC’s request for comment.

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Aside from  Senate arrest warrant, Quiboloy has  warrant of arrest for child and sexual abuse issued by Davao City court.

Along with Quiboloy charged before  Davao Court are his associates: Jackielyn Roy, Cresente Canada, Enteng Canada, Ingrid Canada and Sylvia Cemañes. 

Pasig Court has also issued another warrant for  non-bailable charge of qualified human trafficking against Quiboloy and his co-accused. 

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Biggest drug haul, killed no one – FMJ

By Nidz Godino

“Challenge now is for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.to do the right thing: equivocally declare an end to  violent drug war, and rescind all Duterte-era orders that operationalized  ‘drug war,’” New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW)  Asia Division senior researcher Carlos Conde said recovery of P13.3 billion worth of shabu in Batangas, considered to be  country’s biggest drug haul in  single police operation so far, indicated that  government’s “bloodless” campaign against illegal drugs is working.

Marcos joined officials of  Department of the Interior and Local Government, led by Secretary Benhur Abalos, in inspecting  drug haul in Alitagtag town.

Marcos said  arresting officers were able to capture  suspect without resorting to violence.

“This is the biggest shipment of shabu that we have seized…but not one person died…no one died, no one was shot, no one was hurt, bloodless approach to  drug war…what’s important is we stop  shipment of drugs here in the Philippines,” he said.

Authorities are tracking down  source of  illegal drugs, Marcos said, noting  seized substance was not manufactured locally. Illegal  drugs were loaded in  passenger van  police pulled over at  checkpoint in Barangay Pinagkrusan.

Van  driver was arrested and will be charged with violation of  Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Marcos said  test conducted on confiscated drugs by Philippine National Police (PNP) showed  illegal substance was of “very high quality,” or has “very high potency.” The President assured  public that his administration would keep running after illegal drug syndicates, including  powerful ones or those connected with  government or politicians.“ The only way to get that is to continue to prosecute  drug war and … well within the law… so  cases can be filed and syndicates can be identified.  Guilty  parties can be arrested and eventually imprisoned…that is the point of this… of what we are doing… the only way to approach it,” he said.  Marcos administration’s approach to drug menace is  complete shift from the one taken by his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte under  controversial “Oplan Tokhang.” Marcos  government has changed  concept of anti-drug campaign, focusing on preventing  use of banned substances and rehabilitating drug addicts. He said  government would expand its illegal drug program by working closely with Interpol or international police as well as with intelligence and drug agencies around the world, including  Association of Southeast Asian Nations. “It’s  most successful approach to  drug war, so far, so why change it…we won’t change it, we’ll continue to do what we are doing… I cannot explain to you every detail of what we are doing, but we will continue to do what we are doing,” Marcos said.  Recent  drug haul surpassed  previous 1,589 teabags of shabu valued at P11 billion that were seized in Infanta, Quezon in March 2022.

HRW said  Batangas drug haul was proof that  government could go after illegal drug trade without resorting to violence “if authorities really do their job and follow due process.”

Conde said  government should also institutionalize harm reduction as  strategy in dealing with illegal drugs.

“Harm reduction puts premium on rights of people who use drugs…drug use is  public health issue. It’s time for Mr. Marcos to walk the talk on drug policy reform,” he added.

He expressed hope  drug summit announced by  Department of Justice would lead to “meaningful drug policy reforming, starting with abandoning  Duterte-style drug war.”

Records on government’s anti-illegal drug campaign from July 2022 to December 2023 showed there were 36,803 operations conducted,  resulted in  arrest of 49,700 drug suspects, 3,284 of them were considered high value targets.

Government  had filed 47,516 cases of anti-drug violation, 28,302 of which were resolved and 22,201 or 78.44 percent resulted in conviction.

Up to 2,427 or 8.58 percent resulted in dismissal, and 3,674 or 12.98 percent in acquittal.

At least 314,917 drug dependents participated in  community-based drug rehabilitation program while 105 Balay Silangan Reformation Centers have produced 1,854 graduates. Data showed 28,243 or 67.24 percent of barangays nationwide have been declared drug-free. Duterte has been accused by  International Criminal Court (ICC) of committing crimes against humanity in connection with drug-related extrajudicial killings.

Over 6,000 drug suspects were killed under  Duterte drug war, according to government data. 

Whale watching in Bohol town halt

By J.Lo

Sta. Filomena Ecotourism complex in Alburquerque, Bohol has been stop operating despite  endorsement from  Protected Area Management Board (PAMB),  Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has stopped its operations for lack of  environmental clearance certificate (ECC) and Special Use Agreement in Protected Areas.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources officer Ariel Rica and Community Environment and Natural Resources Office confirmed  suspension order after hearing.

 Suspension  will affect whale watching activities within  Alburquerque-Loboc-Loay Protected Landscape and Seascape in Barangay Sta. Filomena.

Residents of  barangay filed  complaint against whale watching activities, saying these violated environmental policies, including  municipal ordinance on coastal management.

Whale watching activities are being conducted within  marine protected area, according to  Bohol Environment Management Office.

PAMB passed Resolution No. 19 endorsing  development of  ecotourism complex and allowing kayaking, snorkeling, swimming, mangrove or boardwalk tour, cottages and observing traditional salt making. There was no mention of whale watching.

DENR said  municipal government of Alburquerque and owners of  ecotourism complex signed  agreement on whale watching activities aside from  memorandum of understanding to operate in the area.