‘Luffy’ gang members kicked out

By J.Lo

“This successful deportation is  testament to  collaborative partnership and good relationship between  Philippines and Japan…we will not allow our country to be used as  hiding ground for criminals and syndicates,” Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco said BI deported two Japanese nationals who are allegedly members of  “Luffy” gang.

Bureau announced  deportation of Sugano Kazushi and Shimoeda Saito. Identified as fugitives by  Japanese government, they were allegedly involved in fraudulent call activities for  criminal organization.

“Their deportation is  significant achievement in our efforts to disrupt criminal networks victimizing unsuspecting individuals,” BI’s press release read, quoting Immigration Commissioner  Tansingco. 

Kazushi and Saito are believed to be  part of  infamous Luffy group.

Named after  well-known anime character,  Luffy group has become infamous in Japan for engaging in various scams and robberies.

The pair also has arrest warrant issued by  Tokyo Summary Court due to being  part of  “large-scale telecom fraud group.”

Saito was intercepted in November 2023 after attempting to leave Ninoy Aquino International Airport bound for Nagoya, Japan. 

Since 2019, the two individuals have been in hiding in the Philippines. 

Search was launched for them and their associates after Japanese government officially notified authorities in February 2023 about their criminal status.

Billboards, lawful election propaganda 

By Nidz Godino

“As elections have evolved due to technological advancements, so too have the means through which political candidates convey their message to  public…outdoor advertising, particularly static and LED billboards, provides visually compelling platforms for political candidates to convey their message to  public,” Sen. Imee Marcos said static or LED billboards should be allowed as lawful election propaganda.

In Senate Bill 2624 filed by Marcos, static or light-emitting diode billboards and other outdoor advertising media would be included in the list of lawful election propaganda in  Fair Election Act.

Midterm elections are set for May 12, 2025.

“Contracting or leasing  billboard spot is generally cheaper than contracting advertisements in radio, television and newspapers,” she added.

Marcos argued campaigning through outdoor media “helps level  playing field for candidates, parties and causes that have limited resources.”

She claimed this could potentially “enhance fairness, inclusivity and transparency in the electoral process.”

In 2019,  senator’s tarpaulin in Cebu City was taken down for “politicizing”  Sinulog Festival.

27 Marso 2024, Miyerkules

supports Fire Prevention Month

deepest sympathy to family of the late Danilo Halili

supports Women Month March

joins Christian nations in observance of Lenten season

welcomes Bagong Bayani Monico Lopez Caranay

Ph to face more cyclones in 2024 with La Niña’s return

By J.Lo

“Since  warming of ocean temperature is closer to us, it is possible that tropical cyclones may develop closer to our seas,” Ana Liza Solis, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) climate monitoring chief said Philippines is likely to experience more tropical cyclones in 2024 than last year due to  potential return of La Niña.

PAGASA projected 13 to 16 cyclones this year, marking increase from 11 storms in 2023, an El Niño year. Figures are still below  average of 19 to 20 storms  country typically sees annually. 

Solis said there are usually more cyclones during La Niña because of warmer ocean temperatures. There is  62% chance that La Niña will develop during June to August.

 “We will experience  possible effects of La Niña during  last quarter of the year,” she added.

La Niña brings stronger trade winds, pushing warm surface water in  western Pacific, where  Philippines is located, and drawing up cool water in  eastern Pacific. Warm water creates more rain. 

Science Secretary Renato Solidum noted that since warm water is closer to  Philippines during La Niña, cyclones could reach land faster. 

“It means  lead time is shorter…for cyclones closer to land, there is less time to prepare,” he said. 

Early this March, PAGASA issued  La Niña Watch. Historically, pre-developing La Niña events are characterized by below-normal rainfall. Weather bureau said this suggests  possible slight delay in  onset of  rainy season “likely with  confirmed effects of  ongoing El Niño.”

El Niño,  climate pattern associated with extreme heat and drought, is gradually weakening, but its effects will persist in the coming months. 

Solidum said drought will affect 48 provinces, while dry spells will impact 24 provinces by April. By May, 54 provinces will experience drought and 10 will face dry spells.

Number of drought-stricken provinces will decrease over the next months: 25 by June, 23 by July, and 10 by August. 

SHS vouchers fall short of decongesting public schools, helping poor learners

By Creselda Canda-Lopez

“It’s  waste that we don’t solve the problem of congestion because we are randomly giving  voucher program to students,” Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said  Department of Education’s senior high school voucher program had mostly benefited non-poor students and largely failed to decongest public schools even as it forked over large sums of money for private schools to absorb students, new data shared during  Senate hearing showed.

Described as  “wastage” and  “leakage” by Gatchalian, DepEd’s voucher program appears to have failed to help at least 542,000 senior high school students considered as “aisle learners” enroll in private schools in school year 2023-2024 alone. Aisle learners refer to students who already count outside  regular class size in school.

Meanwhile, DepEd data shows  53% or P7.21 billion of  P13.69 billion allocation for  senior high school voucher program went to non-poor students in SY 2021-2022, or students whose families earned  income less than  poverty threshold. This was higher compared to SY 2019-2020, where 39% or P7.30 billion of  P18.76 billion budget for  senior high school voucher program also went to non-poor students.

These estimates by Gatchalian,  chairs  Senate basic education panel,  similar to  findings raised by  Commission on Audit in 2018 that  Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) program SHS vouchers are under was benefiting “non-poor” students due to DepEd’s inability to ensure its efficient implementation. 

Gatchalian pointed out during  March 20 hearing that DepEd should have established  effective “targeting mechanism” to ensure 
 1.2 million voucher beneficiaries this school year already included  542,000 estimated aisle learners.

Citing data from  Annual Poverty Indicators surveys in 2020 and 2021, Gatchalian also said  voucher program needs to be “corrected” immediately as 70% of  voucher recipients in SY 2021-2022 belonged to non-poor households.

“For me, it’s wastage and leakage…we need to correct this immediately and I plan to raise this during our budget hearing because we have to make sure  every centavo allocated to  government goes to our poor learners and efficient projects and programs,” he  said.

Lawyer Tara Rama of DepEd vowed to review GASTPE’s guidelines to address  program’s non-prioritization of poor students, as well as it’s ability to target students in overcrowded public schools.

Similar to  COA findings five years ago, Gatchalian described  matter as one  government “is not being efficient.”

Since it introduced grades 11 and 12 under  K to 12 program, DepEd has relied on its senior high school voucher program to move financially challenged students from overcrowded public schools to private schools through voucher subsidies.

These vouchers range from P8,750 to P22,500 a year, depending on  student’s household income and location, with  expectation that  student’s families would cover  excess.

However,  2018 performance report on  SHS voucher program by  COA found  DepEd “does not check whether or not  students are actually underprivileged.”

COA said, in “promoting greater choice,” DepEd had also extended financial assistance to students coming from non-poor families.  Philippine Center of Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) report in 2020 found  voucher subsidies fell short in helping students enroll in private schools due to economic difficulties brought by  COVID-19 pandemic, revealing  inadequacy of  department’s main financial assistance program for senior high school students.

2^nd  graft case vs Magalong

By J.Lo

Baguio Councilor Mylen Yaranon  is now tracking down Mayor Benjamin Magalong for another graft case before  Office of the Ombudsman.

This time is in connection with allegedly anomalous improvement and rehabilitation of  P50-million multipurpose building in Barangay Irisan.

Yaranon alleged that Magalong violated Republic Act 3019 or  Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Yaranon said  project was implemented through  memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed between  Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Cordillera and  city government of Baguio,  awarded  conract to Khatib Construction on Dec. 18, 2021.

She said  project should have been completed within 350 days or by Dec. 8, 2022.

Yaranon said  project engineer of  DPWH questioned  discrepancies in  elevation, footing and sizes of  columns of  building during  meeting with  Baguio City Building and Architects Office (CBAO) in March 2020.

Baguio City District Engineering Office (BCDEO) of  DPWH said  any change in the project should be made in accordance with  MOA, including submission of  variation order.

BCDEO said any allowed action on  variance is limited to 10 percent of  contract amount. If  amount is higher, it must first be referred to  DPWH central office.

DPWH informed  CBAO in August of  same year about its observation on materials used in the construction.

It  did not receive or approve any variation order and technical justification or as-stake plan. It issued  warning to  CBAO for not submitting  required documents.

Despite  warning,  city government released P43 million as payment to Khatib Construction, Yaranon said in the complaint.

On Dec. 8, 2022,  supposed day of  completion of  project,  DPWH  found out that only 60 percent of the building was finished.

Noting  40-percent slippage,  DPWH terminated the project, but city government continued it.

Of  P43 million paid to  contractor, P32 million was sourced from  DPWH, while  rest came from  trust fund of  city government.

Yaranon said there was no approved authorization for the mayor or any appropriation ordinance allowing  release of P11 million to  contractor.

It was  second graft case  Yaranon lodged against Magalong. First was in connection with  allegedly irregular purchase of  property in Tuba, Benguet for the city’s social housing program.

TODAY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

Psalm 62:7

⁷ My salvation and my honor depend on God^[a];
    he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

Footnotes

1. Psalm 62:7 Or / God Most High is my salvation and my honor

26 Marso 2024, Martes

supports Fire Prevention Month

deepest sympathy to family of the late Danilo Halili

supports Women Month March

joins Christian nations in observance of Lenten season

welcomes Bagong Bayani Monico Lopez Caranay

P1 B for DepEd’s restoration of heritage sch bldgs 

By J.Lo

Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will spend over P1 billion will be spent for  restoration and conservation of hundreds of heritage school buildings in the Philippines.

In  news release,  DBM  has approved  P1.134-billion Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for  Department of Education (DepEd) to restore 654 classrooms in 83 heritage schools nationwide.

SARO includes necessary improvements for  restoration of Gabaldon schoolhouses, which are school buildings put up during  Americsan colonial period.

SARO is in accordance with  special provision in  2024 national budget that complies with Republic Act 11194 or  Gabaldon School Buildings Conservation Act, which state that heritage school buildings, including Gabaldon school buildings, must be preserved and restored as part of the country’s cultural conservation efforts.

Gabaldon schoolhouses,  built between 1907 and 1946 under  colonial regime of  Americans, are noted for their architecture,  mimics  traditional Filipino bahay kubo and bahay na bato. 

Around 2,045 Gabaldon schoolhouses remain in the country today.

Schools are named after the late lawmaker Isauro Gabaldon, who authored  Gabaldon Act of 1907 or Republic Act 1801,  provided for P1 million for  construction of school buildings in every municipality in the country.

Restoration process of Gabaldon schoolhouses includes site improvements such as school ground site leveling and grading.

Infrastructure improvement also includes removal of obstructions and unsafe structures around the Gabaldon buildings.

26 Marso 2024, Martes

supports Fire Prevention Month

deepest sympathy to family of the late Danilo Halili

supports Women Month March

joins Christian nations in observance of Lenten season

welcomes Bagong Bayani Monico Lopez Caranay

Half-day work in gov’t offices on Holy Wednesday

By Nidz Godino

 “However, those agencies whose functions involve  delivery of basic and health services, preparedness/response to disasters and calamities and/or  performance of other vital services shall continue with their operations and render  necessary services,”  Secretary Lucas Bersamin said memo declared to provide state workers full opportunity to properly observe Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, Malacañang has suspended work in government offices from 12 noon onwards on March 27, Holy Wednesday.

Suspension will allow them to travel to and from  different regions in the country, according to Memorandum Circular 45 signed by Executive

Suspension of work in private companies and offices is left to  sound discretion of their respective employers, it said. Malacañang said authorities expect  exodus as Filipinos rush to  provinces for  observance of  Lenten season.

More than 85 million or 78.8 percent of Filipinos are Roman Catholic, based on  2020 Census of Population and Housing conducted by  Philippine Statistics Authority.

Travel scams spreading through text messages, social media messaging platforms and email are being addressed by  Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) as  country commemorates  Holy Week.

DICT has received numerous travel scam complaints over  past few days.

“Many complainants received texts pretending to be promo or discounts when they purchase tickets or book resorts after clicking  link to  website…do not click the link,” DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy advised Filipinos to report suspicious offers to  anti-scam hotline 1326 so authorities could investigate and prosecute scammers.

Online and text scams reportedly increase during holidays in the Philippines.

Online Bantay Lakbay 2024 campaign was launched yesterday by  DICT in partnership with  Department of Transportation, Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

Launching was held at  Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, attended by Uy, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos.

26 Marso 2024, Martes

supports Fire Prevention Month

deepest sympathy to family of the late Danilo Halili

supports Women Month March

joins Christian nations in observance of Lenten season

welcomes Bagong Bayani Monico Lopez Caranay

Teves must face cases in Philippines

By Nidz Godino

“Brutal crimes happened here in the Philippines… families of  victims are here in the Philippines…we want justice to be served here in the Philippines,” Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesman Mico Clavano said DOJ will not recognize or acknowledge any effort to bring the case of expelled Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. before  United Nations rights body.

Teves’ counsel, Ferdinand Topacio, earlier would explore  former lawmaker’s legal options as he faces possible deportation from Timor-Leste, where he was arrested while playing golf after almost a year of staying in  Southeast Asian country,  had turned down his application for asylum.

Among  options Topacio raised was “bringing  prosecution of Rep. Teves to  UN Commission on Human Rights,” saying one of Teves’ lawyers in Timor-Leste is  recognized expert in international human rights.

In response,  DOJ  would not acknowledge any camp  “refuses to go through our own justice system.”

Teves, tagged as  mastermind of  assassination of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and his bodyguards as well as several civilians in March 2023, was arrested last March 21 in Dili.

He was arrested based on  International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) red notice issued against him in February. Red notice is  request to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and arrest  person pending extradition, surrender or similar legal action.

According to Topacio,  Timor-Leste court has extended  former lawmaker’s detention by 15 days while  government is verifying  request of  Philippines and  Interpol for his custody.

As  result,  team from  National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that went to Dili to take custody of Teves returned on Sunday empty handed.

In  separate television interview on March 25, Topacio said it’s courts in Timor-Leste that would decide if Teves would be allowed to stay and under what conditions or sent back to the Philippines.

“Congressman Teves is not being detained in Timor-Leste for any crime committed in Timor-Leste,” he said in an interview over media.

Topacio is ready should Teves be repatriated back to  Philippines to face  charges against him.

“If there is  scenario where he can be brought back to the country, then we will undergo trial because we’re confident that  case of the government is weak,” he said.

Aside from bringing  case to  UN,  camp of Teves  are also looking at applying again for political asylum for Teves.

Teves is considered  fugitive and  undocumented alien in Timor-Leste following  cancellation of his Philippine passport by  Department of Foreign Affairs.

Aside from  Degamo assassination, Teves is also linked to  deaths of several political foes in 2019.

Clavano earlier said Teves would be sent back to Philippines either through deportation, extradition or whatever authorities would deem “most feasible, quick and effective.”

According to Topacio, “neither deportation nor extradition is on the table at this point in  proceedings.”

Teves has been designated  terrorist along with 11 others by  Anti-Terrorism Council due to alleged killings and harassment in Negros Oriental.

After being linked to  Degamo assassination, Teves went into hiding, prompting  House of Representatives to vote for his expulsion in August last year.

At  press briefing, NBI Director Medardo de Lemos said Teves had expressed fear for his life.

“I told congressman Teves that it’s our commitment to President Josè Ramos-Horta, to the agency and to you that nothing bad will happen to you once we bring you back to the Philippines,” De Lemos said.

De Lemos stressed it’s  NBI’s mission to cooperate with local authorities and adhere strictly to legal processes.

Despite facing challenges, including difficulties in obtaining  photograph of Teves, De Lemos highlighted their determination to verify Teves’ identity and provide  necessary documentation to support their position.

“We’ve provided all documents supporting NBI’s position on why congressman Teves was included in the red notice list,” he said.

26 Marso 2024, Martes

supports Fire Prevention Month

deepest sympathy to family of the late Danilo Halili

supports Women Month March

joins Christian nations in observance of Lenten season

welcomes Bagong Bayani Monico Lopez Caranay

FMJ in ‘excellent’ health, resumed public duties

By Nidz Godino

“Their attending physician has confirmed that they are free from all symptoms, enabling them to promptly return to their regular duties, effective immediately,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said “ President has been in meetings today and will resume his public duties tomorrow.”

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.will resume his onsite engagements at Malacañang today after he was forced to skip some events last week due to flu-like symptoms.

He will preside over  sectoral meeting that will tackle updates related to El Niño phenomenon and  outlook on La Niña.

The President will also welcome visitors from  US and India, according to schedules released by  Palace. Marcos and some members of the Cabinet will meet with  US congressional delegation composed of American senators.

In  Facebook post, PCO said the President and First Lady have “completely recovered” from their flu-like symptoms and are now in “excellent” health.

Marcos will also receive Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar,  undertaking his second visit to the Philippines from March 25 to 27.

According to  Department of Foreign Affairs, Jaishankar’s visit aims to advance trade and tourism between Manila and New Delhi.

The Indian official will also meet with his Philippine counterpart, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, to tackle defense and maritime cooperation, food security, development, health care and financial technology cooperation.

Earlier PCO said Marcos, 66, and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, 64, had developed flu-like symptoms following their full schedule in the past days and were advised by their physician to get some rest.

Because of his condition, Marcos canceled his attendance at some events, including  luncheon hosted by  Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines in Manila and the Philippine Army’s 127th anniversary at Camp O’Donnel in Tarlac.

Before developing flu-like symptoms, Marcos arrived from his visit in Germany and Czech Republic, attended the World Economic Forum and met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at Malacañang.