Work on-line, classes allowed for public schools, offices on October 31
By Nidz Godino
“Work from home arrangement in government offices shall be implemented, and asynchronous classes in public schools shall be conducted on 31 October 2023,” Malacañang released memorandum circular allowing work-from-home arrangement for government employees and asynchronous classes for public schools on Oct. 31.
Memorandum Circular 38, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, was issued “in order to provide government employees full opportunity to properly observe” All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1 and “allow them to travel to and from different regions in the country.”
But Bersamin clarified government 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 usual operations and render necessary services in person.
He said “ similar arrangement for work in private companies and classes in private schools is left to discretion of their respective heads.”
Oct. 31, which falls on Tuesday, is preceded by barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) on Oct. 30.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has declared Oct. 30, Monday, non-working day in entire country to allow Filipinos to participate in BSKE elections.
Nov. 1 or All Saints’ Day, is special non-working day.
“Almost every day, we experience attacks, attempts to attack our systems…so far, we have been successful in thwarting these attacks and protecting our networks…we want to maintain that,” Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr said during Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum at Cafe Adriatico in Manila with geopolitical tensions and attack escalation taking place in the country, including those on internet, AFP is preparing to recruit cybersecurity professionals for planned new Cyber Command that will combat cyber hackers and fraudsters.
Brawner said creation of this new command is aimed at developing Armed Forces’ cyber warfare capability.
He noted cyber hackers, whether state-sponsored or simply fraudsters, are always looking for vulnerabilities to penetrate AFP systems.
“We are developing Cyber Command of Armed Forces of the Philippines…we will pour in more resources, pour in hardware and software and more importantly, we will recruit cyber warriors,” he pointed out.
Brawner said new command is patterned after Cyber Command of US Armed Forces and Singapore’s Digital and Information Service , separate service that is equal to their Army, Air Force and Navy.
Since this is modern specialized unit, normal recruitment for soldiers would have to be relaxed, he said as he noted physical fitness requiremets might become issue in recruiting cybersecurity-savvy people into armed service.
“We will relax some of our recruitment requirement for them… secial enlistment, special considerations,” Brawner said.
Recruits would be given rank of captain under lateral entry scheme similar to other professionals recruited into military like doctors, nurses, lawyers and engineers, he explained.
Rank gets salary and allowances reaching up to P70,000 month.
But Brawner clarified “we’re still in planning stage… drawing up plans for specific creation of that” as he noted AFP already has existing communications unit and cyber unit.
“We already have existing AFP Communications, Electronic and Information Systems Service… Cyber Group is also existing…so we are going to combine these two units so we will have better equipped cyber command…we will also integrate their personnel and expertise…but, we still need more… we’re going to recruit more cyber warriors,” Brawner said.
He stressed combined units would oversee cyber defense of AFP and entire country.
“Integration is important because it would combine cyber units of major services Army, Air Force and Navy,” Brawner said, adding this arm of AFP might be formed by first quarter of 2024.
“Maximize opportunity presented by occasions like this convention to strengthen collaboration and reaffirm your association’s resolve to help realize vision we all share: an empowered judiciary that delivers, in real-time, justice our people deserve,” Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo in Philippine Judges Association (PJA) National Convention urged trial court judges to uphold progress in judicial reforms.
This is in relation to Supreme Court’s (SC) Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI).
Gesmundo restated his plea for all judges to remain updated about court’s ongoing innovations and to further enhance their technological knowledge and skills to complement these advancements.
SPJI seeks to create fresh frameworks and strategies to address persistent issues within judicial system, including case backlog, congested court schedules, and limited resources.
One aspect of SPJI involves innovation by leveraging technology to streamline court proceedings and enhance accessibility to courts for public.
SC is already considering using artificial intelligence in transcribing court proceedings.
But Gesmundo assured it will not replace court stenographers.
“Text-to-voice transcription tools will not eliminate job of stenographers but will make them more efficient and reliable,” Gesmundo said during an open forum at SC’s meeting with development partners and stakeholders for SPIJ 2022-2027.
SC plans to use voice-to-text software to transcribe court proceedings, but Gesmundo gave assurance court stenographers will not become obsolete.
Gesmundo explained court stenographers will be trained and their skills will be “retooled” for them to be “more efficient and reliable” with use of artificial intelligence.
SC is also conducting pilot tests on using AI for legal research.
Learning machine, Gesmundo said, is currently learning different languages and accents in the country to be able to understand and transcribe court proceedings.
“Death threats and red-tagging aired on television must be stopped because they endanger lives of people… far different from criticisms and should not be tolerated because it fosters state of impunity,” Rep. France Castro (ACT Teachers) said Rep. Paolo Duterte (Davao City, 1st District) is latest member of Duterte family to trade barbs with critics after Castro clapped back at her House colleague for labeling his father’s alleged death threats against her as mere criticism.
Calling out Paolo Duterte eldest son of former president Rodrigo Duterte for appearing to take exception with grave threats case she filed against his father, Castro said “we have to draw e line” at death threats broadcasted on national television.
“Dutertes have always challenged people to file charges against them when they do something wrong…now that they have been charged, they will still attack victim,” lawmaker added.
This comes after Duterte issued statement describing Castro as “onion-skinned” after she filed criminal complaint against former president in connection to his remarks during SMNI program on October 11.
During televised interview, streamed in now-deleted YouTube video, Duterte said: “Pero ang una mong target sa intelligence fund… ikaw France…kayong mga komunista ang gusto kong patayin.”
Castro filed criminal complaint to “make Rodrigo Duterte liable amid serious threats” against her and that he enjoys, “no immunity” from case.
Paolo jumped to his father’s defense in statement telling Castro former president “received much harsher and humiliating criticisms in past but never filed case against anyone.”
Davao City lawmaker said: “as public servants, we all are under scrutiny by Filipino people…if former President has said something threatened her, then maybe she should come out clean.”
“Bakit parang ako pa ang may kasalanan? Castro said in a statement responding to Davao City lawmaker.
During House’s budget deliberations, Castro repeatedly brought up alleged irregularities in how Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio received and spent P125 million in confidential funds in 2022 expenditures Duterte explained were authorized by law.
Castro and other Makabayan bloc and opposition lawmakers continued to scrutinize acquisition of secret lump sum during plenary debates, triggering widespread backlash against Sara.
House leaders eventually decided to reject OVP’s request for secret funds, choosing instead to reallocate their proposed budget for confidential and intelligence funds to agencies focused on defending West Philippine Sea.
Castro said while legitimate criticism of public officials is valid, what former president uttered in his SMNI program was “not criticism, but threats.”
“Such doctrine neither discounts nor diminishes right of persons to life and safety includes freedom from fear… Criticism is different from death threats,” Castro added.
Fair competition amid proposal to ban Move It motorcycle taxis
By J.Lo
“It is unfortunate head of House Committee on Metro Manila Development has recommended ‘banning’ of Move It, one of only three motorcycle taxi firms servicing thousands of passengers who rely on this affordable, safe and reliable mode of transportation for their daily commute,” Grab said in statement ride-hailing giant Grab Philippines has raised concerns over they perceive unjust allegations on recommendation to ban its motorcycle taxi firm Move It.
House committee on Metro Manila development chairman Rolando Valeriano, in 15-page report, earlier said Move It’s operations “may have to be halted” due to questions concerning its connections with Grab Philippines transport network vehicle service (TNVS) which acquired former in 2022.
Grab and Move It have yet to receive copy of Valeriano’s report.
Ride-hailing company released statement to address multiple concerns, including allegation of non-compliance concerning Grab’s acquisition of Move It.
“This issue has long been resolved after receiving approval of Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) and Department of Transportation (DOTr), who both found transaction above board,” Grab said.
” PCC and DOTr reiterated this in committee hearing conducted by House Committee on Transportation in the past,” it stressed.
Company said drivers and passengers would be greatly affected if thousands of its riders were to lose their jobs, limiting options available to passengers.
Grab also said Move It is open to scrutiny, with condition it occurs on level playing field, just as Angkas and Joyride willingly subject themselves to same standards and scrutiny.
“We respectfully submit that Move It must not be singled out as this is anti-competitive and discriminatory, on final note, we urge all businesses, including Motorcycle Taxi Pilot players, to affirm their commitment to competition and fair play for benefit of all consumers and drivers, ” Grab said.
Network of digital advocates welcomed recent recommendation of committee in House of Representatives to prohibit operations of popular motorcycle ride-hailing app citing violations.
Digital Pinoys national campaigner Ronald Gustilo said banning operation of Move It is “only just” as it allowed alleged backdoor entry of Grab in motorcycle taxi pilot study.
“This is welcome development as Grab-Move It deal has skirted previous orders from technical working group of motorcycle taxi program not allowing Grab to participate in the program,” said Gustilo.
“We are now urging technical working group to heed recommendation of committee.”
It could be remembered Department of Transportation allowed only three operators in its pilot study Angkas, Joyride and Move It later on granted them provisional authority to operate.
Valeriano’s report said Grab and Move It have yet to comply with requests for “information crucial in determination of whether Grab is, in fact, de facto fourth player in pilot study.”
Digital Pinoys last March urged government to come up with anti-monopoly legislation in order to prevent TNVS companies from controlling whole transportation sector.
In October 2022, PCC said Grab’s acquisition of Move it does not require its approval as transaction did not breach P50-billion threshold for compulsory notification.
Move It chairperson Francis Juan earlier said company remains as third player in motorcycle ride-hailing service and that Grab, by acquiring company, did not become fourth player.
Gustilo urged Angkas or JoyRide to absorb riders that may be affected should technical working group of pilot program heeds committee’s recommendation so that passengers will not be burdened.
“Affected riders should be accommodated by motorcycle taxi firms if TWG will adopt recommendation so that passengers will not be burdened by this action,” Gustilo said.
PCC said Grab Philippines’ acquisition of Move It does not require its approval as transaction did not breach threshold for compulsory notification.
In statement PCC OIC chairperson Johannes Bernabe said parties do not need to wait for commission’s approval to consummate transaction.
“Publicly available information suggests transaction was entered into by parties when P50 billion notification thresholds under Republic Act 11494 or Bayanihan to Heal as One Act was in effect,”Bernabe said.
Under Bayanihan 2, came into effect in September 2020, mergers and acquisitions with transaction values below P50 billion are exempt from compulsory notification with PCC within two years from effectivity of law. This expired last month.
Bernabe said publicly announced size of transaction seems not to have breached thresholds under Bayanihan Law.
“However, PCC may still launch motu proprio review of transaction if it finds reasonable grounds to believe deal will result in substantial lessening of competition in relevant markets,”Bernabe said.
In August, Grab Philippines bought out Move It, in bid to increase latter’s rider fleet.
Grab also said earlier it no longer submitted transaction to PCC for review, assuring merger amounts to below P1 billion. However, no exact amount was disclosed to public during announcement of buyout.
Despite acquisition, Grab said Move It would operate separately from ride-hailing giant, as integrating them would require regulatory approval.
Bernabe said transactions in digital markets are often characterized by small tangible assets fail to meet triggers for mandatory review.
“Their importance and utility to consumers, however, rank high in priorities of commission to merit steadfast monitoring,”he said.
Bernabe said new acquisition by Grab would not affect company’s existing legal commitments to PCC relating to its takeover of Uber.
PCC earlier support in amending Land Transportation and Traffic Code to allow two-wheeled vehicles as mode of public transportation.
“Notwithstanding any comprehensive competition review, commission considers availability of motorcycle taxis and future expansion for entry of more players as indicator of emerging market offering additional public transport options for commuters,”Bernabe said.
Agency stressed for concerns relating to passenger safety, accreditation, and eventual franchising of motorcycle taxis, it defers to Department of Transportation, Land Transportation Office and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
Komedya talaga ang pulitika, alam mo na ba ang iboboto mo, magdahan-dahan ka sa isusulat mo sa balota, hangga’t maaari ay iwasan mong mag-eksperimento. Kapag binigyan mo ng pagkakataon ang sinuman, mabuti at masama, mali at tama, sa ayaw mo’t sa gusto ay magkakaroon ng taga-sunod iyan, makinarya ang tawag doon. Shout out muna kay Derek Jed Cayanan, Pastor Christopher Nicodemus. Kumustahin mo unang una ang kanyang pamamalakad sa kanyang pamilya, anong uri siyang ama ng tahanan, baka naman iniwan niya ang asawa nya para sa iba, baka nakikisama siya sa kapwa lalaki dahil ni-hindi niya tiyak ang kasarian niya. Kumusta ang mga anak niya, nagsisipag-aral kaya o maaga nang nagsipag-asawa? Baka abala siya sa panunungkulan, sira naman ang kanyang sambahayan? Kung nakaupo ngayon ang susuportahan mong kandidato, kumustahin mo ang nagawa niya sa nakaraang mahaba-habang limang taon. Ilang porsyento kaya sa inyong barangay ang nagka-ayuda? Kumusta ang Barangay Drug Abuse Council, “liquidated” kaya ang gastos? Mayroon kaya siyang community adviser, sino kaya iyon? Kumusta ang pakikitungo ng mga nakaupo sa inyong mga pinamamahalaang residente? Tandaan, kung palpak ang pangangasiwa sa sariling pamilya, hindi mo maaasahang matiwasay ang panunungkulan. Maligayang bati Ginoo at Gng. Aristides Valdez, mabuhay ang bagong kasal. Pastor Saturnino Abraham, agarin mo naman ang dokumento ng lupa para sa pabahay ng mga Badjao sa Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat. Jonathan Fernandez, muzta na, nagkakalimutan na tayo a. Problem aba, pag-usapan natin, ndgodino@yahoo.com.
“There are lot of risks in advocating vaccine development that we, as doctors and vaccinologists, experience…it is part of challenges come with our calling to save lives,” Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin said in statement Ombudsman filed graft and malversation charges against Garin in relation to Devangxia vaccine purchase.
Based on document dated October 24, Garin and four other health officials were accused by Ombudsman, saying they violated Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 or Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Four other officals are: former DOH undersecretary Gerardo Bayugo, former acting director Maria Joyce Ducusin, former Philippine Children’s Medical Center chief Julius Lecciones and former DOH undersecretary Kenneth Hartigan-Go.
These officials, according to Ombudsman, played role in reallocating department’s budget for acquisition and distribution of Dengvaxia vaccines to public school students.
In 2016, government allocated P3.5 billion for purchasing dengue vaccines from French-based pharmaceutical company Sanofi Pasteur as part of health department’s expanded immunization initiative.
DOH ordered suspension of distribution of vaccines in 2017 after World Health Organization said Dengvaxia is ineffective.
For Garin, this case will “finally put an end” to issue of Dengvaxia.
In 2015, Dengvaxia vaccine becam first vaccine to be licensed for dengue prevention.
“Thing with PhilHealth, database is my understanding is we have to clean it up because I think there are around four to five million people who have already passed away…have not been removed from database,” Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said about four to five million members of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. were found to be already dead but still remain in its database. During public hearing of Senate committee on science and technology being chaired and presided over by Cayetano, Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. said agency’s database is undergoing extensive cleaning after their system was hacked last week.
Ledesma said they need help of Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to fix their database for fear of using these names. He said about 92 percent of Filipinos are listed in PhilHealth.
Ledesma already asked DICT and Philippine Statistics Authority to help them in cleaning of PhilHealth database.
He noted Filipinos can easily register with PhilHealth… “Now, what I want to mention also is that there’s this thing called ‘point of care’ that makes it very easy for an individual to become member,” he said.
Cayetano conducted public hearing anchored on resolution of Sen. Mark Villar after around 13 to 20 million PhilHealth members’ names and information were leaked online following recent cyberattack.
Villar filed Resolution No. 811 before Senate directing appropriate committee to conduct inquiry in aid of legislation over cyberattack incident and all other attacks against government websites.
“It is high time we strengthen our cyberspace security as we are dealing with private and delicate information that could endanger, not just of one institution, but of general Filipino public, this attack is not just big case of information theft… part of massive attack against public health and welfare,” Villar said.
“Resolution of this case is without prejudice to conduct of fact-finding investigation against other public officers and private individuals responsible for irregularities in said project,” Office of the Ombudsman has ordered filing of graft and falsification charges against suspended Department of Agriculture (DA) assistant secretary Kristine Evangelista, Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) vice-president for operations John Gabriel Benedict Trinidad III and 16 other individuals in connection with alleged profiteering and price manipulation of onions late last year.
In 26-page resolution, dispositive portion was obtained by media, ombudsman found probable cause to indict Evangelista and Trinidad with violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and falsification of documents as defined and penalized under Article 172 of Revised Penal Code.
Also ordered charged with Evangelista and Trinidad were 16 individuals from DA, FTI and Bonena Multipurpose Cooperative: Israel Reguyal, Benedict Libres, Marlon Pagsisihan, Jocelyn Jane, Rossul Batadhay, Romy Jimeno, Charlito Ylanan, Francisco Laplana III, Arnold Osorio, Angelo Lajom, Randy Santos, Erickson Cortez, Ruben Bautista, Vince Lorenzo, Windell Glenn Canaan and A.J. Bamala.
Ombudsman , on the other hand, dismissed charges against DA senior undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, DA administrative officer V Eunice Biblanias, DA officer-in-charge chief accountant Lolita Jamela, FTI president and chief executive officer Robert Tan and Meanwhile, in FTI Budget Division head Juanita Lualhati “for lack of probable cause.”
In separate decision, ombudsman has ordered Evangelista’s dismissal for administrative offenses of grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to best interest of service.
Trinidad was likewise ordered dismissed for administrative offenses of gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
Aside from their dismissal, ombudsman also imposed against them accessory penalties of cancellation of civil service eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
Ombudsman said in event Evangelista and Trinidad are already separated from DA and FTI, respectively, dismissal is convertible to fine equivalent to their salary for one year. Ombudsman said fine “may be deductible from respondent/s’ retirement benefits, accrued leave credits or any receivable from his/her office.”
Ombudsman , on other hand, dismissed administrative charges against Panganiban, Biblanias, Jamela and Lualhati due to “insufficiency of evidence.”
Administrative case against Tan, meanwhile, was dismissed following ombudsman’s approval of his manifestation to become state witness and provide additional information relevant to prosecution of cases in court.
Ombudsman has yet to release to the media full copy of its two rulings.
“On Sunday tomorrow, campaigning is no longer allowed. ..we have one day to rest, to think it over with our countrymen on who to vote for,” Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia said candidates for Oct. 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) are expected to pull out all stops as 10-day campaign period winds down today, even as Philippine National Police (PNP) has announced deployment of additional police units in Abra.
In Manila, aspirants for barangay and SK chairpersons, as well as their respective kagawads or council members, visited Isla Puting Bato in Tondo district of last day of campaign.
Reaching out to potential voters in community, candidates shook hands with people while loudspeakers blasted their campaign jingles.
In parts of Sampaloc, Sta. Cruz and Divisoria, aspirants and their supporters held motorcades. In Divisoria, candidates braved crowds and vehicular congestion to persuade voters.
Manila city government ordered liquor ban starting Oct. 29 until Nov. 2 ,2023 to ensure “orderly conduct of BSKE and for peaceful celebration of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day” in Manila.
Garcia reminded candidates to observe end of campaign period.
He stressed Comelec will not cease from removing illegally posted campaign materials until Sunday. Liquor ban shall also be in force starting Sunday night until election day.
On election day, Garcia advised voters to bring list of candidates they will vote for but they cannot take pictures of ballot. He stressed voters are not required to bring identification cards.
At least 352 more police officers from elite units were deployed in Abra ahead of BSKE, PNP said.
PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda ordered deployment of additional forces in Abra in response to reports of some 250 candidates withdrawing from BSKE due to threats and intimidation.
Abra has always been under PNP’s radar owing to history of election-related violence.
“These are from various units, not necessarily from local, not from Abra,” Acorda said at news briefing in Camp Crame.
He said augmentation forces were pulled from Special Action Force and Reactionary Standby Support Forces.
On last day of campaign for BSKE, Comelec warned candidates not to buy votes.
“Don’t be tempted to buy votes,” Garcia said. “God is watching…we are watching.”
“They are thinking that Comelec is not serious in filing cases but we are firm not to proclaim those with pending cases should they win,” he said, adding candidates found guilty of vote buying may face disqualification as well as imprisonment of one to six years.
Vote sellers may also be imprisoned for one to six years.
“At present, there are 100 candidates that were confirmed to have been engaged in vote buying, these candidates are now undergoing verification so that task force can file disqualification case and election offense against them,” Garcia said.
He said Comelec will suspend proclamation of those involved in vote buying, premature and illegal campaigning.
During Comelec’s “Oplan Baklas”, Garcia observed several campaign materials are placed on private properties. “This only shows many candidates are following Comelec’s rules and regulations concerning campaign materials…we are thankful to them…there are only few who committed violations.”
Comelec also noted out of 1.41 million candidates nationwide, only around 2,000 were issued show cause orders concerning illegal campaigning and illegal campaign materials.
Poll body signed memorandum of agreement with Department of Health, Philippine Red Cross and Department of Social Welfare and Development.
MOA aims to ensure voters and government personnel and all those on duty during election day will have access to quality health services, especially when needed.
Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) has called for tax-free service honoraria for teachers who will serve as poll workers during BSKE on Oct. 30.
In statement, ACT Region 3 union president Mathew Santiago pointed out BSKE will not be automated unlike national elections, and thus it will be more tasking for teachers who will serve as poll workers and election board members.
Santiago said only proper to give teachers higher honoraria, must not be subjected to 20-percent tax.
“We are calling for at least P10,000 election service honoraria and removal of 20 percent tax previously being withheld from service honoraria…in past elections, various harassments and security threats against teachers were recorded… teachers are risking their lives just to serve during elections, thus it is only right to remove tax on their compensation,” Santiago said.
Furthermore, he called for restoration of meal and travel allowance for teacher-poll workers and additional compensation for those who will serve beyond set working hours on election day.
With upcoming BSKE and observance of All Saints’ Day, government authorities must prioritize maintenance of peace and order in our communities, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said.
“As we near barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, as well as observance of Undas, it is of utmost importance we give priority to maintaining peace and order in our communities…events are significant in our national calendar and should be observed with sense of tranquility and safety for everyone,” Estrada added, noting BSKE is crucial part of democratic process.
He also put to task Philippine Coast Guard and Maritime Industry Authority to conduct comprehensive inspections to ensure seaworthiness of all vessels.
ISKUP! 