Teacher accused of slapping student suspended for 3 mos
By J.Lo
Department of Education (DepEd) announced 90-day suspension for teacher Dianne accused of slapping Grade 5 student who passed away.
Suspension has been implemented as preventive measure while investigation is ongoing.
Male student, Francis Jay Gumikib, died of brain edema according to death certificate released on October 5,2023.
Death certificate cited “suspected presumptive pulmonary tuberculosis” and “child physical abuse” as contributing factors to his death.
Forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun previously said Gumikib’s death certificate was lacking crucial piece of information specific cause of brain hemorrhage, which should have been listed under “underlying cause of death.”
Dr. Fortun also highlighted aside from trauma, hemorrhage can also result from an uncommon condition called meningoencephalitis.
Elena Minggoy, mother of 14-year-old student, said teacher reportedly slapped her son after being scolded during their exams at Peñafrancia Elementary School in Antipolo City.
Gumikib died on October 2, three days after he was hospitalized and fell into coma.
DepEd Order No. 40 or Child Protection Policy forbids teachers from using corporal punishment to discipline student, which refers to any disciplinary act involving “physical, humiliating, or degrading punishment.”
Confidential funds for OVP, DepEd, DICT, DA, DFA scrapped
By Nidz Godino
“As such OVP, DepEd, DICT, DA, DFA are getting zero confidential funds under 2024 General Appropriations Bill,” House Committee on Appropriations Vice Chairperson Stella Quimbo said in press briefing Office of the Vice President, Department of Education (DepEd), Department Of Information And Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will not receive confidential funds.
Quimbo said panel reached “unanimous decision” to “remove or realign controversial confidential funds” for five agencies in proposed 2024 national budget.
Mentioned agencies will instead receive certain amount for “Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses” (MOOE).
“Generally ang thinking namin, ano ang mandato ng ahensya…kung hindi kailangan ng surveillance at pwede gumamit ng MOOE at auditable, prefer namin na ganon ang paggastos,” Quimbo said.
Following agencies will receive MOOE according to Quimbo:
P30 million for the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
P24 million for the Department of Information Communications Technology
P30 million for the Department of Foreign Affairs
P50 million for the Office of Ombudsman
P150 million for DepEd’s govt assistance for students and teachers in private education
Certain agencies in charge of protecting West Philippine Sea will receive P1.23 billion in confidential funds, according to House panel.
“Responding to call of the times and volatile situation in the West Philippine Sea, small committee-as mandated by House Plenary-has decided to realign CIFS to agencies whose principal mandate is to gather intelligence and ensure protection of our national sovereignty,” House committee on appropriations chairman Rep. Elizaldy Co (Ako Bicol) said.
Following agencies will receive realigned funds:
P300M for the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency
P100M for the National Security Council
P200M for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for intelligence and ammunition.
P381.8M for the Department of Transportation for airport development, and expansion of PAGASA Island airport.
In 2022 and 2023, intelligence funds of PCG allocated each year amounted to P10 million, according to post of Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela on X (formerly Twitter) on September 26.
These funds are significantly lower than P125 million confidential funds of OVP in 2022 according to the Commission on Audit was spent in 11 days.
Opposition lawmaker praised decision to realign confidential funds for five government offices.
“Overwhelming public clamor to remove and realign confidential funds has prompted Congress to realign such corruption-prone allocations… huge win for vast majority of Filipino people calling for transparency and accountability in government spending,” Gabriela Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas said in statement.
She also challenged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to give up Office of the President’s confidential funds and realign to basic social services.
Confidential and intelligence funds made headlines in past few weeks due to OVP P500 million CIFs request which received fierce opposition from some lawmakers.
Last October 5, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio has defended CIFs saying those who are against confidential funds are “enemies of the nation” for obstructing peace.
Meanwhile, proposed 2024 national budget will be submitted to Senate on October 25. Co said budget will be printed by two weeks time.
“That is just propaganda by Chinese…it’s not true, there is no truth to it,” , Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said reports that China Coast Guard (CCG) was able to force or drive away Philippine Navy vessel to leave Panatag or Scarborough Shoal in West Philippine Sea (WPS) are untrue and “nothing but mere propaganda” originating from Beijing.
And even if CCG tries, Brawner said military would not allow Chinese vessels to force Philippine Navy to leave its own territorial waters.
“If ever, if we have ships there… we will not leave…that’s their report,” AFP chief declared, noting there is no Philippine Navy vessel in Panatag Shoal.
He said upon verification, Philippine Navy vessel did pass through the area to conduct maritime patrol operations at around 9:30 in the morning.
CCG, he shared, issued radio challenges to Philippine vessel but navy ship just continued with its mission without stopping or changing direction.
“We verified, we had navy ship in vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc but its mission is maritime patrol… ship was moving and Coast Guard of China challenged it, our navy ship just continued because it was not being driven away, it was doing its mission, maritime patrol… not driven away, so our stand is that it is just propaganda of China…still propaganda” Brawner said, emphasizing China’s version of what happened was inaccurate.
He added Philippine Navy ship will not leave area if asked to by Chinese Coast Guard because it is in country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
He clarified Philippine Navy’s presence in the area is down south of Panatag Shoal and even when Philippine Coast Guard removed China’s floating barriers, Philippine Navy was not there.
Brawner believes such propaganda is being used because China is concerned with its internal audience and wants to show their leadership is doing something to look good.
As these developed ,reaching hundreds of thousands of motorists and commuters daily, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert Teodoro is now making use of EDSA’s digital billboards to publicly declare Philippine government’s firm effort to stand up against China’s bullying in waters of WPS.
“If we don’t stop them, China is going to creep and creep into what is within our sovereign jurisdiction, our sovereign rights and within our territory,” his statement reads on large LED screens along EDSA.
Teodoro’s statement appears to have been lifted from his earlier pronouncements against China’s continuing presence, harassment and coercive behavior in WPS where CCG and maritime militia vessels swarm and repeatedly try to block resupply missions to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
In his Instagram account, DND chief noted 2016 Arbitral Award by The Hague favored Philippines in maritime dispute case, with verdict determining that “China lacked legal foundation for asserting historical rights over majority of South China Sea.”
“Despite this ruling, Beijing has chosen to disregard it and persistently increase its influence in the region, behavior that can be seen as an act of bullying, we are determine to ensure this doesn’t occur, standing resolute and unwavering in our commitment to safeguard and preserve integrity of our nation’s territory,” he stressed.
Teodoro believes Filipinos are always willing to talk but such talks should be substantial and must have rules-based basis.
“Small farmers do not need to issue receipts… BIR will do its part in making lives of our farmers easier, BIR will only require receipts if their annual gross sales/receipts exceed P1 million,”Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr., has exempted from issuing receipts individuals who are suppliers, producers, sellers, contract growers and millers of agricultural food products whose annual gross sales/receipts, for tax purposes, do not exceed P1 million, pursuant to Revenue Regulation No. 12-2023.
As part of his commitment to ease of doing business and taxpayer service, Lumagui has removed requirement of principal and supplementary gross sales/receipts for sale of agricultural food products by small farmers.
Agricultural food products refer to products in their original state which are generally used for yielding or producing food for human consumption such as farm produce, livestock, poultry, marine products, ordinary salt and agricultural inputs.
Products that have undergone simple process of preparation or preservation for market are also covered.
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Pinoy feared succumed in Israel
By Nidz Godino
“No confirmation yet, embassy contacted sister…fearful and distraught,” referring to identity of remains, which reportedly were already in advanced state of decomposition. An official said.
A Filipino may have been one of the casualties in attacks on Israel by militant Hamas group, Philippine embassy in Tel Aviv said citing discovery by Israeli authorities of human remains with Asian features.
Embassy official said DNA test on the body would be made to determine if it is of female caregiver who according to family member has been missing since outbreak of violence.
Leaders of Filipino community in Israel alerted embassy to discovery of remains.
Embassy officials are in contact with missing caregiver’s sister, who was among 23 Filipinos rescued from Hamas militants.
Embassy has dispatched team to provide assistance to evacuated Filipinos housed in hotels as well as to check hospitals where some Filipinos may have been taken.
Embassy is “deeply grateful to Israeli security forces risking their lives to rescue our kababayan caught in combat areas, as well as to Israeli emergency services and kibbutz authorities who included Filipino nationals in their evacuation operations.”
Ambassador Pedro Laylo Jr. said in interview with media embassy received report on death of Filipino Monday night.
“We received report Monday night that there had been Filipino casualty…so first thing in the morning our labor attaché will verify if caregiver had died,” Laylo said.
Verification of reports received by embassy, he said, usually takes time, as it has to rely only on Israeli authorities for information.
As to date six Filipinos all caregivers remain unaccounted for, including reported fatality. They were working in communities near Gaza border. Whereabouts of an agro-student, seventh reported missing on Monday, had already been established.
Although there is no end in sight to violence in Israel and Gaza Strip, Marcos administration is not imposing ban on travel to Jewish state but is advising Filipinos to defer their trip.
“We haven’t put travel ban on Israel… but our embassy has issued travel advisory, so as much as possible, avoid traveling right now, we are not telling you not to go…but we are advising you that it’s best, if possible, to postpone them until we are absolutely sure hostilities have ended because, after all, even Prime Minister of Israel has said we are in state of war… not normal for somebody who wants to visit a country, in state of war,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said at Palace press briefing .
De Vega said some tourists who visited Israel recently had difficulties returning home.
Last Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that his country is in state of war in response to surprise attack by Hamas that left hundreds of people dead. Hostilities between Israeli forces and Hamas militants have claimed lives of more than 1,000 people, according to latest reports.
Because of conflict, several airlines in Asia have canceled their flights to Tel Aviv. Airlines include Hainan Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Korean Air, according to Presidential Communications Office. More than 19,000 Filipinos visited Israel in first half of the year. According to records of Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority, there are about 30,000 Filipinos in Israel.
At the same press briefing, Migrant Workers Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said government has not banned deployment of workers to Israel.
“Right now, what’s proceeding is deployment of hotel workers… it takes alert level three to hold deployment, alert level two for new hires and alert level three for all types of workers. So, we are not yet in alert level two, technically we do not have deployment ban, again, situation we are in is that we have government-to-government hiring arrangement with our Israeli counterparts… it’s two-way street… we have to be well-coordinated with our Israeli labor and immigration counterparts before we even proceed,.. even if there is no ban,” Cacdac said.
Philippine embassy in Amman, Jordan, for its part has recommended raising repatriation alert to level three in Gaza Strip. Level three allows voluntary repatriation.
Cacdac noted alert level three is declared if situation in an area has worsened but there is still order in that country. .. embassy in Amman has jurisdiction over Gaza Strip. “This will be cleared with the President,” Cacdac said.
Asked why not alert level four or mandatory repatriation, DFA’s De Vega replied: “Because this is situation which sadly is kind of regular thing.”
Gaza Strip is home to about 137 Filipinos, many of whom are spouses of Palestinians. De Vega said 38 Filipinos from Gaza Strip have requested for repatriation.
“It voluntary repatriation is not yet announced as final…but we are going by that, it is like de facto already even if it is not yet officially signed or announced by the President,..we could say it’s on voluntary repatriation already and the only issue is, well….how to repatriate them, because that is what we are working on diplomatically, ..there are exit points both to Israel or through Egypt which are heavily guarded by both Egypt or Israel…. there are measures now being undertaken so that we could hopefully bring them home as soon as possible… right now, no casualties among Filipinos in Gaza,” De Vega said.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration administrator Arnell Ignacio, for his part, said his agency is working with foreign affairs and migrant workers departments to provide needs of Filipinos affected by conflict.
Ignacio said government is very careful about relaying information to media, as unverified reports could spark panic and unnecessary fear.
“And we’d like to appeal to our countrymen, each time that you make transmission from where you are, it can jeopardize your situation; you may be traced,” he said.
At press briefing in Australia, DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo reiterated country’s support for Israel’s right to self-defense.
“We have already issued statements condemning the events, especially targeting of civilians, and we’ve also recognized right to self-defense of Israel in accordance with United Nations Charter,” Manalo said.
Upon invitation of his counterpart Penny Wong and Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell, Manalo and Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual are in Australia to jointly preside over 6th Philippines-Australia Ministerial Meeting (PAMM) in Adelaide, South Australia.
In statement, Sen. Bong Go said government should take immediate action to account for missing Filipinos in Israel.
“I call upon all relevant agencies to work hand in hand in this endeavor…let us set aside bureaucracy and focus on immediate action… lives are at stake here, let’s protect lives of every Filipino wherever they are in the world, especially those we consider modern-day heroes, OFWs who work to provide for their families left behind,” Go, vice chair of Senate committee on migrant workers said.
He added there should also be plan for their immediate repatriation.
“Safety of our kababayans is paramount… I urge DMW, DFA and POEA to act swiftly and ensure every Filipino worker is accounted for,” said Go.
Antipolo Bishop Ruperto Santos, vice chairman of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People (ECMI), has called on Filipinos to “keep themselves safe, follow our government instructions and pray with us for peace and harmony.”
“It is urgent and necessary that we pray and hope for peace…peace is what our world needs,” he added.
“Despite attempts by significant number of China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia vessels to block, harass, and interfere with routine RORE mission, Philippine supply ships Unaizah May 1 and Unaizah May 2, escorted by PCG vessels BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409) and BRP Sindangan (MRRV- 4407), successfully reached BRP Sierra Madre,” NTF-WPS reported Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels again tried , unsuccessfully to stop Philippine vessels from sending provisions to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
National Task Force on West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), in statement, confirmed Chinese attempt to stop resupply mission called routine rotation and resupply (RORE) by military for troops stationed on Sierra Madre.
NTF-WPS again stressed resupply missions for troops on Sierra Madre and maintenance of grounded warship are in accordance with international law and are regular operations aimed at ensuring safety and well-being of soldiers on remote outpost.
“These missions are legitimate exercise of administrative functions of Philippine Government over WPS, in line with United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 2016 Arbitral Award, and domestic laws,” NTF-WPS noted.
Speaker Martin Romualdez, meanwhile, led group of lawmakers in visit to Pag-asa Island in Palawan where they assured local officials of help for “development plan” for the tiny island municipality.
“It’s clear Pag-asa island needs development plan… House will take lead in coming up with such plan, being institution responsible for national budget and national policies need legislation,” House leader told reporters at briefing.
With Romualdez were Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan and Rep. Zaldy Co (Ako Bicol party-list), chairman of the House appropriations committee.
“We will also help build solar energy plant, ice and cold storage facilities, desalination plant, satellite-based communication facilities, and conduct seafood-based livelihood training,” Speaker said.
Enhanced cybersecurity amid PhilHealth data breach urged
By J.Lo
“It is high time that we take necessary steps to protect our critical information infrastructure by ensuring, at minimum, compliance with international standards and globally accepted best practices for cybersecurity,” Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said all government agencies and private sector must beef up their protection against cybersecurity threats, as he pointed out hacking of state health insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) remains unresolved.
Senator noted ongoing cyber attack on PhilHealth’s database wherein cyber criminals have asked for $300,000 in exchange for handing over decryption keys, while holding for ransom data they illegally obtained.
He said more Filipinos and businesses rely on digital technologies to perform their daily tasks, especially after COVID-19 pandemic.
On average, Filipinos are estimated to use and consume 4.3 more digital services compared to pre-pandemic years. E-commerce also continues to grow exponentially and sales are expected to be valued at $10.3 billion by 2025, the senator said, citing estimates made by GlobalData.
“With increased use of digital technologies in our daily lives, malicious actors, from casual scammers to highly sophisticated state-based groups, hunt for vulnerabilities in ICT,information and communications technology systems and networks to steal information, disrupt essential services, and profit from attacks, adoption and implementation of minimum information security standards is globally accepted best practice to provide guidance, which would lead to more efficient use of resources, improved risk management, consistent delivery of critical and essential services and effective protection of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information that is vital to nation,” said Gatchalian.
Gatchalian filed Senate Bill 2066, or Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Act. Measure mandates all covered critical information institutions (CII) to adopt and implement adequate measures to protect their ICT systems and infrastructures, and respond to and recover from any information security incident.
He said proposal also seeks to mandate Department of Information and Communications Technology to determine and update information security standards and require CII institutions to comply with such standards.
Gatchalian said bill also intends to mandate National Computer Emergency Response Team to act as central authority for computer emergency response teams in the country, and to administer centralized information security incident reporting mechanism that would cover industries that include banking and finance, broadcast media, emergency services and disaster response, energy, health, telecommunications and transportation.
“Using stolen data, hackers will likely target members through calls, emails or text messages…let us then heed advice of authorities to refrain from clicking doubtful links or providing passwords or OTPs,” Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) chief Emmanuel Ledesma, Jr. said PhilHealth called on public to take precautionary measures against potential fraudulent activities following ransomware attack last month.
In statement PhilHealth said hackers have reportedly started circulating illegally obtained data from workstations of its employees.
State health insurer advised its members to change passwords of their online accounts, enable multi-factor authentication, and avoid responding to suspicious calls and text messages.
PhilHealth earlier said ransomware attack did not affect servers containing private information of members. Only application servers and employees’ workstations were impacted.
Insurer also appealed to public to refrain from circulating leaked data. Hackers may face up to 20 years of imprisonment, while individuals or organizations found downloading, processing or sharing stolen data may also face criminal charges for unauthorized processing of personal information.
National Privacy Commission earlier was investigating potential negligence of PhilHealth. Agency is ready to face any inquiry.
Meanwhile NPC is investigating potential negligence of PhilHealth following cyberattack affected insurer’s servers and workstations.
According to NPC, it is “currently assessing whether negligence was involved” on part of PhilHealth before making any definitive statements.
“We are also looking if there is concealment and possible imposition of administrative fines, pending outcomes of our investigation,” it said.
Privacy commission stressed it has identified documents containing personal information such as identification cards and photographs. NPC is currently verifying whether these individuals have any connection to PhilHealth, either as employees or members.
In statement clarifying “urgent public advisory”, PhilHealth maintained ransomware attack “did not affect our servers containing members’ private information.” It said membership data, claims, contribution and accreditation information are stored in separate database and remain unaffected by cyberattack.
PhilHealth insisted cyberattack affected only application servers and employees’ workstations.
“Inventory is being conducted in order to determine extent of information which may have been exfiltrated from these workstations,” state health insurer said.
It added notice was issued in compliance to requirement of NPC to reach out to and inform data subjects who may be affected by malicious posts of attackers.
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