01 Oktobre 2024, Martes

Thank you father God for another year.

Register now and vote in midterm polls

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

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Fast track hiring of teachers – Gatchalian

By  Nidz Godino

“Number of teachers we need continues to grow with our student population and filling 26,000 vacant positions would help address teacher shortage,” Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said during  Senate finance committee hearing on Department of Education (DepEd)proposed 2025 budget.

With 46,703 unfilled positions in DepEd,  Gatchalian has reiterated  need to expedite  hiring of teachers and non-teaching personnel.

Hiring teachers could take up to six months, Gatchalian said, with  involvement of agencies such as  Civil Service Commission and  Department of Budget and Management.

As of May 24,  DepEd’s unfilled positions are 46,703, with teaching positions comprising 58 percent or 26,984.

For fiscal year 2025,DepEd plans to create 20,000 new teaching positions.

While  National Expenditure Program (NEP) allocates P5.50 billion for these new positions, DepEd says it is short of 56,050 teachers,  requires P15.4 billion.

Administrative officers also need to be hired to reduce teachers’ non-teaching workload, Gatchalian noted.

In its Year One report,  Second Congressional Commission on Education highlighted  public school teachers are burdened with over 50 administrative and ancillary tasks.

DepEd Order No. 02 s. 2024 ordered  immediate removal of public school teachers’ administrative tasks.

“Next year, we will be hiring 10,000 administrative officers, considering that we have about 43,000 schools… about  fourth of our schools having administrative officers,” Gatchalian said.

NEP allocates P3.43 billion for  hiring of non-teaching positions.  DepEd  needs 20,668 non-teaching personnel,  would cost P7.9 billion.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara earlier assured  Senate finance panel  agency directed  schools divisions, where hiring takes place to speed up  process.

TODAY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

Matthew 5:11-12

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

30 Setyembre 2024, Lunes

Thank you father God for another year.

Register now and vote in midterm polls

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

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Quezon City mayor Belmonte among Forbes sustainability leaders

By J.Lo

“That move allowed Belmonte to allocate 13 percent of  city’s budget  has since increased to climate initiatives to reach its stated goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030 and reaching net-zero by 2050,” Forbes said Quezon City Mayor Ma. Josefina “Joy” Belmonte-Alimurung was  lone Filipino included in  Forbes list of 50 people who are leading global efforts to combat  climate crisis.

Inaugural  Forbes Sustainability Leaders recognizes “superstar entrepreneurs, scientists, funders, policymakers and activists who are leading  charge to combat  climate crisis with real, tangible impact.”

It included leaders coming from different industries and disciplines who demonstrate “exceptional ambition, innovation and recent, tangible impact that is both scalable and sustainable.”

In recognizing Belmonte, Forbes noted  different initiatives she pursued after taking office as Quezon City mayor in 2019.

Among them was  declaration of  climate emergency,  first in the Philippines.

“Her initiatives run  gamut: doubling  city’s bike path network to 217 miles, electrifying its free bus service, adding solar panels to public buildings, banning plastic bags and single-use utensils, introducing  ‘trash-to-cashback’ program and creating refilling stations for liquid detergent and other common household products,” it stressed.

Belmonte, who was hailed as  United Nations Champion of  Earth for Policy Leadership last year, has identified sustainability, environment protection and climate resilience as among her priority programs.

Earlier this year, she joined  sixth UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya, where she served as summit rapporteur of cities and regions and represented hundreds of local leaders to discuss their concerns and propositions on issues related to  environment.

Last year, she took part in various global summits on environment, sustainability and climate action, including  UN Climate Ambition Summit convened by UN Secretary General António Guterres at UN headquarters in New York and  International Forum to End Plastic Pollution in Cities organized by UN Environment Program in Paris.

Belmonte is also part of C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group,  global network of mayors taking action against  climate crisis.

Quezon City recently hosted  C40 Cities Southeast Asia Regional Academy Global Workshop. Among those who attended was Freetown, Sierra Leone Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, who was also among Sustainability Leaders identified by Forbes.

Two mayors were also featured by business magazine in  separate report, where they spoke about their initiatives and discussed  challenges they face as leaders in  developing world.

Among those recognized by Forbes were Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley; Mayors Anne Hidalgo of Paris, France and Michelle Wu of Boston, United States; US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm; US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan; UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell and various climate scientists, activists, academics and leaders from the government, private sector and civil society organizations.

“This first class of Sustainability Leaders highlights individuals driving real and lasting impact…we honor them for their vision and stewardship of our planet and to showcase  creative, inspiring solutions they are leading from  lab to  boardroom,” said Forbes.

29 Setyembre 2024, Linggo

Thank you father God for another year.

Register now and vote in midterm polls

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

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Bureau of Immigration got 2 Interpol red-listed Koreans

By J.Lo

Bureau of Immigration (BI) is looking into apprehended two South Korean fugitives following red notices from Interpol and arrest warrants issued by South Korean courts.

Two foreign nationals were arrested on September 20, in separate operations, according to Immigration Officer-in-Charge Joel Viado. 

According to Interpol,  red notice is not  international arrest warrant but rather  request to law enforcement worldwide “to locate and arrest  person pending extradition, surrender or similar legal action.”

One of the foreign nationals, Nam Sundong, 37, was apprehended at  residence in Manuyo Dos, Las Piñas City. 

Nam is wanted in South Korea for operating illegal gambling establishments, violating  country’s criminal laws.  District  court in Ulsan, South Korea issued  warrant for his arrest in 2023 and  Interpol Red Notice was subsequently released.

Other  Korean national, Lee Hyunhak, 23, was arrested on the same day along Jose Abad Santos Avenue in Clark Angeles City, Pampanga.

Lee was accused of drug smuggling, for allegedly conspiring to import 480.85 grams of methamphetamine,  ingredient for crystalized shabu into South Korea.

Smuggled  drugs were valued at more than 500,000 Korean Won (P208,000).

Lee’s arrest warrant was issued by  Busan District Court and  Interpol Red Notice was released earlier this month.

Passports  of both Korean nationals have also been revoked by  South Korean government. 

Pair  is currently in  custody of  Bureau of Immigration, staying in its detention facility in Bicutan, Taguig City while their deportation is pending. 

29 Setyembre 2024, Linggo

Thank you father God for another year.

Register now and vote in midterm polls

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

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

AFP aids DepEd in delivery of over 2k digital equipment to schools

By Creselda Canda-Lopez

“We sincerely thank  leadership of  Armed Forces of the Philippines for their steadfast support in helping us deliver these essential digital tools to schools across the country…we needed to act fast and efficient on these logistical challenges and AFP came through with their usual support to  education sector,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara  said  Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has assisted  Department of Education (DepEd) in delivering more than 2,000 digital devices to schools nationwide, supporting DepEd’s push to improve access technology through its Computerization Program.

Joint  effort,  aims to enhance digital education in public schools, was led by Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr., with  AFP overseeing  transport of laptops, televisions and other digital tools from  warehouse in Carmona City, Cavite, to Region 7, CARAGA and Region 10, according to DepEd’s press release .

Key military leaders of Philippine Army and the Philippine Air Force also aided  transportation of digital equipment.

Breakdown  of digital tools delivered nationwide:

• Region 7: 630 televisions, 630 laptops, and 630 laptop bags with accessories were transported, benefitting 156 schools and 407 teachers.
• CARAGA: 290 televisions and 290 external hard drives were delivered, supporting 73 schools and 62 teachers.
• Region 10 (Cagayan de Oro): 464 laptops, 464 laptop bags with accessories, and 264 televisions were delivered (with ongoing efforts to complete shipments), helping 412 schools and 686 teachers.

DepEd still addressing its logistical challenges  include delays in equipment distribution due to warehousing issues in 2020 and 2021.

On September 3, Angara revealed  P1.5 million of materials,  include laptops and other educational items were stuck in warehouses since 2020. 

Angara expressed gratitude to AFP for their assistance in transporting digital equipment to schools nationwide.

29 Setyembre 2024, Linggo

Thank you father God for another year.

Register now and vote in midterm polls

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

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Majority of imported rice cleared for release-BOC

By Nidz Godino

“None of these shipments have exceeded  30-day period stipulated by Section 1129(d) of Customs Modernization and Tariff Act…according to  law, importers must claim their shipments within 30 days from payment of duties and taxes or  shipments will be declared abandoned,”  Bureau of Customs (BOC) maintained none of  888 containers of imported rice sitting in  port of Manila have exceeded  period before government would declare them as abandoned, and that  majority of them have been cleared for release after paying taxes.

In  statement , BOC said 237 out of 258 containers of imported rice “have been cleared for release after payment of duties and taxes.”

Remaining  21 containers “had their Goods Declarations lodged only on Sept. 20, 2024 and are still in the process of being cleared,” it stressed.

Meanwhile, out of  630 containers of imported rice stocked in  yard of  Manila International Container Port, “492 containers have been cleared for release, while 138 containers are still pending payment of duties and taxes,”  BOC said.

It would “proceed with abandonment proceedings if any shipments remain unclaimed after this period” of 30 days.

29 Setyembre 2024, Linggo

Thank you father God for another year.

Register now and vote in midterm polls

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

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Good night Mam Ruth Ramirez, see you in the morning!!!

It took 4 yrs to win Catriona Gray libel case

By Cynthia Montojo

“Finally, after four years, libel and cyber libel cases filed by Miss Universe 2018 @catriona_gray have been resolved,” legal counsel, Josabeth “Joji” Alonso wrote on Instagram beauty queen Catriona Gray won  libel case she filed against  showbiz editor and writer in 2020. 

Her legal counsel,  Alonso, broke  news on Friday after Gray won  libel case against Bulgar entertainment editor Janice Navida and writer Melba Llanera. 

Lawyer  said  writer and editor were “found guilty beyond reasonable doubt” and were sentenced to imprisonment.

“Thank you Cat for  trust you have reposed on us… journey was not easy tread but it is all worth it… this is not just  judicial win but  moral victory!”  legal counsel ended her Instagram post. 

Gray filed  formal complaint in July 21, 2020 for fake or photoshopped photos of her that circulated on social media. 

27 Setyembre 2024, Biyernes

Thank you father God for another year.

Register now and vote in midterm polls

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

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Combs denied bail in sex trafficking case, again

By Cynthia Montojo

“It did not go our way,” Rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Comb’s lawyer Marc Agnifilo told journalists outside  federal courthouse in Manhattan following  ruling Combs will remain imprisoned pending trial on racketeering and sex trafficking charges, after  judge denied his appeal.

Judge Andrew Carter upheld  previous day’s ruling that  bail package proposed by his defense team  included  $50 million bond secured by his Miami home  was insufficient given his history of violence and substance abuse, and  possibility of witness tampering.

He vowed to keep pushing for Combs’s release on bail and also said he would urge  trial to move forward “as quickly as possible.”

“Wherever he is, his resolve is the same…he believes he’s innocent,” Agnifilo said, adding that  prison conditions Combs is being held in are “inhumane.”

On Tuesday,  54-year-old Combs was indicted on three criminal counts that allege he sexually abused women and coerced them into drug-fueled sex parties using threats and violence.

Along with racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, Combs is charged with one count of transporting victims across state lines to engage in prostitution.

Prosecutors say Combs was  don of  criminal enterprise that ensnared women and forced them to commit sex acts under threat of violence, financial insecurity and reputational ruin.

Combs has pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors are likening his crimes to those of  late Jeffrey Epstein, convicted sex cult leader Keith Raniere, and fellow musician R. Kelly, who received more than three decades in prison for racketeering, sex trafficking and child sex crimes.

It’s  remarkable fall from grace for artist credited with playing  key role in commercialization of hip-hop, who produced  constellation of famous proteges including The Notorious B.I.G.

27 Setyembre 2024, Biyernes

Thank you father God for another year.

Register now and vote in midterm polls

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

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Divorce abroad now recognized by Philippine courts

By J.Lo

Supreme Court ruled  divorce obtained abroad even through mutual agreement may be recognized in the Philippines.

Landmark  decision penned by Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao expands  scope of foreign divorce recognition in the country, had long been contentious.

In its ruling,  SC clarified  Philippine courts may recognize divorces obtained overseas, regardless of whether they were achieved through legal or administrative processes, or even mutual agreement.

SC decision cited  case of Filipino citizen Ruby Cuevas Ng  married Japanese national Akihiro Sono in Quezon City in 2004. After  couple relocated to Japan, their relationship deteriorated, leading to  “divorce decree by mutual agreement” in Japan.  Japanese embassy issued  divorce certificate attesting to arrangement.

Acting on Ng’s petition,  regional trial court in the Philippines issued  judicial recognition of her divorce, allowing her to remarry.

However,  Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) challenged  RTC ruling, arguing that only court-issued foreign divorce decrees should be recognized in the Philippines.

This was debunked by  SC. “Filipinos previously married to foreigners can seek judicial recognition of their foreign divorce under Article 26, paragraph 2 of  Family Code.”

High Tribunal emphasized whatever way  divorce is settled is irrelevant as long as it is legally valid in the country of  foreign spouse.

Decision  aims to prevent  situation where  foreign spouse can remarry while  Filipino spouse remains legally bound to  marriage. In Ng’s case, she claimed  Japanese law permits divorce by mutual agreement or judicial action.

However,  SC had to remand Ng’s case to  RTC to which she had to present first  authenticated copy of relevant Japanese divorce law.

According to Rule 132, Sections 24 and 25 of  Revised Rules on Evidence, foreign public documents must be validated either by official publication or by copies attested to by legal custodian.

SC noted that while Circular No. 157-2022-A of  Office of the Court Administrator includes  compilation of foreign divorce laws for reference, it does not exempt parties from complying with  Revised Rules on Evidence.

27 Setyembre 2024, Biyernes

Thank you father God for another year.

Register now and vote in midterm polls

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

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Resistance from victim not required in rape cases- Supreme Court

By Nidz Godino

“If  law is to be interpreted such that  woman claiming that she was raped must satisfactorily establish that she resisted  sexual assault, we become complicit in perpetuating  premise that men, as  general rule, are entitled to free access to  woman’s body at any given time and place because unless  woman proves she resisted such act by actively resisting  man’s advances, she will be deemed to have consented to it,”  Supreme Court’s decision read, for rape cases committed by force, threat, or intimidation, victims are not required to show proof of resistance against  act.

In  decision of  high court promulgated on June 26, 2024, it affirmed  conviction of man who repeatedly raped and abused his daughter and resolved  issue of whether resistance is  element of  crime of rape.

According to  SC for cases of rape, it is enough that “force, threat, or intimidation existed and was strong enough to prevent  victims from asserting their will.”

Accused  is  man  committing violations of rape by sexual assault, according to  Revised Penal Code; Acts of Lasciviousness under  Special Protection of Children Against Abuse and Discrimination Act and child abuse under  Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act.

Accused, ZZZ, repeatedly raped and assaulted one of his daughters  minor. 

He also physically assaulted all four of his daughters. 

ZZZ argued that rules with  “iron hand” to his daughters to discipline them and denied  rape allegations. 

To cast doubt on  allegations of sexual assault,  accused cited former Supreme Court rulings he argued  there should be  resistance that is “manifested and tenacious.”

Despite his argument, SC found  accused guilty of sexual assault, qualified rape and slight physical injuries, and was ordered to be imprisoned for 40 years. 

Supreme Court, through Associate Justice Filomena Singh, struck down ZZZ’s argument.

High  tribunal, citing jurisprudence, said  such rape cases should be viewed in  “light of  victim’s perception and judgment” when  crime was committed. 

It stressed  requiring proof of resistance from victim is also judging  victim’s behavior by male standards.

“Pronouncements like this are not only contrary to  prevailing doctrine, they also tend to reinforce misguided stereotypes that perpetuate gender bias and insensitivity,” it added. 

Resistance of victims might also worsen  impacts of rape, according to   high tribunal, citing perpetrators of these acts are usually known by  victims.  Supreme Court added that these victims are already subject to other abuses. 

“Resistance requirement thus compels  woman to risk her life to protect her ‘virtue, honor, and chastity’ as if  woman should believe that life is not worth living if she was abused without  fight,” its ruling read. 

“Right of women to autonomy and bodily integrity should be recognized and respected just as it is for men… there are cases that continue to invoke this line of reasoning compels  Court to state in clear terms why this position, i.e.,  woman must prove that she tenaciously resisted  man’s sexual assault before she can claim that she was raped, is both legally and morally wrong,”  Supreme Court added.