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02 Hulio 2024, Martes

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Chavit renews offer of affordable e-jeeps

By J.Lo

“Drivers will just pay half of their daily earning to their drivers’ group which in turn remits to our company,” former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson renewed his offer to provide electric jeepneys at much lower prices to enable marginalized drivers to comply with government’s public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP).

Singson  first offered his subsidy scheme for  acquisition of e-jeepneys to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista as an option.

First  prototype e-jeepney,  assembled in South Korea, is arriving this month.

E-jeepney is patterned after  legacy public utility jeepneys (PUJs) but with door and is a little taller, according to Singson.

Equipped with air-conditioning, it could sit 22 passengers, with six more standing.

Built at  cost of P2.2 million, Singson vowed to give half the price or P1.2 million under  rent-to-own repayment system, without any down payment.

Singson,  turns 83 years old this month, swears he has no more political ambitions but would only like to keep  iconic PUJs although with modern touches and not have them become eyesores or source of pollution on the roads.

Singson disclosed he recently met with  respective leaders of  Samahang Manibela at Nagkaisang Terminal ng Transportasyon (Manibela) and the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) and presented to them the e-jeepney.

These militant drivers groups continued this week their transport strikes and refused to comply with  PUVMP, despite lapse of  April 30 deadline set by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for non-organized drivers to consolidate into transport cooperatives.

Transport strike was mostly held in Metro Manila but  LTFRB sought to downplay as hardly felt by commuters. Both  Manibela and Piston, however, disputed LTFRB claims, citing they did sporadic strikes so as not to inconvenience the riding public much.

April 30 deadline for consolidation was  last extension granted by President Marcos in response to requests of jeepney groups. Following the lapse of the deadline, the LTFRB started the apprehension and withdrawal of existing franchises of jeepneys that are not compliant with PUVMP specifications.

LTFRB’s taking away of franchises, according to Singson, was precisely  complaint of both Manibela and Piston and is why they refused to comply with the program.

Once they consolidate, this enables the LTFRB to give away the lucrative routes of their franchise, Singson said quoting the laments of the drivers’ groups.

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TODAY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

Jeremiah 17:9-10

The heart is deceitful above all things
    and beyond cure.
    Who can understand it?

10 “I the Lord search the heart
    and examine the mind,
to reward each person according to their conduct,
    according to what their deeds deserve.”

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1 June 2024, Monday

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Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

happy 10th Anniversary Binang City, Laguna Chapter Servants of God in Christ Jesus Christian Ministries Inc., Dr. Enrico San Pedro, Pastor 

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Malaysia opposes Ph continental shelf claim

By Nidz Godino

“Government of Malaysia categorically rejects  Philippines’ Partial Submission on basis that  Republic of the Philippines’ continental margin is projected from  baselines of  Malaysian state of Sabah.”

Malaysia has opposed  Philippine submission to United Nations body to formally recognize  extent of its undersea continental shelf, saying it is projected from baselines of Sabah.

In  note verbale to UN Secretary General António Guterres on June 27, Malaysia’s permanent mission to the United Nations said Malaysia has never recognized  Philippines’ claim to Sabah.

Malaysia requested  UN Commission on the Limits of  Continental Shelf not to examine and qualify  Philippines Partial Submission.

This clearly disregards Malaysia’s indisputable sovereignty over  state of Sabah,”  mission said.

Mission  said Sabah has always been integral part of Malaysia, and has been “recognized” by  UN and  international community as part of Malaysia since  formation of  Federation of Malaysia on Sept. 16, 1963.

It argued  Philippines’ claim to sovereignty over Sabah is “incompatible with its erga omnes obligation to recognize and uphold  legitimate exercise of right to self-determination by people of Sabah in 1963.”

“The Government of Malaysia wholly rejects the claims by the Republic of the Philippines that the latter has legal ownership and sovereignty over the Malaysian state of Sabah,” the mission said.

“It is clear that  Republic of the Philippines claim to Sabah has no basis whatsoever under international law.”

Philippines asked UN body to formally recognize  extent of its undersea continental seabed in  South China Sea, where it would have exclusive right to exploit resources.

Through  Philippine mission to  UN in New York,  Philippine government submitted information to  UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf on extent of its undersea shelf in  South China Sea, off western Palawan province, after more than  decade and  half of scientific research.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) explained  under Article 76 of  UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),  coastal state such as  Philippines is entitled to establish  outer limits of its continental shelf.

This comprises  seabed and subsoil of  submarine areas extending beyond 200 nautical miles but not to exceed 350 nautical miles from  baselines from  breadth of  territorial sea is measured.

National Mapping and Resource Information Agency led  Extended Continental Shelf Technical Working Group  worked on  submission for over 15 years.

DFA underscored  significance of submission in securing  Philippines’ sovereign rights and maritime jurisdictions in  WPS, noting that  2016 award on South China Sea arbitration confirmed  Philippines’ maritime entitlements and rejected those that exceeded geographic and substantive limits under  UNCLOS.

Philippine permanent representative to UN Antonio Lagdameo said  move “can reinvigorate efforts of states to demonstrate their readiness to pursue UNCLOS processes in  determination of maritime entitlements and promote  rules-based international order.”

Former foreign affairs secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said  Philippines will not abandon its territorial claim over Sabah despite aggressive financial offers.

He bared  “repeated offers” in the past involving huge amounts of money for  Philippines to drop its claims over Sabah, formerly known as North Borneo.

Meanwhile, visiting Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan will meet with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo to discuss  current state of Philippines-Malaysia relations,  DFA said.

Manalo and Hasan will also exchange views on regional and international developments during  inaugural first visit of  Malaysian foreign minister since taking  helm of  Malaysian Foreign Ministry in December 2023.

Both sides are also working and coordinating to convene  8th Bilateral Joint Commission Meeting,  last held in Manila more than  decade ago.

Manalo invited his counterpart for  official visit. He reiterated  need to sustain  two countries’ momentum of high-level exchanges in 2023.

DFA announced  Hasan will arrive in the Philippines today.

Malaysian embassy in Manila said  trip aims to highlight programs to boost cooperation.

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1 Hulio 2024, Lunes

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Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

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DepEd turns to map data to ease public school overcrowding

By Creselda Canda-Lopez

“While mapping of public schools was previously conducted by DepEd and OpenStreetMap, this is the first time DepEd will do  comprehensive mapping of all private schools across the country, critical next step in furthering its recently released policy, DepEd Order No. 6, series of 2024, on public and private basic education complementarity framework,” EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark Yee said Department of Education (DepEd) will undertake  nationwide mapping of all 12,212 private schools this July to identify those that can “absorb” students from nearby overcrowded public schools through targeted voucher subsidies.

In partnership with  Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) and select universities, DepEd aims to pin down and eventually analyze  precise coordinates of all private schools in the country to decongest public schools that have too many students or too few classrooms.

Findings  of this analysis will be used to inform  government’s strategic distribution of student vouchers under  Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE), according to EDCOM 2,  three-year congressional body tasked with reviewing  country’s education system.

Nationwide  mapping project builds on DepEd’s and private sector’s previous efforts to build  comprehensive dataset of all private schools in the country, EDCOM 2 stressed.

This initiative comes at  time when Congress is deliberating on bills that aim to expand DepEd’s GASTPE program to cover all levels of basic education, or from kindergarten to Grade 12.  

Challenges have hounded DepEd’s GASTPE program, especially its tuition fee subsidy scheme for private senior high school students under Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS-VP). 

In March, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of  Senate basic education panel flagged  inequitable distribution of voucher subsidies,  ended up benefiting some student who do not need them. 

DepEd data cited by Gatchalian shows that in school year 2021-2022, at least 53% or P7.21 billion of  P13.69 billion allocation for  SHS-VP went to non-poor students, or students whose families earned above  poverty threshold. 

Gatchalian also said  absence of  effective “targeting mechanism” for  SHS-VP deprived an estimated 542,000 aisle learners of  much-needed subsidies. Aisle learners refer to students who already count outside regular class size in school.

Government  has also lost at least P360 million from “ghost” or undocumented students who were tagged GASTPE benefiacries, Gatchalian learned during  Senate hearing on  scholarship program.

Gatchalian, co-chairperson of EDCOM 2, said  new mapping initiative aims to make sure that government resources are “spent optimally with  goal of decongesting public schools and helping poorest learners.”

Latitude and longitude coordinates of private schools will be used for geospatial analysis,  aims to “enable  identification of nearby public and private schools that could still accommodate additional enrollment,” EDCOM 2 told media.

“For congested public schools, this list of nearby schools can be used to facilitate enrollment referrals…at national level, aggregating this information will also help determine extent of ‘surplus’ enrollment congestion that can be decongested through transfers, facilitated with  use of vouchers or other strategies,” EDCOM 2 added.

With nationwide mapping project, EDCOM 2 also eyes  faster collection and validation of data of private schools in  National Capital Region, Region IV-A, and BARMM; regions with  worst overcrowding in public elementary and junior high schools.

Findings  from  analysis  will involve  technical assistance of EDCOM 2  can also be used for policy development as well as budget programming,  congressional body said.

Lawmakers and education officials have increasingly tapped  voucher system to accommodate  growing student population in basic education amid  perennial shortage of classrooms in public schools.

In 2023, DepEd built only around 3,600 new classrooms out of  planned 6,300, based on figures shared by Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio during her second Basic Education Report in January.

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01 Hulio 2024, Lunes

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Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

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Alice Guo could become stateless

By J.Lo

“No country will accept her…let us remember that China has no dual citizenship, and based on what was told by our Chinese counterparts, because she gave up her ‘Chinese citizenship’ and she obtained Philippine citizenship and passport, she has lost her right as  Chinese citizen,” Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) spokesman Winston John Casio said suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo could become stateless and lose all her properties in the Philippines after  National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) exam showed her fingerprints are identical with those of Chinese national Guo Hua Ping.

Casio said  NBI’s findings have huge implications on Guo, as it has proved that she is not  Filipino citizen.

He stressed that investigators believe that she has renounced her original status as  natural born Chinese citizen.

“There’s a possibility that Guo Hua Ping will be stateless, she won’t belong in any country…how can we deport her if no one would accept her,” he added.

Being  foreigner, Casio said Guo could also lose all her properties in the Philippines, including  7.6-hectare Baofu compound where  alleged illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub of Zun Yuan Technology Inc. is located.

“She will lose rights to own it because it was found out that she is not  Filipino,” he said, noting that Guo could also face criminal cases for identity theft and even money laundering.

Department of Justice spokesman Mico Clavano  said Mayor Guo may not be subjected to deportation because of pending criminal cases against her.

Various instruments of torture were recovered at villas at Fontana Leisure Park in Clark, Pampanga which law enforcement authorities raided on Thursday night, the PAOCC said.

Among  items found inside five residential villas are baseball bats, tasers, retractable batons and bladed weapons.

Even with  discovery of  instruments, Casio said it is unlikely that people were tortured in  villas as there are other residents in the leisure park.

Citing intelligence information they received, Casio said  villas were used by alleged business associates of Mayor Guo.

He said people connected with other illegal POGO firms have also sought refuge in the five villas.

With  villas closed, Casio said  “bosses” of illegal POGOs hub in Pampanga have no other places to hide.

Nineteen foreigners and  Filipino, former policeman who allegedly works as Guo’s security officer, were rounded up during  raid.

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1 Hulio 2024, Lunes

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

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

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No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

happy 10th Anniversary Binang City, Laguna Chapter Servants of God in Christ Jesus Christian Ministries Inc., Dr. Enrico San Pedro, Pastor 

PM for any hospital discharge problem

CHAPLAIN JORGE LOPEZ IS EXHORTING BOCAUE POLICE FORCE

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1 Hulio 2024, Lunes

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

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No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

No to SOGIE bill

Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

happy 10th Anniversary Binang City, Laguna Chapter Servants of God in Christ Jesus Christian Ministries Inc., Dr. Enrico San Pedro, Pastor 

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Duterte won’t tell where Quiboloy is

By J.Lo

“If the question is, ‘where is pastor…’ I know where, but it’s  secret,” former president Rodrigo Duterte knows where his friend Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy is hiding, but would not say where.

Duterte, administrator of KOJC properties, said Quiboloy, who has standing arrest warrants for sexual and child abuse and human trafficking cases, does not want to surrender.

“He does not want to surrender…so, don’t surrender,” he stressed.

Police  searched  KOJC compound several times in attempt to serve  arrest warrants against Quiboloy and his co-accused but failed to find him. KOJC members have condemned  latest attempt to serve  warrants, claiming that  police have used excessive force in entering their compounds.

Duterte, refused to comment on this allegation.

“I have  feeling for  military and police… I am pro-police, pro-military,” the former president added.

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01 Hulio 2024, Lunes

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Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

happy Anniversary Binang City, Laguna Chapter Servants of God in Christ Jesus Christian Ministries Inc., Dr. Enrico San Pedro, Pastor 

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Ch fugitive nabbed while trying to extend tourist visa

By J.Lo

“Luo is the subject of  summary deportation order issued by BI in 2023 after Chinese authorities informed  agency that he has  standing detention warrant issued by the Chongqing Hechuan District Public Security Bureau of  People’s Republic of China,” Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Chinese fugitive fell into  hands of authorities while trying to extend  validity of his tourist visa.

Luo Xinya, 27, showed up at BI head office in Intramuros, Manila last June 26 to apply for visa extension.

During  transaction, BI’s Special Investigator Teresa Javier found out Luo has  derogatory record with BI, according to a statement from the agency.

Arrest  warrant made him  undesirable alien and  subject of deportation, it stressed.

Personnel from  BI’s fugitive search unit held Luo and detained him in BI’s facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.

Data from  BI’s tourist visa section is “connected to  BI’s centralized database of derogatory records, allowing us to immediately detect those with deportation orders,” said  unit’s chief Raymond Remigio.

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1 Hulio 2024, Lunes

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Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Seth Elyon San Pedro

happy 10th Anniversary Binang City, Laguna Chapter Servants of God in Christ Jesus Christian Ministries Inc., Dr. Enrico San Pedro, Pastor 

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HEADLINES

Sara rejects tag as opposition leader

By Nidz Godino

“Based on my work, my character and my principles, I don’t act for  benefit of the administration, or  opposition, or for politics,”  Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio  disagreed with claims that she is now leader of  opposition against  Marcos administration.

Her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, meanwhile  would not run for  Senate seat in  May 2025 midterm elections, contrary to Sara’s June 25 announcement.

“I work based on whatever is beneficial to the people, and whatever is rightful to them,” she stressed.

The Vice President earlier resigned as education secretary and co-vice chair of  National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

UniTeam alliance, she said, was  tandem formed only for  2022 elections.

Liberal Party has also rejected idea of Duterte becoming an opposition leader.  LP will field its own senatorial slate in  2025 midterm elections.

Duterte  remains focused on her remaining two weeks as outgoing education secretary, stressing that her mind has not yet taken focus on politics.

Earlier , Duterte said  former president, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte and Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte intend to run for  Senate in 2025. 

Sebastian would run for president in 2028.

“You believed Inday…she made  fool out of you…where can you see  father and his two sons in  Senate… I will not return to politics… I’m done. I’m old… I don’t have money to spend…yabang lang meron ako,” the former president said  at  press conference in Tacloban City.

Filipinos should not believe the Vice President because “she is just like me, but I have mellowed down since I’m old,” Duterte said.

As for former senator Leila de Lima, Duterte respects  court’s decision to acquit her in her last drug case.

After her acquittal, De Lima warned Duterte that he would “pay for his crimes.”

Duterte reiterated  International Criminal Court has no jurisdiction over  Philippines.

The Vice President spoke of plans to build  senatorial slate for  2025 polls, which could include Partido Demokratiko Pilipino members.

She founded the regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago, met great success during  previous midterm elections.

No confidential fund has been requested by  Office of the Vice President (OVP) for its 2025 budget, Duterte said.

In September 2023, Commission on Audit confirmed Duterte spent  controversial P125-million confidential funds in 2022 in just 11 days.

OVP and  Department of Education did not pursue their requested P500-million and P150-million confidential and intelligence funds for  2024 budget, respectively.

This decision prompted Congress to allocate these funds for  resolution of  West Philippine Sea issue, as well as peace and order.

Duterte’s resignation is effective July 19. 

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TODAY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

Romans 12:3

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.