Tourism boss gets CA nod

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday, September 5, confirmed the appointment of Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez.

Named to the tourism department a year ago, Jimenez appeared on Wednesday before the CA for the first time. He got the CA nod in less than an hour.

“I am very pleased that they have given all of us their vote of confidence,” he told reporters.

Jimenez assured the senators and congressmen present that his background as a former advertising executive does not conflict with his current job. He also said that his family had already sold all its shares in Publicis Jimenez Basic, the advertising firm that he founded.

The remaining company that his wife heads is Winning Over Obstacles Communications Corp, which does not have clients in the tourism industry, according to Jimenez. – Rappler.com

Sotto: RH bill a masked population control measure

MANILA, Philippines – The Reproductive Health bill is in reality a population control measure.

This is what Senate Majority Floor Leader Sen Vicente “Tito” Sotto asserted in the 3rd part of his “turno en contra” speech before the Senate on Wednesday, September 5. “Ang terminong RH ay obra maestra sa panlilinlang, mautak at masisteng pagkukubli sa pangunahing layunin ng batas,” Sotto said.

(The Reproductive Health bill is a masterpiece of deception, a shrewd and systematic way of masking its genuine objective: to drastically reduce the family size and eventually the country’s population.)

Advocates of the bill say it is about the reproductive health of women and that it is the bill’s objective to save the lives of women and the unborn.

But birth control, he said, is the instrument being used by advocates of the RH bill to decrease the population.

He refuted claims that the Philippines is overpopulated. Assuming it were, is the RH bill the best solution, he asked.

Poverty and population control

Poverty is being attributed to overpopulation but the solution to poverty is not population control. Rather, he said, the solution to poverty is “trabaho, edukasyon, pabahay, kalusugan (jobs, education, housing and health),” and not contraceptives.

Economists are unanimous in saying that poverty is caused by the unequal distribution of wealth and prosperity.

Citing a study by Rosa Linda Valenzona entitled, “A Paradigm for Demography,” Sotto said the country’s fertility rate has actually dropped from 7% in 1960 to about 3.19% in 2011. Population growth has also dropped from 2.07% in 1948 to 1.9% in 2010. In 2006, the Philippines also recorded a 51% prevalence rate in the use of contraceptives.

The figures have dropped without any intervention by the state, he pointed out.

The National Capital Region has become overpopulated and squatter areas with large families in Metro Manila are a product of “3 decades of erroneous policies of rural development,” Sotto said, quoting economist Dr Bernie Villegas.

It is development, especially of the rural area, that is the “best contraceptive,” he added.

Developed countries

Germany, Japan and Singapore are developed countries with smaller populations because of population control. Yet they are experiencing the negative effects of the wrong policies of controlling population.

These countries have ageing populations and are unable to sustain their labor force to maintain economic growth and security interests.

In Japan, population is expected to drop to 35 million by 2050. In the United States, the birth rate will drop to 2.1% because of the legalization of abortion in 1973.

It is wrong to discriminate against the poor, Sotto said, and it is also wrong to think that poverty and hunger are caused by overpopulation.

What is needed, Sotto asserted, is to provide jobs, livelihood, information and education to allow the poor to get a taste of prosperity. – Rappler.com

Aquino’s favorite cop promoted

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Nicanor Bartolome with Director Alan Purisima, now chief of the directorial staff of PNP. Photo from PNP-NCR Office

MANILA, Philippines – Director Alan Purisima has been promoted chief of the directorial staff of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Purisima, said to be President Benigno Aquino III’s favorite cop, was plucked from his post as chief of the PNP-National Capital Region Office (NCRPO). He is replacing Deputy Director General Rommel Heredia, who was appointed PNP deputy chief for operations.

A 1981 graduate of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Purisima served at the Presidential Security Group (PSG) during the term of the late President Corazon Aquino. He was with President Aquino when the latter was ambushed in the botched 1987 coup against his mother.

Purisima is expected to become the next PNP chief when Director General Nicanor Bartolome retires in March 2013. Camp Crame sources however said Bartolome is being convinced to retire early.

Heredia replaced Deputy Director General Emelito Sarmiento, who was appointed PNP deputy chief for administration, a position vacated by Deputy Director General Arturo Cacdac Jr who retired.

The turn-over ceremonies involving these positions were held in the PNP general headquarters building in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Sources disclosed that Purisima will be replaced at the NCRPO by his PMA mistah, Chief Supt Leonardo Espina, current head of the Highway Patrol Group.

Class ’81 is the emerging power bloc in both the PNP and the military. Another Class 1981 member, Lt Gen Emmanuel Bautista, is now commanding general of the Army. – Rappler.com

Can CBCP compromise on RH bill?

MANILA, Philippines – Their possible inclusion in a group to amend the Reproductive Health (RH) bill is, in itself, challenged by the bill’s advocates.

But if indeed the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) will sit in an informal Technical Working Group to amend the RH bill, what can Catholic bishops compromise? What amendments will the bill’s strongest critics accept or reject?

CBCP’s vice president, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, said bishops will always defend the “non-negotiables.” He said this in the context of proposed dialogues with pro-RH bill professors of the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila University.

“Thou shall not kill,” Villegas said as an example, referring to the 5th of the 10 commandments, a divine set of rules accepted by Jews and Christians alike.

FIGHTING RH. Thousands flock to Edsa Shrine to protest the RH bill. File photo by Paterno Esmaquel II

“Any contraceptive method that is abortifacient, is against that commandment. That is non-negotiable. We cannot go against the command of God,” Villegas told Rappler on the sidelines of a Catholic educators’ forum on August 29.

Villegas added that dialogue is part of propagating the Catholic faith.

“We should be ready to listen with charity, but we cannot compromise our identity. We should not give up our identity for the sake of peace,” Villegas said.

The president of the CBCP, Cebu Arcbishop Jose Palma, himself expressed openness to engage in a dialogue on the RH bill. He said the provision on mandatory sex education, for instance, may be acceptable to the CBCP if Congress considers age and parental consent.

ALL-OUT WAR. CBCP president Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma (right) and Antipolo Bishop Gabriel Reyes (left) lead Catholic bishops’ fight against the RH bill. Photo courtesy of CBCP

“As we mentioned, age and parental consent – at the moment, that should be discussed, because the primary obligation depends on the parents. The state should not arrogate to themselves a right that is supposed to belong to the parents,” Palma told Rappler, in a mix of English and Filipino, after an anti-RH bill Mass last August 13.

The head of CBCP’s family and life commission, Antipolo Bishop Gabriel Reyes, said the Church is not moving to ban contraceptives. He said the public, after all, can buy this in ordinary stores.

“What the Church is against, I repeat, is that government should promote contraception and provide free contraceptives to people,” Reyes said in CBCP’s response to Jesuit constitutionalist Fr Joaquin Bernas’ stance on the RH bill.

Violating teachings

But how Church officials can proceed in dialogue on the RH bill, without violating Church teachings, is anticipated by critics.

The CBCP’s official stance on the RH bill, for example, is based on a key papal document.

Pope Paul VI’s Humanae Vitae bans artificial family planning methods, which supposedly interfere with the body’s natural rhythms. It also emphasizes that sexual intercourse should always both unite a married couple and remain open to procreation.

In another document, Evangelium Vitae, the late Pope John Paul II warned against a so-called “contraceptive mentality.” Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle spoke along these lines during a grand anti-RH bill rally last August 4.

DANGEROUS ‘CULTURE’? Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle echoes the Catholic Church’s fear of the RH bill. File photo from Jesuit Communications

“Nakilatis na ba ninyo? Ano ba ang kulturang Pilipino na inyong ibig ipasa sa amin at sa susunod na henerasyon? Ano bang kultura ang sisimulan nitong RH bill?” (Have you examined it? What Filipino culture do you intend to pass on to us and to the next generation? What culture will this RH bill begin?)

Church laws prohibit bishops from violating papal decrees, and indeed all Catholic teachings.

Why them?

In the first place, however, the technical working group (TWG) on the RH bill shouldn’t include Catholic Church officials, said the group Filipino Freethinkers through its Twitter account.

“If the TWG on #RHBill amendments has (representatives) from the Catholic Church, it should also include representatives of other faiths and non-believers. If #RHBill TWG can’t contain (representatives) of all faiths and non-believers, then be secular and don’t privilege the Catholic Church over others’ beliefs,” the Filipino Freethinkers said.

The Palace, for its part, hopes Congress could pass an RH bill “acceptable… to a greater segment of the population.” “This will be a good time… for reasonable men to come together and discuss what the amendments could be,” said Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda in a press briefing.

Early last month, anti-RH bill lawmakers threatened to inject “killer amendments” that will dilute the RH bill, to the point that its proponents themselves wouldn’t recognize the measure.

 

Read more…

Finally, changes to Senate RH bill

MANILA, Philippines – After a 4-part speech of Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, the Reproductive Health (RH) bill finally moved to the period of amendments in the Senate.

RH bill principal sponsor Pia Cayetano began introducing committee amendments on Wednesday, September 5. The amendments came after Sotto finished his speech, which covered 3 session days over a period of about one month.

Among the amendments Cayetano introduced is the deletion of the provision that says government will care for women with post-abortion complications. (Access the original bill here.)

Cayetano said on the Senate floor, “To put the issue to rest and allay the fears that the RH bill will promote abortion, on page 2, delete lines 41 to 43. In lieu thereof, insert a new subsection J, which shall read, ‘Abortion is a criminal act in accordance with existing laws.’”

Instead, Cayetano inserted a new subsection which reads, “All complications arising from pregnancy, labor and delivery shall be treated in a humane and compassionate manner.”

The RH bill sponsor explained, “As we know, Mr President, Filipinos are known to espouse a culture of kindness and empathy. We uphold the tradition of reaching out and extending genuine health care to those in need both in our country and our country more so for women who are pregnant.”

The deleted provision was one of the contentious parts of the RH bill.

In the fourth part of his speech that ended on the same day, Sotto said the original provision in effect encouraged abortion.

“Dahil nangako naman ang gobyernong pagkatapos nilang magsagawa ng aborsyon, gagamutin sila sa paraang makatao, walang pag-huhusga, at may malasakit na pamamaraan. Sana po ay maging mas maingat tayo sa ganitong probisyon dahil puwede po itong ituring na pagpayag na gawin ng kaliwang kamay ang hindi kayang gawin ng ating kanang kamay,” Sotto said.(Because the government promised to care for those who committed abortion in a humane manner, without judgment and in a compassionate matter. I hope we are more careful in this provision because it can be understood that we are allowing the left hand to do what the right hand cannot.)

After the committee amendments, senators will now introduce their individual amendments to the bill.

 

Read more…

Sotto says no to tag-team debate

‘THAT GOOD.’ Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III says if Claudio and Syjuco claim to be better than Senators Cayetano and Santiago, they should be elected to the Senate. Photo by Hoang Vu

MANILA, Philippines – For the second time, no.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III rejected a new challenge for a debate on the Reproductive Health (RH) bill. A staunch RH bill critic, Sotto turned down the open invitation of academic Leloy Claudio and writer Miguel Syjuco.

In an interview with reporters on Wednesday, September 5, Sotto said the invitation sends a negative message to RH bill sponsors Senators Pia Cayetano and Miriam Defensor Santiago.

“I think it’s an insult to Senator Pia and Senator Miriam. Ongoing ang debate namin sa kanila (our debate with them is ongoing). That means they’re not satisfied with Senator Pia and Miriam. They probably think they’re better than the two,” Sotto said.

Sotto also took a swipe at Claudio and Syjuco.

“Hindi maganda iyon. (That’s not good) It has very bad implications on the sponsors of the measure. Siguro (maybe)they’re that good. They should be elected to the Senate,” he said.

Claudio and Syjuco wrote an open letter to Sotto inviting him to debate on the RH bill, along with a Catholic bishop of his choice. Claudio was an award-winning student debater of the Ateneo while Syjuco is an acclaimed novelist.

The invitation was issued following the first two parts of Sotto’s “turno en contra” speeches against the RH bill and allegations of plagiarism against the senator.

The two RH supporters said it is important to hold a debate outside the Senate floor so Sotto can no longer claim parliamentary immunity.

Last year, Sotto also rejected a similar invitation from Claudio on the same grounds. Claudio said Cayetano and Santiago told him they were not offended by the challenge.

NOT HAPPENING. Sotto rejects the debate challenge from Claudio and Syjuco. Image posted on the Pro RH Bill Facebook page

‘Sotto’s chance to explain’

Syjuco wrote in a Rappler Thought Leaders Piece, “Our offer is sincere. The senator says his points have not been responded to; we’d like to remedy that.”

“The senator refuses to reply to points raised by the media; this is his chance to explain. (For example, what of the other two American writers who’ve complained about his plagiarism?) And if the senator thinks the issues bear more discussion before allowing voting, why not agree to this conversation? I’ll even bring the beer,” said Syjuco.

Sotto has finished delivering a 4-part speech against the RH bill that spanned a period of about a month. Aside from the anti-RH speeches, the senator also made a speech last week defending himself from allegations of plagiarism. – Rappler.com

#Sinotto: Sotto translated Kennedy speech?

#Sinotto: Sotto translated Kennedy speech?

MANILA, Philippines – Accusations of plagiarism are nothing new to Senate Majority Leader Tito Sotto III.

Mid-August, Sotto was accused of plagiarizing the first part of his “turno en contra” speech against the controversial Reproductive Health Bill.

The Senator vehemently denied plagiarizing from blogger Sarah Pope. But lawyer Hector Villacorta, Sotto’s chief-of-staff, later admitted to lifting parts of Pope’s blog without attribution.

On September 5, Wednesday, Sotto delivered the final parts of his speech. Moments after, Twitter user Michel Eldiy accused Sotto of translating into Filipino and using parts of a speech by Robert F. Kennedy.

Read more…

RH bill gives way to passage of 2013 budget

RH bill gives way to passage of 2013 budget

MANILA, Philippines – That’s it for now.

House Bill 4244, or the Reproductive Health bill (RH bill), is shelved – albeit temporarily – to give way to the passage of the government’s P2.006-trillion budget for 2013. It won’t likely be tackled again until October, after the filing of certificates of candidacies (COCs) for the 2013 elections.

Legislative debates on the bill have been the most contentious in the present Congress. The measure — or at least its original version — mandates government to promote contraceptives and educate Filipinos on planning their families. Proponents said the country needs this to help stem problems related to the burgeoing population. Critics slam the bill for its supposed “anti-life” spirit.

“Today is effectively our last day to take up anything else,” House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II told reporters. “Next week we begin with the budget. Hopefully, according to Speaker [Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr], the lull period can be considered so the supporters and critics of RH bill can talk about the amendments. Let’s see what’s going to happen after we retrun from the break. That will be in October.”

Read more…

SSS employees receive P10,000 bonus for ‘sterling performance’

MANILA, Philippines – Citing the “sterling performance” of the Social Security System (SSS), President Aquino said a P10,000 anniversary bonus awaits each of the officials and employees of the state-run pension fund for private workers.

At SSS’s 55th anniversary celebration on Monday, September 3, Aquino said he has approved and did not hesitate to sign the SSS bonus that Budget Secretary Florencio Abad has released on August 31.

He said this modest amount is a “token of gratitude” for SSS’s healthy financial performance.

“Trust that as along as you cooperate in treading the straight path, every effort you exert in our jobs, every step we take in effecting change, every sacrifice we choose to do now, we will reap together and also by the next generation,” Aquino said.

The agency posted an income of P18.33 billion in January to June this year, up 21% from last year’s P15.2 billion.

Trading gains contributed 58% to the bottom-line. Stock market activities helped boost equity earnings by 48% to a 6-month total of P10.54 billion.

‘Likes’

Aquino also cited the web and text-based services of SSS that offer convenience to members and entice non-members to join.

He noted the 68% increase in the number of members and employers that enrolled with SSS through its 24/7 online services from January to April.

The SSS’s website registered 318,000 for the first 4 months of 2012 from 189,576 during the same period in 2011.

“If SSS already has a Facebook page, I will not be surprised if you get thousands and thousands of likes from the Filipino people,” Aquino said.

He also said the expanded “Text-SSS” facility allows members to easily make inquiries.

He reminded the SSS employees to keep the trust and respect each Filipino pension fund member, and that it is their obligation to take utmost care of their members’ hard earned money.

“Therefore, the SSS funds for the people can’t be played with. They cannot be gambled and risked just like in a casino,” he said. – Rappler.com

ATTENDEES. In photo are Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, SSS president and chief executive officer Emilio de Quiros, Jr., Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, SSS chairman Juan Santos, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares. Photo from Malacañang

TRUST AND RESPECT. President Aquino tells SSS employees to keep trust of pension fund members whose funds they are managing. In this Malacañang photo, SSS chairman Juan Santos tours President Aquino around the agency’s Quezon City office

Selection of new SC justice begins Sept 5

THE 15TH. The JBC will open the application process for the post of the 15th member of the High Court on September 5.

MANILA, Philippines – The Judicial and Bar Council will open the application process for the post of associate justice on Wednesday, September 5.

The JBC will publish the formal announcement of the vacancy on its website and in broadsheets also on Wednesday. The vacancy arose from the appointment of Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to the post of chief justice on August 24.

President Benigno Aquino III has 90 days to name the 15th member of the High Court from the date of the vacancy. This would be the President’s fourth appointment to the Court since becoming president in June 2010. His previous apppointments to the High Tribunal are Sereno, and Justices Bienvenido Reyes and Estela Perlas-Bernabe.

Meanwhile, Iloilo Rep Niel Tupas Jr said he would ask the JBC to tackle in its next en banc meeting the amendment of its rules on disqualification.

Under Rule 4, Section 5 of the JBC rules, the following are considered disqualifed from “appointment to any judicial post or as Ombudsman or Deputy Ombudsman:”

• those with pending criminal or regular administrative cases
• pending criminal cases in foreign courts or tribunal
• those who have been convicted in any criminal case; or in an administrative case, where the penalty imposed is at least a fine of more than P10,000, unless he has been granted judicial clemency

“Siguro mas maganda na before ‘yung process, mag decide na kami kung may amendment yung rules instead of the middle of the game. To me, I feel na may mga unfair na rules but we should decide on that before the nomination process,” Tupas said. (I think it’s better if we can decide on the amendment of the rules before the process starts, instead of doing it in the middle of the game. I feel that some rules are unfair but we should decide on that before the nomination process.)

Tupas had previously asked the JBC to relax its rules on disqualification. His proposal was seen as a move to stop the disqualification of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who faces disbarment cases, from the race for chief justice.

Tupas argued that the JBC should be given the sole discretion to decide if a case is grave enough to cause the disqualification of a candidate.- Rappler.com

Why the RH Bill is also a youth issue

MANILA, Philippines – As senators continue to deliberate whether to pass or not the controversial Reproductive Health (RH)Bill, a group of experts urged legislators to consider the stake of the youth in the debate.

In a roundtable discussion among experts from the fields of education, adolescent health, law, demography and social sciences on August 29, they stressed that the incidence of teenage pregnancies continue to grow because young people are denied access to reproductive education and services.

“As we recognize the role of youth in nation-building as indispensable, we have yet to fulfill our obligation to address all their needs that include sexual and reproductive health,” said former Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral.

Other experts who joined the discussion included National Scientist Dr Mercedes Concepcion, University of the Philippines College of Law professor Elizabeth Aguiling-Pangalangan, UP Center for Women’s Studies Director Dr Sylvia Claudio, and psychologist Dr Margie Holmes.

After they consolidate their positions in September 2012, they will urge Congress to enact the law that would support the implementation of “long overdue appropriate, evidence-based and effective adolescent sexuality and reproductive health programs.”

Life-changing consequences

The experts noted that teenage pregnancy’s life-changing consequences — which includes dropping out from school, maternal deaths and induced abortion — harm the education and employment opportunities for youth and the lives and health of young women.

The number of pregnant teenagers between 15 to 19 years old increased to 59 for every 1000 women in 2011 from 39 in 2006, the experts noted, comparing Family Health Surveys.

Meanwhile, the unmet need for family planning among teenagers in the same age bracket was put at 37%.

The Department of Health (DOH) has also recorded a total of 9,964 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases among this age group. Of this, 1,061 have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and 353 died from 1984 to June 2012.

A recent DOH report also revealed that in July, 278 HIV cases were recorded. This is 36% higher compared to the same period in 2011 with most of the cases belonging to the 20 to 29 age bracket.

“We can no longer afford to deny the fact that more young people are engaged in sexual activity, yet bereft with sufficient information about their sexuality and reproductive health, particularly the consequences of unprotected sex,” Junice Melgar, executive director of the women’s group Likhaan, said.

“The time to act is now,” Melgar stressed.

Youth ignorance on RH issues

“The RH Bill matters to the youth because we face continuing ignorance [within the sector] on many issues about reproductive health and sexuality,” Juan Carlo Tejano, founder of the Reproductive Health and Gender Advocates Movement told Rappler in an earlier interview.

The youth representative in the Lower House, which passed its version of the bill in August 7, also believes that reproductive health is also a concern of his constituents.

“It addresses the right of young people to access relevant RH services and appropriate information and education,” KABATAAN Partylist Rep Raymond Palatino said.

“Through RH, youth are empowered since they have knowledge and the support of the government to protect their reproductive health needs,” Palatino added.

Anti-RH: Don’t count us out

But some young people strongly oppose the measure, saying that they should not be counted out in the debate.

Ma. Shiril Jalad-Armero, the recipient of the 2012 Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) in Central Visayas, urged President Benigno Aquino III and Congress not to support the enactment of RH Bill.

“Bigyan mo kami ng chance na [i-prove na] effective din itong pinaglalaban namin. Please huwag niyong ipasa [ang RH Bill],” Shiril pleaded.

(Give us a chance to prove that what we are fighting for is effective. Please don’t pass the bill.)

Shiril, who just graduated from medical school, cum laude, won the regional search based on her platform of “upholding life of the born and unborn,” an advocacy she has taken on that focuses on the promotion of natural family planning.

“I want a more effective information dissemination. The reason may not be religious. The reason can be medical because as a doctor of medicine, I am confident that I can defend the said family planning method and prove its effectivity,” Shiril asserted.– Rappler.com

MWSS website hacked

MANILA, Philippines – Several hacker groups on Sunday, September 2, 2012, hacked the official website of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewage System (MWSS).

The groups identified themselves as Anonymous #OccupyPhilippines, Anonymous Butuan, PrivateX, #pR.is0n3r. Lo0p th3 Lo0p, l4stl00k, Anonymous Manila, and All Pinoy Hackers.

As of 2:57 pm on Sunday, the MWSS website contained a spinning logo of “Anonymous Philippines,” with a link below that instructs visitors to “click for the reason.”

A video message from “AnonymousButuan.” Screen cap taken 2:02pm, September 2, 2012.

The link leads to a YouTube video posted by user “AnonymousButuan” on August 31, 2012.

In the video, the group accused the MWSS, Maynilad Water Services Inc., and Manila Water Co. of cheating customers into paying for two cancelled projects. The group did not specific the projects that they were referring to. The group also alleged that the MWSS has been giving “excessive benefits” to its board members.

“We are fighting for the truth and free speech. People should not fear the government. The government should fear their people,” the video said.

“We are anonymous, we are legion, we do not forgive, we do not forget, United as one, divided by none, the corrupt fear us, the honest support us, the heroic joins us, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, it’s too late to expect us!”

Changes in the MWSS

The MWSS has been on the spotlight recently, after they eliminated the illegal allowances of its employees.

Back in August, it was revealed that the company’s drivers had been receiving up to P97,000 a month mainly in the form of bonuses.

“Illegal” bonuses included a birthday and State of the Nation Address bonus.

In an interview on Rappler’s #TalkThursday, MWSS Chairman Ramon Alkipala dismissed accusations that the allowances of the agency’s board members were “excessive.” According to him, it is only a smear campaign in reaction to the reforms instituted by the board, including the slashing of employee benefits. -Rappler.com

SC: Brion’s total networth is P60-M, not P1.4-M

SC: Brion’s total networth is P60-M, not P1.4-M

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court clarified on Saturday, September 1, that the P1.49 million wealth that Justice Arturo Brion recently declared is only for the year 2011, but his accumulated wealth through the years is P59.54 million.

The SC issued a statement following reports that Brion’s total net worth — a measure of his accumulated wealth — is only P1.49 million, as declared in his 2011 statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

The High Court explained that Brion’s reported net worth does not reflect the total since the SALN is “an annual declaration of assets, liabilities and net worth.”

It stressed that this did not reflect how much wealth he has accumulated through the years since the SALN “is not a declaration of his total assets, liabilities and net worth.”

The SC added that Brion’s total net worth could be computed by adding his 2011 declaration to his 2010 SALN, which is the baseline declaration under the SALN manual.

The SALN manual states that the baseline declaration should be accomplished only once and is a “comprehensive listing of the declarant’s assets, liabilities, net worth, Business Interests, Financial Connections, and Relatives in Government.”

Brion declared a net worth of P58,046,166 in his 2010 SALN. This SALN was not made public, however. It was only in 2012 when the 14 SC justices – including newly-appointed Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno – made their SALN public.

On August 29, the SC released their 2011 SALN to Solar News, the first media organization to submit requirements for the request of the justices’ SALN, according to the Court.

The list below shows the total and accumulated wealth as of 2011 that the rest of the SC justices declared:

• Sereno – P18,029,575
• Justice Mariano del Castillo – P108, 904, 519
• Justice Antonio Carpio – P79,895, 025
• Justice Bienvenido Reyes – P75,146,199
• Justice Estela Perlas Bernabe – P67,101,327
• Justice Roberto Abad – P42,100,000
• Justice Jose Mendoza – P27,408,152
• Justice Diosdado Peralta – P22,642,264
• Justice Martin Villarama – P19,074,165
• Justice Lucas Bersamin – P18,811,447
• Justice Jose Perez – P9,380,000
• Justice Teresita De Castro – P7, 941,000
• Justice Presbitero Velasco – P7, 264, 064

Sereno’s office issued her SALN separately to the public on August 30.

The demand for justices to be more transparent has increased following the removal of chief justice Renato Corona from his post on May 29 after he failed to disclose P183 million in his peso and dollar bank deposits in his SALN. – Rappler.com

Roxas: I have big ‘tsinelas’ to fill

BIG TSINELAS. Secretary Roxas pays tribute to his predecessor in the DILG, the late Secretary Jesse Robredo. Photo by Malacañang Photo Bureau

MANILA, Philippines – “I have big shoes or big tsinelas (slippers)to fill.”

Newly appointed Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Mar Roxas paid tribute to his friend, the late Secretary Jesse Robredo as he accepted his appointment as DILG chief.

In a press conference in Malacañang on Friday, August 31, Roxas thanked President Benigno Aquino III for choosing him to succeed Robredo. He admitted that his new post will not be easy, with Robredo’s legacy looming over him.

During Robredo’s wake, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras praised Robredo for “tsinelas leadership,” a literal and figurative reference to Robredo’s leadership that reaches out to ordinary people.

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Jun Abaya: ‘A good soldier’

Newly appointed Transportation and Communication Secretary Joseph Emilio “Jun” Abaya

MANILA, Philippines – Above all, newly appointed Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio “Jun” Abaya is used to getting orders, a good soldier.

At 46, he’s one of the youngest Cabinet Secretaries in the Aquino administration. He spent 16 years in the Philippine Navy, took an early retirement in 2003 to run for representative of Cavite’s 1st district in the 2004 elections, studied law, and then passed the bar in 2007.

A graduate of the United States Naval Academy (USNA), Abaya’s training is to follow orders. Told that President Benigno Aquino III was looking for him on Thursday, August 30, Abaya called the President who then informed him about his appointment. Abaya accepted.

A few days earlier, when rumors floated that he was being eyed to replace the late Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo, Abaya told reporters he would follow orders. “I am a good soldier,” he said.

When he received feelers that he would be appointed energy chief, Abaya was also open to it. “Of course, there were some discussions [before my appointment]. The post in the Department of Energy was also there. Whatever the President says, I will adjust. I’ll accept his decision on who is best for what,” Abaya told Rappler.

We earlier reported about the President’s plan to transfer Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras to Malacañang either as Presidential Management Staff head or chief of staff. But the President has yet to find a suitable replacement for him.

 

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Corona cries persecution

DISTRACTION. Corona said that’s what the filing of tax evasion charges against him is – a distraction from the government’s problems.

MANILA, Philippines – Dismissed chief justice Renato Corona said on Thursday, August 30, that he and his family had expected that tax evasion charges would be filed against them by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, but decried that his family’s persecution continues with the “usual media overkill.”

Corona, his daughter Ma. Carla Beatriz C. Castillo, and son in law, Constantino T. Castillo III were charged with tax evasion by the BIR on August 30. Corona allegedly had a deficiency income tax liability of P120 million, while that of Carla amounted to P9 million. Constantino Castillo, meanwhile, had a declared income of P1.93 million from 2005-2009, but he bought a property for P10.5 million in 2003 even with no reported income then, according to the BIR.

The filing of the charges came 3 months after Corona was removed from his post by the impeachment court for failing to declare P183 million in peso and dollar bank deposits in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALN).

BIR commissioner Kim Henares said that as early as February, however, they were already investigating Corona for alleged discrepancies in his SALN and income tax returns. She said the BIR sent him a letter of authority in April indicating that they were being investigated, but got no response.

On August 30, Henares said that based on the alpha list submitted by the Supreme Court for the years 2003-2010, Corona only had a declared income of P26.45 million, but his true worth at the time was P161.15 million.

In a text message to reporters, Corona said that with the filing of the charges, “there appears to be an immediate need to divert public attention from certain issues that are becoming too hot to handle.”

Henares denied this, saying the BIR is not a “political office.” “We are a law enforcement office and it is our mandate to make sure people follow the National Internal Revenue Code,” she said.

Corona believes his family will overcome this and claimed they are ready to face the charges. “As a man of law, I will abide by the process.” – Rappler.com

Remember Corona’s bank waiver? He revoked it

DRAMATIC WAIVER. Then Chief Justice Renato Corona submits an unconditional waiver to the impeachment court. File photo by Senate pool

MANILA, Philippines – It was one of the most dramatic moments of the impeachment trial. Then Chief Justice Renato Corona signed a waiver on his bank documents, allowing government agencies to look into his bank accounts.

It turns out Corona soon revoked the waiver after he was removed from office on May 29, Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares told a press conference on Thursday, August 30, announcing tax evasion charges against Corona, his daughter and son in law.

Henares said the BIR discovered this after it asked the Banco De Oro for bank records of Corona “approximately one or two months ago.”

“Their legal wrote us and said the lawyer of Chief Justice Corona said that CJ Corona is revoking the waiver. So we were questioning that because the waiver was executed by the Chief Justice and therefore the only one who can revoke it is the Chief Justice. That is our argument with Banco De Oro. However, Banco De Oro brought us to court, asking the court whether they can legally give us the certification,” said Henares.

Henares added, “Based on my last information, it seems the Chief Justice was asked to comment and he confirmed that he is revoking the waiver he executed.”

The BIR chief said the issue with Banco De Oro is now a subject of a case at a Regional Trial Court in Makati.

Corona’s lawyer during the impeachment trial, Judd Roy, said he does not know about the issue.

“I don’t know what he did. Just like his walk out, I was not informed of his actions regarding the waiver,” said Roy.

Source: Rappler

SC justices release SALN

MANILA, Philippines – For the first time in more than 20 years, Supreme Court justices released their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) to the public.

All 14 justices – including newly-appointed Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno – gave copies of their 2011 SALN to SolarNews on August 29, three months after former Chief Justice Renato Corona was removed from his post on May 20 for failing to disclose P183 million in peso and dollar bank deposits

Below is the extent of the justices’ wealth:

1. Sereno – P18,029,575

2. Justice Mariano del Castillo – P108, 904, 519

3. Justice Antonio Carpio – P79,895, 025

4. Justice Bienvenido Reyes – 75,146,199

5. Justice Estela Perlas Bernabe – 67,101,327

6. Justice Roberto Abad – P42,100,000

7. Justice Jose Mendoza – P27,408,152

8. Justice Diosdado Peralta – P22,642,264

9. Justice Martin Villarama – P19,074,165

10. Justice Lucas Bersamin – P18,811,447

11. Justice Jose Perez – P9,380,000

12. Justice Teresita De Castro – P7, 941,000

13. Justice Presbitero Velasco – P7, 264, 064

Rappler.com