ECONOMIC CRIME EXPERT TO SPEAK AT GOPAC ANTI-CORRUPTION SUMMIT

MANILA, September 27, 2012-Dimitri Vlassis, Chief of the Corruption and Economic Crime Section Division for Treaty Affairs in the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODOC) will visit Manila for the 5th Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) Conference hosted by the Southeast Asian Parliamentarians Against Corruption (SEAPAC) and the Philippine Senate. The conference will be held at PICC from January 30 to February 2, 2013. 

In Mr. Vlassis's paper on Transnational Organized Crime, he says that there is a clear connection between corruption, money laundering, and organized crimes. He explains, "Money laundering is a vital component of all forms of organized crime. The infiltration of legal financial markets and the attempts of organized crime to control sectors of national economies through the laundering of its illicit proceeds continue to represent grave threats to the international community and to both national and international financial systems." The problem of corruption is a globalized one, and the response should be at both the local and global level. 

GOPAC, the only anti-corruption organization composed of parliamentarians, has a Global Task Force (GTF) specific to Anti-Money Laundering. This Anti-Money Laundering Global Task Force (GTF-AML) works with anti-money laundering experts and organizations such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), UNODOC, Interpol, the Egmont Group and Transparency International. It conducts workshops for member-lawmakers to help them advance better legislation against money laundering and other corruption-related offenses. 

In the Philippines, President Aquino ratified two laws last June as part of the administration's anti-corruption thrust namely the measure strengthening the Anti-Money Laundering Law and the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012. These laws will help the country comply with the international standard set by the FATF of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).  

"Money laundering vs. Bank Secrecy Laws" is expected to be one of the hot topics at the GOPAC Conference. The conference is expected to attract over 200 parliamentarians and 300 observers from over 46 countries.

For more information, please visit www.gopacmanila2013.com. 

KIKO ON LP FORGING PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER PARTIES: OK AS LONG AS IT'S CLEAR PNOY CALLS THE SHOTS

MANILA, September 27, 2012-Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan says that political parties looking to coalesce with the Liberal Party are welcome, as long as they know who's in charge.

“For as long as it is understood that they, too, will support the anti-corruption and anti-poverty agenda of the President, then they have a seat in the table. Having said this, it should also be very clear to our coalition partners that it is President Aquino who sits at the head of the table and it is his reform agenda that is to be pursued. The moment any of our allies become stumbling blocks to reforms then it would be time to part ways.”

Pangilinan continues, “Nelson Mandela once said that in a democracy we need to learn to work with people we dislike, in reference to those who in the past supported apartheid. For as long as we are all clear that it is the President who calls the shots, then it is incumbent upon the LP to build the broadest unity possible among various political forces willing to lend their support to the President's reform agenda.”

Constitutional agencies pass Senate budget hearing, except Comelec, says Drilon

MANILA, September 27, 2012-All agencies that belong to Constitutional and Fiscal Autonomy Group (CFAG) successfully sailed through Senate Committee on Finance budget hearing, except for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) whose budget is still yet to be approved.

The said Senate panel approved recently the 2013 proposed expenditures of three CFAG agencies: the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) which has an allocation of P1.72 billion under the proposed P2.006-trillion national budget; the Commission on Audit, P8.1 billion; and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) with P932.59 million, said its chairman Senator Franklin M. Drilon.

“The Ombudsman budget is 26.94 percent higher than its 2012 outlay of P1.35 billion, and a bulk of which, P1.39 billion, is for personal services to hire more lawyers to speed up disposition of cases,” said Drilon.

“There are currently 11,000 criminal and administrative cases pending before the Ombudsman requiring swift and determined action. Hence, to ensure speedy disposition of these cases now swamping the anti-graft agency, the Office has embarked on the recruitment of 100 qualified and competent lawyers to beef up its present staffing complement,” Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales told Drilon during the hearing.

The COA budget, on the other hand, is 15.72 percent higher than its current allocation amounting P7.0 billion; whereas, the CSC budget is P160.9 million bigger from its 2012 budget of P771.68 million, explained Drilon.

The Comelec, meanwhile, failed to have its budget amounting P8.42 billion approved even after three hearings already conducted by the committee.

“I am hoping that in the fourth hearing of the Comelec budget, the inquiries and concerns of Senator Allan Peter Cayetano will finally be addressed by Chariman Sixto Brillantes Jr.,” Drilon said.   

9 dead, 9 injured in 3 vehicle smash-up in NE

SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija, September 26, 2012–Nine persons, including all three drivers and a couple, died whole nine others were injured when a tanker collided with two other vehicles along the national highway in an ill-fated vehicular accident in this city early this morning.

          Police identified the fatalities as Leoncio Pajarillo, 39, and his wife Evangeline Pajarillo, 41, both of Villa Javier, Bantug, Munoz; Donatella Aquino of Maguinling, Piat, Cagayan; Sylvino Marzo of Banitbet, Bagabag, Nueva Viscaya; Ryan  Camaging of 186 Roosevelt, Quezon City;Marife Cale Bondoc, of Tamza, Cavite; and three other unidentified female passengers.  

They were all brought to the Muñoz Funeral Parlor for autopsy.

Injured were Rolando Cotanes, of Maguinling, Piat, Cagayan; Maria Rowena Dacanay of Pugoncino, Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya; Arthur Antonio Solinas, 45, of Sta Maria, Nueva Vizcaya; Juan Lima Taguilan, 70, of Enrile;   Araceli Medina; Jone Audalang; Arthur Calinas of Sta Maria, Isabela; Elvino Bajinang of Juan Cagayan and Alama Sansano of Bayombong, Nueva Viscaya.

They were brought to hospitals in San Jose City, Munoz and in Cabanatuan for treatment.          

The accident took place at around 2:30 am yesterday along the Maharlika Highway at Purok Curva, Barangay Bantug here when the three vehicles : a Honda motorcycle, an Isuzu truck gasoline tanker and a Victory Liner bus collided with each other.

Initial police investigation said that the bus, with license plate CWR-195 and driven by Camaging was travelling to Cabanatuan City when it lost control and hit the motorcycle from behind. The motorcycle, with license plate YZ-5358 and driven by Pajarillo fell by its side.

When Camaging turned the bus’ steering wheel to its left, it collided with the gas tanker (license plate CWR-195)  driven by Marzo head-on.

The impact of the collision rendered the two vehicles a total wreck.

          Others who sustained only minor injuries or were completely unhurt went on with their travel to their destination.

DENR exec in NE sacked for “unauthorized’”release of typhoon-uprooted trees to furniture shop

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, September 26, 2012–A community environment and natural resources officer (CENRO) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has been relieved from his post Monday for allegedly illegally releasing 92 pieces of felled trees uprooted by two typhoons to a furniture shop and sash factory without prior authorization from higher authorities.

          Relieved in Special Order 299 issued by DENR regional executive director for Central Luzon Maximo Dichoso was Joselito Blanco, CENRO of the DENR-Cabanatuan.

          Blanco was placed on floating status at the DENR regional office in Barangay Maimpis, City of San Fernando in Pampanga. He was replaced by CENRO-Talavera Samuel Danganan whose post was taken over by Juan Fernandez Jr.    

          Blanco’s relief arose after Dichoso issued him a show-cause memorandum last August 30 ordering him to explain why he should not be charged administratively and criminally for disposing of the uprooted trees felled at the height of typhoons “Pedring” and “Quiel.”

          Dichoso said Blanco illegally disposed of the trees, with a volume of 167 cubic meters at South Salabuyo, Barangay Bugnan, Gabaldon town by entering into an unauthorized memorandum of agreement (MOA) with AVV Furniture Shop and Sash Factory (FSSF).

          The agreement was supposedly for the purpose of retrieval and disposition of the trees.

          Dicho, in his memorandum, told Blanco that the latter failed to conduct a prior inventory of the trees, did not submit a report thereof and did not seek clearance for its disposition from higher authority.

          “These acts and omissions may constitute gross neglect of duty, grave misconduct, dishonesty and act grossly prejudicial to the interest of the service, contrary to the existing laws, rules and regulations.

          Blanco, in his notarized sworn affidavit submitted to Dichoso denied the allegations against him. He pointed out that the agreement he entered into with AVVFSSF was not a MOA but a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and this was executed on May 8, not May 18 as reported.

          He said that contrary to claims he failed to conduct an inventory, he had rendered an inventory report of the uprooted trees.

          On claims that he did not seek clearance for the disposition of the trees from higher authorities, he said he personally consulted Dichoso’s predecessor Ricardo Calderon regarding the retrieval of the trees.

          He said he informed Calderon that the uprooted and damaged trees pose a “great risk” as it could accumulate and clog the narrow waterways in the area.

          Blanco denied his supposed acts and omissions, adding these could not have constituted gross neglect of duty, grave misconduct, dishonesty and act grossly prejudicial to the interest of the service since he exerted “all my earnest effort to uphold my duties and obligation.”

          He pleaded with Dichoso that if his acts may have been overlooked, these should be considered which he said, he believed he did in good faith and in accordance with the interest of the public at large.

          Blanco said the trees were put to good use because they were utilized as construction materials for school buildings, classroom and school armchairs in the town of Gabaldon, benefitting the community, including schoolchildren.

          “My initiative is also in response with the policy of DENR Secretary Ramon Paje to provide assistance to the Deped (Department of Education) for the improvement of their school facilities,” he said in his affidavit.

          But Dichoso was far from convinced. He said Blanco failed to satisfactorily explain what authority he had in disposing the trees.

He said Blanco was also being linked to illegal logging operations in his jurisdiction. (Manny Galvez)      

             

ARMM in dilemma over P2.15 billion unpaid premiums, loan amortizations, says Drilon

MANILA, September 26, 2012-The current administration of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is in a quandary regarding the payment of unpaid and unremitted contributions and loan amortizations to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) to the tune of P2.15 billion, said Senator Franklin M. Drilon.

Of the amount, Drilon said, only P907.06 million corresponds to unpaid shares in premium and loan amortizations, while a bigger portion of P1.24 billion refers to interests that accrued over the years due to the non-and late payments.

“This is a ghost of the past that continues to haunt us. This is a manifestation of how the past administration and the past leaders of ARMM remissed in their obligations to the public,” said Drilon who also chairs the Senate Committee on Finance that reviews the country’s proposed expenditures.      

“The interests would continue to balloon if the problem is not settled at the soonest time. The interests would accumulate to a point that it has already surpassed the principal amount like where it is now, and to a point where the government budget will only go to the payment of interest rates,” said Drilon.

Drilon vowed to look into the problem which he described as “a source of disappointment and burden for teachers and retired personnel of the Department of Education in the ARMM.”

"This sorry scenario continues to frustrate our teachers in the ARMM because they could not avail of their GSIS and Pag-IBIG benefits like housing and salary loans due to the discrepancies in the premiums," stressed Drilon.

Drilon said that based on the document submitted to him by ARMM Governor Mujiv S. Hataman, the discrepancies in the contributions to the GSIS started in 1997. A memorandum of agreement was entered into in 2004 in a bid to settle the dispute.

However, it is only in 2006 that the Congress was able to appropriate P250 million for the payment of unpaid contributions, but only P127 million was released by the Department of Budget and Management and which the GSIS applied to both the principal and the interest, explained Drilon.    

He also said that there appears to be a misunderstanding between the DepEd-ARMM and the DBM and the GSIS insofar as the payment of interest rates is concerned.

Of the P2.15 billion, Drilon said, P877.25 million and P213.15 million refer to unremitted contribution to the GSIS for the period 1997 to 2003 and 2004, respectively.

Another P877.24 million corresponds to unremitted loan deductions for 17 months within 2001 to 2004. Also, P243.83 million is for the unremitted contributions and loan amortizations to the Pag-IBIG Fund. 

The DepEd-ARMM owes the Philippine Public School Teachers Association (PPSTA) an amount of P31.93 million which corresponds to the unremitted loan payments for the period of April 2003 to September 2005, noted Drilon.

Lastly, P160.39 million is being charged by the GSIS for delayed payments.

“The situation merits an investigation. It has to be settled before a similar case blows up in our face,” said Drilon.

Hataman, meanwhile, has vowed to go after the officials responsible for the mess.

This has resulted in demoralization among teachers in the ARMM. According to ARMM-DepEd Secretary Jamar M. Kulayan, “they received less than the amount actually due them for retirement because their creditable service was reduced corresponding to the actual number of their unremitted contributions and are receiving lesser monthly retirement benefits.” 

 Summary of unremitted contributions and amortizations of DepEd-ARMM

Item	Period Covered	Principal	Interest	Total (P)
Unremitted contributions to the GSIS	1997 to  2003	384,793,448	237,829,920	622,623,368
Unremitted loan deduction	2001 to 2004	309,854,512	567,394,099	877,248,612
Unremitted contributions to the GSIS	2004	64,712,281	148,438,613	213,150,894
Penalty for delayed payments	2003 to 2011	-	160,391,189	160,391,189
Unpaid Pag-Ibig contributions and amortizations	2001 to 2006	115,765,260	128,066,679	243,831,939
PPSTA	2003 to 2005	31,932,132	-	31,932,132
Total		907,057,633	1,242,120,500	2,149,178,133

  

KIKO SEEKS TO FAST TRACK MODERNIZATION OF PHL AGRICULTURE

MANILA, September 25, 2012-Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan today underscores the need to set into motion plans that would boost the modernization of the agricultural and fisheries sector in the country, saying that doing so would solve the nation's unemployment, poverty, and food security issues.

"There is very compelling evidence that the agriculture and fisheries sectors can be robust springboards upon which nations may be able to lift themselves out of poverty and move towards progress and prosperity. Vietnam has done it, as did China and Thailand. The Philippines should take its cue from its neighbors and put into practice what has proven to be effective formulas for success."

In a public hearing on bills promoting agriculture and fisheries mechanization, Pangilinan says that the country is in an enviable position to become the next booming economy in Asia.

"We are in the midst of a transition wherein the business climate and social structures are improving. This atmosphere must be supported by plans for long-term, sustainable economic structures that would ensure continuous progress. Agricultural mechanization will help immensely our efforts at becoming food self-sufficient."

Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, laments the fact that the Philippines is currently languishing at the bottom list of rice producing countries in Asia in terms of agricultural mechanization, barely edging out Myanmar, which is the least mechanized in the region.

"The country only has 12,000 agricultural tractors. Compare that to Japan, who is the most mechanized country in Asia and has 2 million tractors. This is a very wide gap. The data is glaring and we need to address this issue immediately."

Pangilinan stands firm in his belief that agriculture is a key sector that could boost further the country's economy. He adds that agricultural mechanization will bring in more jobs in the sector, and increase profits for farmers.

"It is laudable that we have an anti-corruption advocate as President, as well as a very hardworking Agriculture Secretary in Proceso Alcala. These are the reasons why prioritizing the agriculture and fisheries sector could benefit us now. The timing could not have been more perfect, more ripe. If we are able to up the incomes of our farmers, and make agriculture and fisheries a highly profitable venture for them, then the country would be able to fulfill its goal of becoming a developed nation. But every effort must be geared towards uplifting the lives of our farmers and fisherfolk."

Legarda: Thousands of Filipino Seafarers to Benefit from Maritime Labour Convention, 2006

MANILA, September 25, 2012-In light of the celebration of Maritime Week, Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, today stressed on the importance of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 to the thousands of Filipinos seafarers who all seek for better protection and improved working conditions. 

“As we celebrate Maritime Week, we must all work to ensure that the rights of all seafarers are upheld, and that they are respected and recognized as vital components of the world economy. We must begin working towards full implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006,” Legarda said.

“Thirty percent (30%) of all the personnel manning ships worldwide are Filipino seafarers. In 2011 alone, the Philippines deployed 343,587 seafarers, making 1 out of every 5 seafarers in the world a Filipino. There is an urgent need for governments to effectively enforce its regulatory role in ensuring safer and secure shipping, in preventing marine pollution, and in ensuring decent work for seafarers,” she explained.

The Philippine Senate concurred in the ratification of MLC, 2006 on August 12, 2012. The Philippines became the pivotal 30^th member state to do so, as MLC, 2006 will enter into force one year after it has been ratified by 30 countries with a minimum of 33% of world tonnage.

“The unfair conditions of seafarers including exploitation, excessive working hours, ill-treatment, contract substitution and underpayment of wages and other benefits will be abolished through this Convention. We must give them the just treatment that they deserve, underscoring their sacrifices and contributions to the global economy,” Legarda remarked.

MLC, 2006, dubbed as the seafarer’s Bill of Rights, establishes the right to a safe and secure workplace that complies with safety standards; right to fair terms of employment; right to decent working and living conditions on board ship; and right to health protection, medical care, welfare measures and other forms of social protection.

It also covers more basic rights such as freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining; the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labor; the effective abolition of child labor; and the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

Senate panel Oks DPWH P165-B outlay for 2013

MANILA, September 25, 2012-The Senate Finance Committee approved on Monday and will submit for plenary deliberations the proposed 2013 budget of the Department of Social Public Works and Highways (DPWH) amounting P165.57 billion, 32 percent bigger than its current budget of P125.74 billion, said its chairman Senator Franklin M. Drilon.

Primarily, the 2013 expenditures program of the DPWH, said Drilon, will support the rehabilitation and pavement of all 31,242 national and secondary roads which the government targets to be finished by 2014 and 2016, respectively; as well as the construction and rehabilitation of bridges in the country.

“For 2013, a huge amount of P130.64 billion is allotted to pave and rehabilitate all roads and bridges nationwide which is a commitment by the Aquino administration to improve our infrastructure to attract local and foreign investors,” said Drilon.

Of the amount, P12 billion is also earmarked for the construction and widening of 623.8 kilometers access roads to declared and strategic tourist destinations.

“The efforts being undertaken by the Department of Tourism to promote the ‘it is more fun in the Philippines’ campaign must be complemented by the DPWH by way of improving our access roads to different tourist destinations from North to South of the country,” said Drilon. 

Drilon also said that a substantial amount of P18.22 billion will go for the implementation of various flood control projects throughout the country which basically include the construction and rehabilitation of flood control projects such as dikes, seawall, slope protection and creeks within 20 major river basins and 376 principal river basins.

“We need to intensify these flood control projects to mitigate flooding in low-lying areas, and to provide safety to motorists and commuters,” said Drilon.

“Dito lang sa Kamaynilaan, umihi lang ang palaka, nagbabaha na kaagad. Marami sa mga kababayan natin ang naaabala nang husto at na-i-stranded sa gitna ng baha. Marami rin sa mga klase ang nasususpinde dahil sa mabilis na pagbaha,” said Drilon. 

All these, he added, hopefully will be firmly addressed with the huge budget the government allocated for our main infrastructure agency.

Drilon also stressed that a good portion of the funding for all DPWH projects will come from locally-generated funds amounting P124.86 billion, and only P15.73 billion will be sourced from foreign-assisted projects.