EXPLANATION OF SENATOR EDGARDO J. ANGARA'S "YES" VOTE TO THE RH BILL

I vote “YES” to enacting the RH bill into law. It’s an affirmation of our basic human rights, especially the rights of women, and the right to reproductive health.

At the moment, we have to respond to the challenges that threaten our country:

1,000 women continue to die yearly during pregnancy and childbirth;

about 150,000 children are born from teenage mothers every year;

women who cannot support their children put them into orphanages or labor work;

we have almost 2 million orphans from 0 to 17 years of age, and about 4 million child laborers ages 5 to 17;

about 9,000 Filipinos are afflicted with HIV/AIDS;

and, at 100 million, we’re the 12th most populous country in the world.

These numbers will continue to rise, if not for the enactment of the RH bill. The RH bill’s provisions on family planning information and services, emergency obstetric care, and reproductive health education intend to respond to these challenges.

We have to consider that maternal deaths due to pregnancy and childbirth are unique to women alone. Without family planning, women will continue to bear children. As they do so, they continue to be exposed to the risk of life-threatening complications. And so, they will need to have access to obstetric services. Failure to provide such services Mr. President, constitutes discrimination against women, because it is only women who face this risk of dying, once pregnant.

On top of these, the United Nations General Assembly ratified the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1979 to address these very issues. The CEDAW was agreed upon by 177 states, including the Philippines. CEDAW mandates that states should provide services that prevent maternal deaths and provide family planning information and services, among others. It has been more than 30 years since that agreement, and yet we haven’t done anything about these issues.

Today I do not just speak as a long-time advocate of public health legislation, and the principal author of PHILHEALTH Law and the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers. Today I speak as both a lawyer and a lawmaker. 

I acknowledge the grave concerns of my fellow Roman Catholics and our leaders in the clergy. I do not see anything in the RH law that forget the moral dimensions of sexual relations, which undermine the Filipino family.

In the first place, the RH bill does not legalize abortion. Second, unwanted pregnancies are the leading cause of half a million abortions yearly. Third, the RH bill does not impose any family planning method, but leaves the Filipino couple free to choose whichever method they want. Finally, to withdraw from enacting the RH bill because one church opposes it is inconsistent with our constitution of the separation of the church and state. We have to consider that not all Filipinos are Catholics. While Catholics comprise 70 percent of our population, we also have Muslims, Protestants, Buddhists, non-believers, and others. Regardless of religion, it is the right of the state to enact the bill for the best interest of our nation, especially for our mothers, our wives, and our sisters and daughters.

Mr. President, today I vote as a Filipino, a lawyer, a public health advocate, a husband, father, and grandfather. I vote YES to the RH bill. May God bless our people.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Suspected NPA rebs burn heavy equipment in NE

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, December 17, 2012-Four heavily armed suspected New People’s army rebels stormed the compound of a construction company in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija and burned heavy equipment Saturday night allegedly over “broken promises” of revolutionary taxes.

          Senior Superintendent Walter Castillejos, provincial police director, said the rebels, including an amazon, entered the premises of the field office of the Northern Builders Co. at Sitio Maligaya, Barangay Putlan, Carranglan at around 8:30 pm Saturday and accosted timekeeper Willy Layug.

          The unidentified woman rebel then asked Layug what happened to an earlier letter given by their group to the firm’s engineer Riza Organista.

          When Layug could not provide an answer, the woman got angry and told Layug “Ang Northern Builders ay hindi tumutupad sa usapan (Northern Builders does not honor an agreement).”

Afterwards, the woman and her companions poured gasoline on the firm’s two transit mixers and set them on fire which lasted for 10 minutes.  

          The rebels then walked away casually. (Manny Galvez)

Fugitive ex-Ecija mayor hiding in Metro condo?

GAPAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, December 17, 2012-A former three-term mayor of this city who has gone into hiding since last February after a warrant for his arrest was issued by a Manila court  in connection with the raid of a cockpit arena here six years ago, may be somewhere in the metropolitan area.

          This was disclosed by the family of Cristina Pascual whose sons Erickson and Ebertson were killed in the cockpit attack.

          Emerson Pascual, brother of the two Pascuals, told reporters that they have received information that former mayor Ernesto Natividad, the alleged brains in the killing of Erickson and Ebertson, is hiding at an undisclosed condominium in the metropolis.

          “He’s just in Manila based on a highly reliable information we received,” Emerson said of the fugitive ex-mayor.

          Natividad, his late brother Romeo, Ricardo Peralta  and 16 others were placed on a hold-departure order by the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) last February on orders of Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 8 Judge Felixberto Olalia Jr.

          The Pascual family has raised a P1 million reward each for the arrest of ex-mayor Natividad and Peralta.  

          Natividad was mayor of this city for three terms from 2001 to 2010. In May 2010, he fielded his wife Baby to succeed him but she lost to his former ally, incumbent Mayor Christian Tinio by landslide.  

          Others in the HDO were civilians Rommel Baying, Jenny Canlas, Jonathan Cartujano, Dalia Cruz, Romeo Dacles, Jovert Dumlao, Frangilico Gerona, Randy Gerona, Elly Macariola,Dennis Matias, Crisanto Mateo, Sienna Quiambao, Cristina Gerardo Peratel, Lloyd Perez, Randy Puno and Lorenzo Rueda.

          Romeo died while in hiding while Dacles was caught in Muntinlupa two months ago.

          Last January 25, the court issued a warrant for the arrest of Natividad and the others in connection with the murder cases filed against them over the killing of the Pascual brothers inside the Gapan cockpit arena owned by the Pascuals in 2006. The siblings are scions of Rodrigo “Boy” Pascual, a bitter political rival of Natividad.

The elder Pascual challenged Natividad but lost in the 2007 polls. One of Natividad’s daughters is challenging the reelection bid of reelectionist Mayor Tinio in the 2013 polls. 

The Department of Justice initially ordered the filing of murder charges against the suspects in 2009 and forwarded these to the Office of the Ombudsman for review.

On February 10, 2009, the Office of the Ombudsman affirmed the DOJ ruling. But when the two Natividads and Peralta filed a motion for reconsideration, then Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez reversed her ruling on April 8,2009, excluding the three from the charge sheet.

Mrs. Pascual appealed the Ombudsman ruling.  

On November 25, 2011, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales found probable cause and ordered the filing of murder charges against the two Natividads and Peralta, in effect reversing a 2009 ruling of her predecessor Gutierrez and granting the  motion for reconsideration of  Mrs. Pascual.

          The latest Ombudsman ruling said the DOJ ruling should have been affirmed outright because the three filed their motions for reconsideration way too late, thus rendering as final and executory the Ombudsman’s February 10 ruling affirming the DOJ’s findings.

          The murder cases were eventually transferred to the sala of Manila RTC Branch 10 Judge Virgilio Alameda who last September 17 also found probable cause against Natividad and Peralta based on the records of the preliminary investigation and affirmed the findings of both the Office of the Ombudsman and the DOJ. (Manny Galvez)  

Legarda Expresses Concern Over Lack of Consensus in Doha Climate Talks

MANILA, December 17, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda expressed deep concern over the lack of concrete result in the 18th Session of the Conference of Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Doha, Qatar as some industrialized countries refused to participate to a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty that legally binds developed nations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

“We are saddened by the fact that many developed nations were reluctant to deeply cut their greenhouse gas emissions and set new aid targets in light of their own financial difficulties, even as global temperature rises. The World Bank has already warned that we are nearing a crisis—that of a 4 Degrees Celsius global temperature—which if not responded to proactively, will continue to endanger the survival of this and the next generations,” she said.

Legarda, the UN Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, noted that the Doha Climate Talks, which was held from November 26 to December 8, 2012, left many disappointed because of the lack of commitment to address the threats of climate change even as a lot of nations, even those who refuse to commit to the climate agreements, are already experiencing the threats of extreme weather events.

“We have just recently experienced the results of the international community's continued lack of meaningful action to mitigate the impacts of climate change.  Nearly a thousand lives have been lost, and hundreds are missing.  Industrialized countries, like the United States, have had their share of losses resulting from climate-induced disasters.  And yet, when countries are given a chance to collectively agree on measures to correct the situation, nothing is done,” Legarda said.

“No nation is safe from climate change unless we do something now. The feared 4-degree Celsius rise in global temperature is likely to happen if nations do not commit to meaningful reduction levels of greenhouse gas emissions,” Legarda stressed.

The Senator cited the World Bank report in giving a fair warning that a 4-degree Celsius global temperature will cause sea level rise by up to 3 feet. It would also cause flooding in many coastal cities; dry regions are expected to become drier while wet regions will be wetter; there will be extreme heat waves, water scarcity, stronger tropical cyclones, and loss of biodiversity.

If global mean temperatures exceed 1.5 to 2.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, 30% of all species will face high risk of extinction. Moreover, a 2 to 4-degree Celsius rise in global temperature will also result in a 3% decline in global GDP.

“Even as the result of the Doha Climate Talks is far from being encouraging, there is no reason to stop or waver. We are still hopeful that we can gain, even outside of these conferences, the needed commitment to deep cuts in emissions and support for poor countries in coping with the impacts of climate change,” Legarda concluded.

Sundalong ABUSADO, bawal sa 7ID - Catapang

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija, December 16, 2012- Maaaring masibak sa serbisyo ng walang anumang benepisyo ang sinumang sundalo ng 7^th Infantry Division na magiging literal na abusado o lalabag sa acronym na ABUSADO (Alak, Babae, Utang, Sugal, Arogante, Droga, Others).

 

Sa State of the Division Address (SODA) noong Sabado ng kumander ng 7ID sa Palayan City na si BGen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr. sa harap ng mga mamamahayag ng Gitnang Luzon, ipinahayag nito na sa ngayon na  halos lahat ng nasasakupan ng 7ID ay insurgency free na at halos nakatutok na lamang ang kasundaluhan sa implementasyon ng programang Bayanihan, mahalaga aniya na maging maganda ang imahen ng mga kawal upang tuluyan ng matamo ang minimithing kapayapaan.

 

“This is what we call us people centered approached in “winning the peace” and this is one of our many contributions to the peace and development endeavors of the National Government,” sabi ni Catapang

 

Sinabi ni Catapang na ang mga sundalo ay maaaring maging bida o kontrabida sa isang lugar at mahalaga na maging bida ang dating ng mga ito saan man pumunta. “Kaya dapat ang sundalo ay hindi mahilig sa Alak o hindi lasenggero. Hindi rin dapat Babaero o kung binata man, dapat hindi niya paaasahin ang isang babae na kanyang papakasalan tapos iiwanan at dito maaari siyang makasuhan ng “breach of promise” na maaari niyang ikatanggal sa serbisyo.

 

Nagbabala rin ang Heneral sa mga sundalong may mga Utang na hindi binabayaran sa sandaling madistino sa ibang lugar at sa mga mahilig sa Sugal na nagiging dahilan para gumawa ng hindi maganda sa sandaling malulong dito.

 

Ang pagiging Arogante ay isinama rin ni Catapang sa kanyang ipinagbabawal na nakakasama diumano sa imahen ng mga sundalo at ang Droga na walang idinudulot na mabuti sa buhay ninuman.

 

Others ang huli sa ABUSADO ni Catapang na tumutukoy sa lahat ng mga illegal na gawain.

 

Ayon kay Catapang, dadaan sa due process ang anumang sumbong na na kanilang matatanggap at sa sandaling mapatunayan na lumabag ang isang sundalo ay agad itong tatanggalin sa serbisyo ng walang anumang benepisyo.

 

Sa pagbabawal sa abusado, dapat sabi ni Catapang na maging DISIPLINADO ang mga sundalo na ang ibig sabihin ay Discipline, Initiative, Service oriented, Intelligent, Progressive, Likable, Innovative, Nature-friendly, Agile, Dedicated at Others.

 

Maaaring isumbong sa kanilang kumander ang sinumang sundalo na magiging abusado ani Catapang at kung hhindi kuntento sa aksyon na ginawa ng kanilang pinuno ang nagrereklamo ay maaaring dumerekta sa mga 7ID o tumawag at magtext sa kanilanng hotline na 09424757903,09292478527 at 0906346675. (Ronald Madrid Leander)

Freedom of Information is a Must – Legarda

MANILA, December 15, 2012-After the Philippine Senate passed on second reading Senate Bill 3208, or the People’s Ownership of Government Information (POGI) Act of 2012, Senator Loren Legarda reiterated that freedom of information is a must, especially in matters concerning the government.

Legarda, co-sponsor of the measure, explained that the various controversies in the past decade have left Filipino citizens doubting the capability of the government to do its mandate of serving the best interest of the people.

“Under this proposed measure, we aim to feed our people with information about us, the leaders they elected into office, and the businesses our offices deal with. All government agencies will be mandated to disclose information on public interest transactions, documents or records,” she said.

The Senator also said that the compulsory disclosure shall be done by posting the aforementioned documents on government websites for easy access, aside from providing these documents upon a person's request. Furthermore, vital information will be translated into major Filipino languages and made easier to comprehend.

“While the present administration is undertaking efforts to elevate the citizens' trust and confidence in the government, we must give the people something that they can hold on to that would ensure that honesty, transparency and accountability will always be upheld,” Legarda concluded.

1,000 Aurora ecozone workers hold 120-km protest march; Apeco exec accuses foes of deceiving P-noy with ‘lies’

BALER, Aurora, December 14, 2012-Some 1,000 workers of the controversial Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (Apeco) today embarked on a 120-kilometer march from the ecozone’s site in Casiguran town to this capital town to dramatize their protests against a Church-backed group of 120 farmers who have opposed the project.

          The placard-bearing protesting workers - composed of farmers, fisherfolks and indigenous peoples - traveled through rough terrains and earth roads aboard 10 vehicles and ended their rain-drenched trip at the provincial Capitol grounds in Barangay Buhangin.

They said Apeco had alleviated their living conditions, contrary to allegations by anti-Apeco groups it will drive them out of their homes and keep them poor.

         

“Oportunidad para sa Mamamayan huwag ipagkait sa Casiguran, Apeco Suportahan (Opportunities for the People don’t deprive Casiguran, Support Apeco).” “Ang Karapatang Pangkaunlaran ay Karapatang Pantao (The Right to Development is a Human Right),” read some of the placards.

         

The pro-Apeco groups were led by Conchita Descarga, president of the Samahang Katutubong Dumagat sa Aurora, her sister Nora Gutierrez and Dumagat chieftains led by Joel “Katol” Guerra.

         

The protesters, accompanied by the media and ecozone staff members, were later joined by Apeco president and chief executive officer Malcolm Sarmiento Jr. and deputy administrator Kent Avestruz at the Capitol.    

         

The protest march came after President Aquino ordered last Tuesday an investigation into the operations of Apeco following a dialogue he held at the Ateneo de Manila University with 120 farmers who just finished a 18-day, 350-kilometer protest march from Casiguran to Manila. The oppositors demanded that the law creating Apeco be repealed and that its funding be scrapped.

         

Earlier, the Senate approved the P353-million allocation for 2013 for Apeco which was created through Republic Act 9490 authored by Sen. Edgardo Angara who hails from this town. The law was amended through RA 10083 sponsored by Angara’s son, Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo. It was not vetoed by President Aquino in 2010 and lapsed into law on that same year.

         

Among the issues raised by the oppositors of the project were the alleged non-consultation with affected residents, massive displacement and economic dislocation by banning fishing in the area. They said the development of the ecozone had encroached into their ancestral lands and led to the seizure of large tracts of prime agricultural lands.

         

Sarmiento told reporters that the anti-Apeco groups have been peddling lies to have the project stopped, going to the extent of “fooling and deceiving the President” with misinformation and black propaganda.

         

He said the alleged non-consultation of local residents is farthest from the truth since folks were consulted on the project as early as in the 1990s when the project was still being conceptualized.

         

“In every law passed by Congress, there is always a public hearing. The residents of Casiguran were consulted and heard when the bill on Apeco was being deliberated upon. Even President Aquino admitted he participated in the debates,” he said.

         

He said that in Casiguran, consultations were held as early as during the term of then-mayor Fidel Salamera in 1992.

         

Sarmiento said the issue of land-grabbing and displacement of Dumagats has no solid basis. He explained that the subject of these complaints, Parcel 1 involving 496 hectares and Parcel 2 covering 12,000 hectares is proof of this.

         

“In Parcel 1, there are no Dumagat settlements and this parcel is covered by tax declaration. No one was driven away. In the case of Parcel 2, these are where the Dumagats are and we have no development plans there. They are also not driven away,” he added.

         

Regarding accusations of land-grabbing, Sarmiento said Apeco has always adhered to the sanctity of private ownership.

Ben Mina, former provincial environment and natural resources officer, whose 22-hectare residential compound was purchased by Apeco, said that on the contrary, some individuals opposed to Apeco were the ones who grabbed lands, citing a certain Paz Ramos who fenced off a portion of the road inside the ecozone’s administration building.

“If there is anybody who can be accused of grabbing lands, it is them who are anti-Apeco like Ramos,” he said.

         

Sarmiento said still, Apeco avoided a confrontation with Ramos and did not resort to expropriation.

         

On the issue of a fishing ban, Sarmiento said Apeco does not have any such plan. “In fact, Apeco is putting up an ice plant for them so they can store their fishing products. We have no design to curtail their fishing rights,” said Sarmiento, a former director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

         

Regarding allegations Apeco is a white elephant and is a waste of taxpayers’ money as claimed by Sen. Sergio Osmena, Sarmiento said the ecozone is in fact generating unprecedented benefits to local people.

         

“In fact, we have employed a thousand people, half of whom in the construction sector,” he noted. He said another 160 jobs will be generated in a 10-hectare seaweeds project which will later be expanded to 100 hectares, the equivalent of 1,600 jobs.

         

“By 2014, we expect to generate 3,000 jobs so no taxpayers’ money will be wasted,” he said.      

         

“All they (critics) do and say is to tell lies. They are not telling the truth. They are going to prejudice the lives of these people who now are better off economically because of Apeco,” Sarmiento lamented.

         

Ely Pablo, a former employee of the Office of the Presidential Assistant on National Minorities and a resident of Barangay Calabgan, Casiguran said many of those who participated in the anti-Apeco march that ended last December 9, were non-residents of the town and were merely part of the “hakot crowd.”

Some of them, she said, were from Palanan, Isabela while others were from San Luis town in Aurora. (Manny Galvez) 

Use Geohazard Maps to Avoid Another Pablo - Legarda

MANILA, December 14, 2012-In light of the devastation wrought by Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) on Visayas and Mindanao last week, Senator Loren Legarda advocated a nationwide information campaign on geohazard maps.

"Based on the latest statistics released by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, 906 have died and 900 more remain missing, while we have incurred about P15 billion worth of damages due to Typhoon Pablo. These would have been avoided if our local government units and all our citizens had knowledge of geohazard maps," she said.

Legarda, UN Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, said that everyone must have knowledge of their geographical location, and whether they are at high risk or not.

During the briefing called by the Committee on Climate Change on the use and implementation of the geohazard maps, the Senator stressed that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources should not only distribute these maps, but also, and more importantly, educate LGUs on how to read the map and how it will help them in their disaster risk reduction and management efforts.

"Am I living on a landslide area? Am I living in a flood-prone area? Filipinos in every barangay in the country need to know this information far before any typhoon signals are raised. Coupled with early warning signals at least seven days before any typhoon arrives, we should be able to radically minimize the casualties," Legarda detailed.

  

"No mayor, barangay captain, or kagawad will put their constituents at risk by relocating them to danger zones. However, due to the lack of information, many have died because the relocation sites themselves are geohazard areas. We should plan our cities and municipalities accordingly," she remarked.

"Disasters should not happen before we begin to take action. We should arm our local government officials with the right tools to ensure that our nation is always prepared and resilient to disasters," Legarda concluded.

JINGGOY VISITS TYPHOON-RAVAGED COMPOSTELA VALLEY

MANILA, December 13, 2012-Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada visited last Saturday the municipality of New Bataan, Compostela Valley after the onslaught of superstorm “Pablo.”

 

Sen. Estrada, who took a quick sidetrip to a Compostela Valley after a speaking engagement in Cagayan de Oro City, also brought and distributed relief goods and supplies for thousands of affected families.

 

Sen. Estrada was the guest speaker during the 47^th Induction of Officers of the Orobankers Club, Inc. which is composed of commercial, thrift and rural banks from all over Cagayan de Oro City.

 

“Nakakalungkot ang nangyari sa mga kababayan natin sa Mindanao, partikular sa Compostela Valley. Napakalawak ng iniwang pinsala ng bagyong Pablo at sa tingin ko, mahabang panahon ang kanilang kakailanganin upang tuluyang makabangon sa delubyong ito,” Sen. Estrada laments, as he appeals to the private citizens and civic society to continue providing assistance and giving donations for the needy, especially during this Christmas holidays.

 

Compostela Valley is one of the worst-hit areas by typhoon “Pablo” (International name: “Bopha”). According to a December 12 update of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Compostela Valley recorded 309 casualties. The storm affected 234 barangays and more than 600,000 persons.

 

Typhoon “Pablo” also left an estimated two billion peso damage in roads, bridges and flood control structures.

 

Sen. Estrada, who handed out relief bags containing assorted canned goods, rice, drinking water, biscuits, milk, among others at a local sports grandstand, was joined by Gov. Arturo Uy and New Bataan Mayor Lorenzo Balbin, Jr.

JINGGOY VISITS COMPOSTELA VALLEY. Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada offers relief to the people of Compostela Valley as he visited the typhoon-ravaged province last Saturday afternoon. Sen. Estrada, who took a side trip to Compostela Valley after a speaking engagement in Cagayan de Oro City, brought with him a truck load of relief goods and supplies for the affected residents and families. Compostela Valley is one of the worst-hit areas by typhoon “Pablo” which has affected 234 barangays and more than 600,000 persons. Typhoon “Pablo” also left estimated 2.25 billion peso damage to agriculture and infrastructure.

Legarda Hails Signing into Law of AFP Modernization Act

MANILA, December 13, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda hailed the signing into law of the AFP Modernization Act, a measure that allocates at least P75 billion for the first five years of implementation of the AFP modernization program subject to the capacity of the Department of National Defense (DND).

“Tasked to be where the threats and dangers are, we cannot overemphasize the value of the arduous mission our soldiers have to undertake in order to protect the people and the State from lawless violence, invasion, rebellion, terrorist acts and other activities that might affect national security and bring harm to the independence of our nation. This is why they need our support,” she explained.

President Benigno Aquino III signed Republic Act 10349 on Tuesday. Legarda, an AFP reserve officer, co-sponsored the said measure, stating that the new security and defense environment has radically changed since the last AFP modernization law.

“The linchpin of our security is now in the waters where our energy, food and environmental security lie. Thus, capabilities and equipment of the AFP should be reinforced to reflect this need,” she said.

“Through the AFP Modernization Act, we are addressing the long-standing concerns of our soldiers who constantly put their lives on the line in the service of our nation. The passage of this Act is a commendable contribution to our national security,” Legarda concluded.

Legarda Hopes to Increase Awareness on Int'l Anti-Human Trafficking Day

MANILA, December 13, 2012-In light of December 12 being International Anti-Human Trafficking Day, Senator Loren Legarda hopes to increase awareness about the plight of human trafficking victims and efforts to combat human traffickers.

"Today, I wish to underscore the message that everyone must join in the effort to combat human trafficking and the related problems of the illegal sex trade, forced labor, and other forms of slavery. Human traffickers target the most vulnerable sectors of society – men, women, and children from marginalized communities are exploited every day, and this is the injustice that we must all act against," she said.

"By the end of 2011, the country's Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking reported 62 convictions out of a total of 1,519 cases filed between 2003 and 2011. From January to October of this year, however, 38 convictions were made, equivalent to more than half of the total convictions made over an 8-year period," she explained.

Legarda, author of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (RA 9208) and sponsor of the proposed Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (Senate Bill 2625), said that we are already making significant strides.

"The immediate enactment of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill, the bicameral report of which has already been ratified by the Senate, brings us closer to our goal of fighting trafficking effectively and I hope the President will sign the measure into law soon," the Senator noted.

"We acknowledge that the problem of human trafficking continues to hound our society, and this is precisely the reason why we need to strengthen our existing law and spread awareness about human trafficking. Let us be vigilant and in doing so, eliminate these injustices in our society," Legarda concluded.

On the DPRK Missile Launch

The Philippines strongly condemns the launch undertaken by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 12 December 2012.

The debris of the rocket fell in the sea 300 kilometers east of the Philippines.

The DPRK is in clear violation of UN Security Council Resolutions 1695 (2006), 1874 (2009) and 1718 (2006), which explicitly demanded DPRK not to use or conduct any launch using ballistic missile technology and the suspension of its ballistic missile programme.

The Philippines firmly urges the DPRK to desist from acts of provocation and to end its use or testing of ballistic missile technology.

The Philippines joins other governments in urging the DPRK to undertake steps towards confidence-building and engagement with the international community in order to ensure peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the entire Asia Pacific region.

Statement on the dialogue between President Benigno S. Aquino III and Casiguran marchers

CASIGURAN, Aurora, December 11, 2012-APECO welcomes the opportunity for President Aquino to hold a dialogue with the Casiguran marchers. We ourselves have repeatedly tried to reach out to them, and we continue to hope that we can sit down with them in peaceful dialogue.

APECO is very thankful for President Aquino’s continued support and trust. This reflects the faith shown by the people of Casiguran in APECO.

We support the President’s proposals and vow to cooperate in the reviews he has called for. We are grateful for a fair opportunity to present our side.

APECO sees the people of Casiguran as its partner in development. It would be impossible to do any of our development projects without their support.

In fact, below are the actual statements delivered by residents and leaders from Casiguran during a press conference they held at the Senate on December 4. (Videos can also be viewed on APECO’s Web site.)

Renato Prado, Chairman of Samahang AKDA ng Aurora and father-in-law of Arman Dela Cruz:

“Magandang umaga po sa ating lahat. Wala pong katotohanan ang sinabi ni Arman, Kabulaanan po yon, Wala pong inaalis ang APECO na Dumagat. Sa totoo lang po sila po yung nakatulong sa amin, binigyan po kami ng kabuhayan po, tapos yung permit ng rattan binigay po sa amin. Ang sabi po nilang pinapaalis po sila, Hindi po wag po kayong maniwala dun hindi po totoo yun, anak ko lang po yung nagsalita nun. Nagbulaan lang po iyon para, siguro dahil sa kahirapan nila wala rin syang trabaho dahil isang pastor sya. Yun lang po yung inaasikaso nya yung pagpapastor nya. Yun lang po at maraming salamat.”

Ely Dipablo, Dumagat elder and former officer in Casiguran of the Presidential Arm for National Minorities:

“Hamunin ko po, mag-sabi sila ng kahit na isang pangalan lang na inagawan ng lupa ng APECO! Hinahamon ko po sila ilabas nila kahit isa lang tao kung sino ang inagawan, yun po! Bakit kinukunsinti ng Pari ang pagiging bulaan! Sila pa ang nagsasabi na ito ang isigaw? Wala naman pong inaagawan, walang inaagawan ng lupa, ewan ko po baka isang bao na lupa baka meron, pero yung pamayanan naming sinabi ko nga wala ho! Tahimik at ayaw namin ng gulo kaya kami po ay nananawagan sa media mismo at sa ating gobyerno sa opisyales ng gobyerno.”

Brgy. Captain Matrona Corbadura, Brgy. Esteves, Casiguran:

“Ngayon po, walang inaagaw na lupa! Kung gusto mong ipagbili ang lupa, bibilihin nila sa tamang presyo. Ang sabi nga po nila ang lupa ay nasa mababang presyo, hindo po! Sapagkat kami po mismo na taga roon sa Brgy. Esteves ay nagpabili ng lupa sa APECO sapagkat ito po ay kailangan ng mamamayan na pagtatayuan po ng housing.”

APECO is for development, and the truth is, this is a development for the people of Aurora, supported by the people of Aurora. We appeal to certain groups with vested interests to stop spreading lies that will only serve to jeopardize the future of Aurora’s people. (Atty. Malcolm I. Sarmiento, President and CEO of APECO)

The Truth About APECO

CASIGURAN, Aurora, December 11, 2012-APECO sympathizes with the 120 marchers from Casiguran and their supporters from other towns and provinces. However, they cannot possibly represent 3,000 households affected by APECO’s development, as the area covered by APECO, namely Barangays Cozo, Esteves, Dibet, San Ildefonso, and Culat, only has a total of 1,336 households. Hence, this claim is impossible and without factual basis.

Furthermore, these marchers who claim that their land was taken forcibly from them by APECO are, in fact, informal settlers in a school reservation owned by the Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT). This issue long predates the creation of APECO.

The 105-hectare property in contention was originally designated as a school reservation by virtue of Proclamation No. 723, issued by American Governor-General Frank Murphy on August 21, 1934. The Aurora National Fisheries School was created for this purpose. R.A. No. 7664, which created ASCOT, later mandated the integration of this fisheries school, and all its resources including the school reservation, with ASCOT.

While the ASCOT reservation is located within the boundaries of APECO, it cannot be utilized for anything other than its original purpose. APECO respects and honors this. The informal settlers’ claims of land ownership under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, and its extension program, is an issue that does not involve APECO.

Nonetheless, APECO has included these informal settlers among its housing beneficiaries under a program undertaken in partnership with the National Housing Authority (NHA).

It is true that there were 28 families displaced by the construction of the airstrip, which is a project of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). But it must be stressed that the CAAP has duly extended financial assistance, ranging from P55,000 to P154,000, to these families. They have also been included among the APECO-NHA housing beneficiaries.       

On the issue of ancestral domain, APECO has never conducted infrastructure development activities in any of the Dumagat settlement within its coverage. We have already sought the help of the National Commission on the Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to facilitate Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC). APECO recognizes the existence of ancestral domain, and supports the IPs in acquiring their Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT). In fact, the provincial NCIP has commended APECO’s collaboration with the Dumagats and other IPs, such as skills training and livelihood programs.

APECO carries with it the mandate to acquire lands on the condition that it provides just compensation in accordance with law. That is what we have been doing. APECO has never resorted to the right of eminent domain or expropriation to acquire lands. Neither has APECO coerced any one to sell their land nor buy land at an unreasonably low price.

On the contrary, APECO has been buying lands at prices ranging from P240,000 to P300,000 per hectare, almost twice the assessed value. Lands that were brought at P600,000 were well-developed properties. Claims that APECO has been buying land for P45,000 to P60,000 per hectare are simply untrue.

We must emphasize that APECO has no intention to buy lands in the San Ildefonso Peninsula. We give due respect to the rights of existing integrated social forestry (ISFs) beneficiaries in the area.

The issue that APECO has cut 10 hectares of centuries-old mangroves to give way to its port is false and misleading. The port referred to is a RORO port that is not within the boundaries of APECO. This port was built decades ago, and rehabilitated by the Philippine Ports Authority as part of the previous administration’s strong nautical highway program. APECO has nothing to do with this port.

Regarding the supposed lack of consultation on the creation of APECO, all proposed laws are subject to public hearings and long public deliberations. This is the same process gone through by the laws that eventually created and expanded APECO.

We continue to conduct consultations to raise awareness on its development programs among the residents of Casiguran, as well as to seek residents’ proposals on how more effectively APECO can help them. In fact, on March 14, 2012, a municipal-wide assembly was held where 3,000 local residents signed a covenant for peace and development with APECO. This was followed by several barangay assemblies.

Finally, accusations of human rights violations against APECO are merely fabricated. We abhor violence, and have always chosen to avoid confrontation. We continue to talk to certain people claiming properties within APECO even without titles or proof of ownership. Though this has paralyzed important infrastructure projects, such as construction of the road network inside the corporate campus, APECO has chosen not to resort to expropriation or eviction, showing the extent of our restraint. We are there to build; not to destroy.

APECO values the residents of Casiguran. We want to help give a better life to the community through employment and livelihood. We are vindicated by the strong support of the real residents of Casiguran. In fact, legitimate IP leaders, landowners, fisherfolks, and barangay officials held a press conference at the Senate on December 4, 2012 to reiterate their support for APECO. Videos of this press conference can be viewed on APECO’s Web site.

APECO is for development, and the truth is, this is a development for the people of Aurora, supported by the people of Aurora. We appeal to certain groups with vested interests to stop spreading lies that will only serve to jeopardize the future of Aurora’s people. (Atty. Malcolm I. Sarmiento, President and CEO)

On the efforts of the Philippine Coast Guard, Eastern Mindanao Command and the Department of Labor and Employment in Mindanao

We are pleased to announce the rescue and ongoing medical treatment of three fishermen from capsized boats off the coast of Davao Oriental. According to a report from Secretary of Transportation and Communications Jun Abaya, the fishermen were rescued by a fishing vessel, Lady Gelaine, yesterday and subsequently fetched by a vessel manned by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) that ferried them to Mati City. Peter Madlasi, Dennis Cudilla, and Rene Maulas are now in the provincial hospital of Davao Oriental. The three PCG-manned vessels that comprise a search and rescue task force will refuel at Mati City today and continue operations thereafter.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Mindanao Command led by Lieutenant General Jorge Segovia continues to coordinate inland, maritime, and aerial search and rescue operations. They are also helping immensely with the logistics and movement of relief goods.

More humanitarian efforts are pouring into areas hardest-hit by the recent calamity. Yesterday, Secretary of Labor and Employment Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz ordered the release of an initial Php 5.5 million for emergency employment and livelihood for displaced workers. The bulk of the amount, Php 5 million, will be given for those in Compostela Valley while Php 500,000 is for the Caraga region.

Once again, we call on our countrymen to be of service to those affected by Typhoon Pablo and give generously to organizations helping our brethren in the south.

More To Be Done For Disaster Resilience – Legarda

MANILA, December 11, 2012-Despite praise from the European Union coordinating body for humanitarian aid, Senator Loren Legarda said that there is much more to be done in order for us to become a disaster-resilient country.

“Officials of the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) cited an improvement in the government’s response compared to last year when Tropical Storm Sendong devastated parts of Mindanao. While we note that this is certainly better, it is not our best. The best is to be prepared to lessen the need for response. The best is to have zero casualty,” she said.

Legarda, author of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, noted that Davao Oriental, which was awarded the Gawad Kalasag for heading the Best Prepared Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, still suffered immense losses from Pablo.

“It seems that even those who are prepared could not withstand the strength of our natural hazards today. Even communities who already have disaster mitigation programs in place still suffer from the effects of extreme weather events. This is an opportunity for us to re-evaluate our current strategies, and build on them based on recent events,” she stated.

The Senator, also the UN Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, expressed deep regret for the deaths and damages brought about by Typhoon Pablo, and urged local government officials to step up to the challenges.

“Climate change adaptation, disaster preparedness and risk reduction constitute the greatest humanitarian challenges of our time. These challenges we can overcome if our programs and mechanisms in place actually address the specific vulnerabilities present in each community in the country,” Legarda concluded.