Comprehensive policy to fight cyber crimes sought by Trillanes

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 12, 2011-Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV sought for the establishment of a comprehensive policy framework that would put into place the necessary regulations to fight and prevent cyber crimes where he wanted to impose stiff penalties against perpetrators of cyber crimes, who could face up to 12 years in prison and a fine of P800,000 under Senate bill number 14.

  

“Information and communications technologies have revolutionized our lifestyle, information and communications technology enhances and promotes efficiency in facilitating the exchange and delivery of information,” he said, adding that the introduction of computers and computer networks facilitated faster and better data storage, information exchange and communications where this computers are advantageous to improve banking, telecommunications, engineering and data handling in the country.

“A new breed of deviants, new forms of criminals and criminal activities arose such from unauthorized acquisition of vital and confidential information by third parties seeking to profit or benefit from the utilization of such information,” Trillanes said, advising that there is a need for the Philippines to have a law that will define cyber crimes, identify punishable acts involving computers with corresponding penalties, determine legal procedures for the investigation and prosecution of cyber crimes, clarify jurisdictions, provide for a clause on mutual assistance and cooperation, and identify a local body that shall be responsible for providing 24/7 assistance to foreign entities in the resolution of cyber crime cases.

Trillanes would like to categorize and to define certain acts as “cyber crimes” as  computer crimes, defined as any act committed by means of electronic operations that targets the security of computer or communications systems or network and the data they process, such as but not limited to illegal access, illegal interception, misuse of devices and unsolicited commercial communications; Computer sabotage including data interference, system interference, computer fraud and computer forgery; and Computer facilitated crimes including offenses related to cybersex, child pornography, trafficking, prostitution and solicitation.

Trillanes’ proposal soughts for the creation of Computer Emergency Response Council (CERC) under the Office of the President whose task is to formulate and to implement a national plan of action to address and to combat cyber crime.

The senator wanted the government to forge cooperation with other countries for the purpose of detection, investigation and prosecution of computer crime-related offenses.

Trillanes is hoping that thru the passage of the bill, cyber criminals will be discouraged from engaging in illegal act. He added that the passage of the bill is a clear signal to the international community that the country is serious to fight cyber crimes. (Jason de Asis)

Legarda bats for anti-discrimination act

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 12, 2011-Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities bats to sponsor the Anti-Discrimination Act of 2011 which seeks to promote a just and humane society that values the dignity of individuals and guarantees full respect for human rights regardless of race, religion and ethnicity.

“I am hoping that this measure will lesser cases of discrimination in the Philippine society regardless of their racial, ethnic or religious affiliation  which will be treated equally,” she said, adding that this will penalize acts of discrimination in the employment, education, delivery of goods and services, accommodation, media, and in search and investigatory activities.

Legarda explained that a person who is proven guilty shall serve between nine months and twelve years in prison, and/or will be obliged to pay between Php100,000 to Php500,000 where agencies, corporations, companies and educational institutions in the private or public are mandated to create an Equal Opportunity Committee, which shall have administrative jurisdiction over cases involving discrimination and racial profiling.

“The Commission on Human Rights in coordination with other concerned
agencies will provide for the procedures for the resolution, settlement, or prosecution of acts of discrimination and racial profiling as well as the creation of Equal Opportunity Committees,” she furthered.

Legarda stressed that our Constitution provides that the State has the mandate to protect any person in all encompassing term that applies equally to all human beings, regardless of their racial, ethnic or religious affiliation, saying that the country entered into various international commitments to end racial discrimination including the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination. “Despite this, we remain a nation that throws all forms of bias and prejudice at those who we perceive to be ‘different’ from the majority,” she said.

The Senator revealed that there is a need for effective and comprehensive legal framework in fighting against discrimination and racial profiling. “As a Filipino citizen, we must build a nation where each individual’s beliefs and principles are respected and everyone is given equal opportunity to achieve his full potential as a human being,” she said. (Jason de Asis)

Metro P22 COLA hike not enough says Estrada

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 11, 2011-“Metro Manila P22 hike in the cost of living allowance (COLA) for minimum wage earners which was approved by the NCR wage board is not enough, adding that the proposed deliberation actual wage increase must move on,” Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada and the concurrent chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development and the joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Labor and Employment said.

After the deliberations of the wage board, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced the approval of the COLA hike, revealing that some two million minimum wage earners in Metro Manila would benefit from the increase in the daily compensation of non-agricultural workers in metro to P426 a day.

“This new wage order will be effective 15 days from its publication in at least one newspaper of general circulation and will cover all minimum wage earners in the private sector regardless of position, employment status, or salary scheme,” Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said, adding that the hike in their COLA will somehow help workers cope with rising costs, it is excluded from the computation of their wage-related benefits like overtime and 13th-month pay.

“This COLA is very measly especially in face of the unabated jacking up of prices of petroleum as well as food products and basic commodities,” Estrada lamented revealing his sentiments for the concerned of the workers.

Estrada believes that the country’s employers could provide a much reasonably higher amount to their workers in additional pay. “But more than that there is a need to work for the actual increase in their wages, which would be included in the overall computations of their compensation,” he furthered.

He said that his committee is doing its share in finding the real “win-win solution” in the issue of wage and benefits for the workers, reiterating that there is a need to continue deliberations on the calls of the workers for the actual wage increase by the DOLE and the wage boards in the different regions in the country. (Jason de Asis)

Typhoon ‘Bebeng’ reminds Phl to invest disaster science center says Angara

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 10, 2011-“Typhoon ‘Bebeng’ is another reminder for the government to invest in the development of Philippine Disaster Science and Management Center (DSMC) which will be the center for research and training on disaster preparedness in the country,” Senator Edgardo J. Angara said, in his reaction due to the damaged brought by the recent tropical storm which whooped Luzon and the Visayas region.

“In the preparation of the nation for dealing with disasters like the common storms that hit the country or the devastating earthquake that recently hit Japan, the DSMC is equipped to assist the country to be better prepared to plan and manage disaster,” Angara said who chairs the Congressional Commission on Science Technology and Engineering (COMSTE).

“The DSMC was conceptualized dealing with the goal of assisting the country for a comprehensive prepared plan and manage disasters where the center also conducted series of lectures from distinguished local and foreign scientists and experts that introduced the effects of climate change in the local setting,” Angara said, adding that Japan, Korea and Taiwan have all willingly exchanged information with local experts, sharing their knowledge and data.

“The three countries have all experienced natural disasters and have implemented measures based on Science and Technology to better prepare their citizens for disasters,” he said, citing that Hyogo prefecture that has a Disaster Reduction Learning Center which recently hosted the training of local scientists and engineers from PAGASA and other institutes where the lessons learned from their experiences will be incorporated locally.

Angara stressed that the country need DSMC to help us prepare for the earthquakes and similar disasters that will continue to threaten the country. “There is a need to be understood by the government how to develop an advanced and real-time information dissemination strategy to handle such event so that the citizenry can take precautionary measures and be better prepared against disasters,” Angara ended.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) initially reported yesterday that the recent typhoon resulted to the death of 15 persons, 3 missing and 111,773 individuals were affected. Today, the NDRRMC will conduct survey of the extent of damages caused by typhoon Bebeng. (Jason de Asis)

Senate all set to work on pending legislations

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 10, 2011-Senate Juan Ponce Enrile said that after a month long break, the Senate is set to work now that the impeachment of the resigned Ombudsman Merceditas Guttierez under Senate Resolution number 105 had been set aside and it would be ready to buckle down to address pending legislations on the priority bills outlined by President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino.

“I am expecting that senators will get back to work now that the impeachment of Gutierrez had been set aside,” he reiterated.

After reporters noted that Congress had only 12 working days before it goes on a sine die break starting June 10, Enrile said that we will try to do whatever we can do, saying that Senators enjoy a six-year term each. “We are not going to do everything that we have to do in six years, in a day, or in a month or in a year,” he furthered.

Enrile revealed that he received official communication from Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupaz Jr., chairman of the House Justice Committee that initiated the impeachment proceedings against Gutierrez, informing the Senate that the impeachment trial was no longer necessary because Gutierrez resigned last week.

“The Senate is now composed of 23 senators that’s why I am expecting that the Senate will be more productive in its legislative work with the return of  Senator Panfilo Lacson after a long absence,” he said, explaining that the bigger number is always a better number working with them.

Enrile mentioned the priority bills that is set to tackle in the Senate are the Anti-Trust Bill, the proposed measure seeking to reform the National Telecommunication Commission, the proposed revision to the Public Land Act, the proposed Cyber Crime Prevention Act of 2010 and the proposed People’s Survival Fund bill, amending the Climate Change Act.

Before Holy Week break last March 26, the Senate tackled five bills such as the GOCC Governance Act of 2011 (SBN 2640), sponsored by Sen. Franklin Drilon, which aims to reform the structure and operations of GOCCs to exact from them efficient and effective public service; the Career Executive System Act (SBN 2671), which seeks to strengthen the bureaucracy by professionalizing the ranks of government managers and executives, authored by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV; and a bill Decriminalizing Vagrancy (SBN 2726), sponsored by Sen. Francis Escudero, which aims to remove vagrancy as a criminal offense in the Revised Penal Code. Approved on third reading, these bills are now pending in the House of Representatives.

“Also awaiting in the second reading at the Senate are the proposed Foster Care Act of 2010 (SBN 2486), the proposed Expanded Anti-trafficking in Persons Act of 2010 (SBN 2625), the Night work Prohibition of Women Employees Bill (SBN 2701), the proposed Meat Labeling Act of 2011 (SBN 2746) and the proposed Corporate Social Responsibility Act (SBN 2747),” he said.

Enrile also disclosed that the Senate will attempt to tackle the proposal of Malacanang to postpone the scheduled elections in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao “if we have the time”, explaining that the Senate notified informally by the Commission on Elections to be prepared just in case they cannot really enact the law, although that has been certified by the President as an urgent bill.

“I did not believe that the proposed Reproductive Health Bill will be given a priority status in the Senate. I don’t think it is a priority as far as we are concerned here,” he said, adding that he is not ready to tinker with anything that is an act of God.

In the name of national interest regarding the position of pro-RH bill advocates that Congress should approve the measure urgently, Enrile said that there are many ways to improve the lives of the people instead of trying to constrict the normal growth of the population, saying that instead of reducing the number of people that will participate in the pie, we should enlarge the pie. “That, in a nutshell, is the policy position that I am taking,” he ended. (Jason de Asis)

Jinggoy to PNoy: Pangilinan as the next ombudsman versus corruption

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 10, 2011-Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada suggested Senator Kiko Pangilinan to be the next ombudsman as an ally against corruption for being actively instituting reforms within the judiciary and an advocate for good governance.

Estrada said that President Aquino’s administration must appoint an ombudsman with good reputation and good credibility in exercising prudence and the use of best judgment in appointing the said position, saying that the post is very crucial in defining his term as president.

The Senator said that PNoy ran under an anti-corruption platform during the campaign for the presidency, and the fifteen million people who voted for him expect nothing less than eradication of corruption under his watch, adding that the Ombudsman takes the role of the country’s number one graft-buster, with the defeat of his first Executive Order creating the Truth Commission which aimed at putting closure and delivering justice to past graft and corruption cases.

“The qualifications to fit in the position must be someone who has untarnished record in the public service and competent in the field of law and he or she must be one with the administration’s relentless crusade of running after and punishing the corrupt,” Estrada said.

He suggested Pangilinan who is qualified in the position for he has been active in instituting reforms within the judiciary and an advocate of good governance. (Jason de Asis)

Angara urged for the Phl mothers’ protection

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 9, 2011-Senator Edgardo J. Angara urged the government for the protection and improved welfare of one of the most important pillars of society as the world celebrates Mother’s Day, explaining that there is a need to create an environment in which mothers can attend to the health and welfare of their children by making sure that these women have access to the needed healthcare and educational facilities and providing them with equal opportunities in society.

  

The State of the World’s Mothers 2011 study revealed that the Philippines had a Mother’s Index ranking—an indicator of a maternal wellbeing—of 49 among 79 less-developed countries which was conducted by the Save the Children foundation which serves marginalized children and families worldwide.

  

1 in 320 risks of maternal death during childbirth—a function affected by the number of children and spacing between pregnancies, health and nutrition status, as well as the conditions under which mother gives birth according to study, revealing that only 62% of births are attended by qualified health workers in the country.

  

Angara said that the number of maternal deaths in the country is decreasing but not fast enough to reach the Millennium Development Goal of reducing it by three-quarters by 2015.

The Senator said that there is a need to ensure first the welfare of a vital sector pertaining to the mothers who are the most important women in our lives to secure the well-being of our society as a whole.  

Angara also filed the Community Health Placement bill that seeks to decrease both infant and maternal mortality rates by establishing health centers even in remote towns and barrios. The bill enhanced access to healthcare that would boost the percentage of women getting pre and post natal checkups. 

In 2009, Angara had authored the Magna Carta for Women which was signed into law and now serves as the “bill of rights” for women in ensuring gender equality in the political, industrial and cultural spheres. (Jason de Asis)

Bidder winner to get 15 billion peso price tag for privatization of MRT-LRT

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 9, 2011-Sen. Ralph G. Recto, who chairs the Senate ways and means committee revealed that the P15 billion price tag for the bundled Metro Rail Transit-Light Rail Transit (MRT-LRT) privatization is the amount that the government to pay to the winning bidder and not the amount that it would earn from the transaction where he asked the government to be forthright to the Filipinos by disclosing that price tag for the privatization of MRT-LRT is actually a ‘pay-out’ to the winning private bidder and not the other way around.

“The first project under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program would instantly cost the government some P15 billion instead of deriving fresh revenues from its decision to let go two crucial mass transport rail systems,” Recto said, adding that the P15 billion would be paid by government to the winning bidder, which would operate and maintain the MRT-LRT lines.

He said that the government is oblige to pay the winner bidder to operate the rail lines plus perhaps they would avail tax holidays, cheap loans from state banks and an almost sure option to jack up fare prices.

“Under the O&M contract (operate and maintain), the winning private operator is not obligated to pour in new money in terms of additional rolling stocks or coaches and rail infrastructure,” he said, pointing out that if such is the case, this will give the PPP project a bad name. Later on, if that will always be the case, people will be angered.

“To maintain low fares for MRT riders alone, the palace economic managers may justify the P15 billion ‘pay out’ to the private operator if compared to the almost P7 billion to P8 billion that government shells out in yearly fare subsidies,” he furthered.

“The P15 billion ‘pasalubong’ to the winning private bidder may be justified but the prospect of commuters eventually paying higher MRT-LRT fares negates such justification,” Recto said, adding that the PPP auction of the MRT-LRT lines should redound to cheaper fare rates since the PPP dictum should be race to the bottom (lower fares), not race to the top (higher fares).

“Such imminent fare hikes in MRT-LRT would be unfair to taxpaying commuters while jeepney and tricycle drivers are getting direct subsidy through the government’s ‘Pantawid Pasada’ program,” Recto explained.

Out of the 44 companies that have expressed interest in the project, the government has slated the bidding for the MRT-LRT contract on July 11 with at least eight big groups landing in the short-list of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

The winning bidder will get to operate and to manage the two rail lines that would be integrated eventually for four years, with an option to extend by another year.

LRT-1 runs along Taft Avenue from Baclaran in Paranaque City to Roosevelt-Munoz, Quezon City while the MRT runs from Taft Avenue in Pasay City to North Avenue in Quezon City.

The Pantawid pasada program will also be adapted by the Indonesian government as assistance to their driver-operators of transport vehicles. This was disclosed by the Indonesian leader during the ASEAN meeting. (Jason de Asis)

LGU’s environment protection and climate change adaptation lauded by Legarda

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 8, 2011-Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change lauded the provincial government of Bukidnon’s maintain a tree park project and Quezon City’s tax credit scheme for green buildings in their initiatives on environmental protection and climate change adaptation that are timely needed.

Legarda cited Quezon City’s new and retrofitted buildings that can avail of up to 25% property tax refund depending on the eco-friendly practices being implemented like the use of renewable energy, cutting down power consumption and managing solid waste, among others while the Bukidnon, LGUs, non-government organizations and cooperatives wish to avail of financial assistance from the provincial government and entrepreneurs who will be registering or renewing their business permits must plant trees and maintain tree parks as a requirement.

“These stories of local communities-inspiring, trailblazing, pioneering-are slivers of light in a country of garbage dumps, mine tailings and bald mountains,” Legarda said, adding that more LGUs are heeding the call to act to revive our ecosystems, protect our environment and make our communities disaster and climate resilient.

“I am hoping that this would create a bandwagon effect with other LGUs making their own eco-friendly programs and green policies,” Legarda said.

To help resuscitate our degrading environment, Legarda said that all local governments should show dynamism and creativity in pursuing the projects for the welfare of the country’s environment, explaining that the LGUs set up offices at ground level, provide the staff, pass local ordinances and resolutions, and organize stakeholders to support and to complement environmental protection and climate change adaptation; thus, we have to ensure the continuity of their efforts. (Jason de Asis)

A$21.584 Asian development bank finance project on Phl water and sanitation extended-Angara

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 7, 2011-Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Chair of the Congressional Commission on Science Technology and Engineering (COMSTE) revealed that Australia has extended a grant worth A$ 21.584 through the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to finance trust funds for the country’s water infrastructure and clean energy initiatives which will be used to help finance projects that will bring water sanitation and clean energy to areas in Asia and the Pacific.

Angara said that to improve the country’s water and sanitation infrastructure, the ADB is actively supporting many projects in the country and it will be opened to help finance similar projects.

“I urged the government once again to improve the country’s water and sanitation to avoid crisis,” Angara said who recently held a conference called Water W.A.T.C.H. (Wise Adaptation of Technologies for Clean H2O) to promote the deployment of the latest in new technologies and best practices for water resource management in light of numerous studies that show that there could be a worldwide water crisis due to climate change.

The Senator said that there is a need to dispel the prevailing notion that have adequate water supply to last for generations, revealing that some areas have an abundance of clean water while some areas are arid.

To properly distribute and manage our water resources, Angara said that innovative water management is essential and the best way to do this is by utilizing science and technology, explaining that Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) plays a vital factor here.

“Since the government can only move so fast, a swift and sure solution would be for LGU’s to reach out to private funding institutions to develop the necessary infrastructure in water and sanitation and lessen our yearly losses,” Angara said, adding that the water crisis is a silent crisis in the Philippines, because issues concerning water have long been neglected. And yet, it encompasses a myriad of problems that affect our bid towards sustainable development.

“The water is a health issue,” Angara said, explaining that more than one third of diseases in the Philippines are water-borne. “It is also a food security issue,” Angara furthered, saying that rice is our staple food and is heavily dependent on water.

Angara added that approximately 3,000 liters of water is needed to grow one kilogram of rice and more than a third of our labor force depend on agriculture, water also affects rural livelihood, and development in the countryside.

“Our failure to recognize issues concerning water has affected the quality of life of most Filipinos. The UN has ranked the Philippines as 84th out of 177 countries in the Human Development Report, and one of the main reasons for there is the poor distribution of water and sanitation in the country,” Angara said.

Angara said that there is a need to start taking action against the water crisis as the Asian Development Bank, river and groundwater systems in the Philippines will fail by 2025. “We have to start cleaning up now to prevent crisis,” Angara said.

“Science and innovative technology can provide us solutions to the water crisis. What we need is a sound strategy in the use of technologies in ensuring adequate water supply that is clean and healthful,” Angara said, citing the rain harvesting systems in India and Japan that have existed for hundreds of years. (Jason de Asis)

(Update) Cop to be dismissed in service after allowing escape of hot lumber in Dingalan checkpoint

BALER, Aurora, May 6, 2011-In yesterday provincial task force Sagip Kalikasan meeting, Aurora Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo has ordered chief of police in Dingalan to dismiss in service PO3 Ricardo Cariǹo who was assigned in Dingalan checkpoint if proven guilty in the alleged near-escape of 1,488.9 board feet of illegally cut yakal and lawaan lumber loaded in an Isuzu XLT jeep intercepted by the Army and the Noble Blue Falcons International in Barangay Tanauan, Dingalan.

The said police was in a hot water for the alleged letting of a jeep loaded with contraband lumber escape from a provincial government-manned checkpoint here two weeks ago after Cristopher Usita of the NBFI reported that the police were actually there during the operation but Carino told the task force members to just let the jeep pass where the latter claimed that the vehicle only contained coconuts.

However, after sneaking through the task force checkpoint at barangay Caragsacan the noble blue falcons led by Ericson C. Dayson sought the help of the Army where the commanding officer of the 56^th Infantry Batallion, Captain Noel Wamil immediately responded due to suspicion and arrested the driver of the jeep in Tanauan.

“That incident was shameful and reflected the police as coddlers of illegal loggers,” Angara-Castillo lamented, saying that the police should not be cowed in the illegal loggers. “Wala dapat tayong santuhin,” she added.

In her term, the governor wanted to twist the bad image of the police into respectable and refutable one; thus, she promised to reward policemen for good performance and even helping them to be promoted.

Relative to this, Inspector Erwin Fabroquez, Dingalan chief of police attested in front of the task force and Angara-Castillo that they will conduct meticulous investigation for the veracity of the report of the noble blue falcons, saying that the police will not tolerate such negligence in duty. (Jason de Asis)

Cop in hot water for allowing ‘hot lumber’ flee in his post

BALER, Aurora, May 6, 2011-A policeman from Dingalan town is in hot water for allegedly allowing a jeep loaded with contraband lumber escape from a provincial government-manned checkpoint here two weeks ago.

PO3 Ricardo Cariǹo of the Dingalan police is facing dismissal from the service for the near-escape of 1,488.9 board feet of illegally cut yakal and lawaan lumber loaded in an Isuzu XLT jeep intercepted by the Army and the Noble Blue Falcons International in Barangay Tanauan, Dingalan town.

The contraband lumber, worth P147,908  were seized by the Army and NBFI operatives comprising the provincial task force “Sagip Kalikasan” against illegal logging, shortly after sneaking through the task force checkpoint at Barangay Caragsacan. The team was led by Army Captain Noel Wamil, commanding officer of the 56^th Infantry Battalion’s Charlie Company and Ericson C. Dayson of the NBFI.

Professor Leonardo Usita, NBFI national president, said that the successful operation could be attributed to the intelligence information provided the task force by an advance reconnaissance team who cleared the area for the holding of a mountain trek by foreign and local mountaineers.

During a meeting of the task force at the Capitol here Thursday, Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo deplored the continued absence of policemen manning the checkpoint which triggered incidents, such as the near-escape of the contraband lumber.

Cristopher Usita of the NBFI said the police were actually there during the operation but Carino reportedly told the task force members to just let the jeep pass, claiming the vehicle only contained coconuts.

Suspicious, the Army and the NBFI gave chase and caught up with the driver of the jeep in Tanauan.

Angara-Castillo described the incident as shameful because it depicted the police as coddling illegal loggers. “It’s downright embarassing isn’t it?” she asked. She directed Inspector Erwin Fabroquez, Dingalan police chief, to have Carino dismissed.

Angara-Castillo told policemen not to be cowed by illegal loggers. She promised to reward policemen for good performance by even having them promoted.

The governor also directed Raul Batang, community officer of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in southern Aurora covering Dingalan and San Luis towns not to spare anyone in the anti-illegal logging campaign.

“Show them there are no sacred cows. Whether they are local officials or not, if they are involved, we’ll throw the hook at them,” she said. (Jason de Asis)

Septuagenarian ‘lolo’ rapped for raping 2 minors

BALER, Aurora, May 5, 2011-A 78-year-old man was charged before the Department of Justice here Wednesday for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl and her 11-year-old sister on two separate occasions.

Charged in an information for violations of Republic Act 7610 filed before the provincial prosecutor’s office was Dionisio Alarcon, alias Tata Dionisio of Barangay Obligacion in this town.

Alarcon was accused of sexually abusing the victims on February 20 and March 26, respectively in a nipa hut owned by the suspect.

The elder girl said the incident took place when she went with Alarcon at the nipa hut. She said she slept at the place when her father asked her to accompany Alarcon who was caretaker of the victim’s father’s native ducks.

She said that prior to the incident, the suspect gave her money and food and told her they would play “bahay-bahayan.”

The younger victim was accompanied by her two brothers when she went to the nipa hut where Alarcon fed them. When the two brothers fell asleep, Alarcon sexually abused the victim. The victim did not immediately report the incident for fear of the suspect who threatened to kill her. (Jason de Asis)

Noveras-Angara tandem eyed in Aurora in 2013 election race

Photo (L) Vice gov. Noveras and (R) businessman R. Angara  

BALER, Aurora, May 5, 2011-The political leaders in this province are reportedly working out for a Noveras-Angara tandem in the 2013 local elections involving the two protagonists in the 2007 vice gubernatorial race, saying that political circles are abuzz here with the reports that Vice Governor Gerardo “Gerry” Noveras is being eyed to run for governor by the Angaras the reigning political kingpins in the province with businessman Rommel Angara as his running mate in the midst of the reports that Rommel’s uncle, outgoing Baler Mayor Arthur Angara is also eyeing for the governorship.

Noveras, son of the Noveras patriarch, former vice governor Isaias Sr. and the younger brother of ex-vice governor Isaias Jr., defeated Rommel, nephew of incumbent Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo in the 2007 race by over 1,000 votes, spoiling an Angara-Angara team at the Capitol. 

Angara-Castillo is on her third and last term as provincial chief executive and is reportedly eyeing a return to Congress in 2013 with another nephew, outgoing three-term Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara running for the Senate. 

The Noverases are on record as the father-and-sons with the distinction of having been voted each as vice governor of the province.

Noveras’ victory triggered the political divorce between the Angaras and their earstwhile allies, the Tangsons of San Luis town, whom the clan suspected of junking Rommel in favor of Noveras, a claim which San Luis Mayor Annabelle Tangson and her younger brother, ex-provincial board member Mariano, denied.

Asked to comment on the Noveras-Angara team-up, Noveras described it as a “good tandem.”

“On my part, I won’t refuse it if it’s true. But as of now, I only heard of it,” he said, adding that if offered by the Angaras, he was “inclined” to accept it.

Noveras brushed aside the possibility of joining the Tangsons and run as their standard-bearer.

For his part, Rommel said the possibility of him teaming up with Noveras is not distinct. “I am not saying yes or no. The elections are still far. But in politics, everything is possible,” he said.

He said he holds no grudges against Noveras and has no problem becoming his running mate. “Our rivalry is nothing personal. He’s very down-to-earth and approachable and we are very cordial with each other, something that is not plastic,” he said.

He recalled that when he lost in 2007, he even conceded and congratulated Noveras.

The Angaras have reportedly maintained cordial relations with Noveras because the vice governor kept his vow not to be a stumbling block to the development agenda of Angara-Castillo and the Angaras.

Angara-Castillo said she holds Noveras in high esteem for supporting her administration all the way. “In fairness to him, there was never a single instance when he blocked or opposed my programs,” she said. (Jason de Asis)

Army and noble blue falcons seized worth P147,908 cut yakal lumbers in Dingalan

DINGALAN, Aurora, May 4, 2011-An estimated to 147,908 pesos of illegally cut yakal lumbers were seized by the Army and the Noble Blue Falcons Environmental Mountaineers at Brgy. Tanauan in this town last April 23, 2011 around 11 in the evening led by Cpt. Noel B. Wamil, Commanding Officer of Charlie Company, 56 Infantry Batallion, 7th Infantry Division and Ericson C. Dayson of NBFI Environmental Environmental Mountaineers in the continuing implementation of total log ban in the country.

The task force sagip kalikasan intercepted an Izusu XLT type jeep with plate no. ZLV 705 where totalled to 1, 488.9 Yakal and Lawaan lumbers on board.

Prof. Leonardo "Onad" Usita, National President of the Noble Blue Falcons Environmental Mountaineers said that the success of the operation was due to the advance information relayed to the apprehending team of the Army and the group of Blue Falcons Environmental Intelligence agents as part of Advance Reconnaissance Team who conducted clearing in the recent Philippine International Climb 2001 to Save Sierra  at Mt. Falcon, Ditumabo, San Luis town for the 300 American, French, South Korean mountaineers, and the with Filipino Climbers to save Aurora Sierra Madre campaigning against the rampant logging in the province.

“A violation of PD 705 as amended by E.O. 277 and transport of forest products without permit to transport are the charges filed to the violators,” Usita said, lamenting that the incident did not appear  in the local and national news papers  in what seemed to be a conspiracy between media and illegal loggers in the province of Aurora.

“We know that media people in Aurora are true to the idealism of media practice although we received reports that few reporters are allegedly receiving bribes to loggers to tone down if not impose a media black-out in the province,” Usita said, adding that their environmental Intelligence agents will unmask this corrupt media people so as not to allow them to contaminate the many honest ones. (Jason de Asis)