General Catapang Receives 4th Star

CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – The 45^th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. receives his fourth star in a donning of ranks ceremony held at the Department of National Defense today. The ceremony was presided by Secretary of National Defense Voltaire T. Gazmin and came exactly one week since his assumption last July 18. (In the photo with General Catapang is his wife, Mrs. Vilma Catapang and Secretary Gazmin.)

CL peace czar dares PDEA to name pols, lawmen in drug trade

CABANATUAN CITY – Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali, the chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) in Central Luzon, on Thursday challenged the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to name the politicians and law enforcers involved in the illegal drugs trade in the province.

          Presiding  over a meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) at the old provincial capitol here, Umali called on Jeoffrey Tacio, PDEA regional director, to once and for all identify the biggest drug pushers and traffickers in the province.

          He said that the PDEA  should likewise provide classified information on the possible involvement of public officials and policemen in the illegal drugs trade.

          The meeting was attended by officials of various government agencies involved in law enforcement among them the Department of the Interior and Local Governments, the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Army, the Department of Justice and others.

          Also involved in the discussions were DILG Region 3 director Florida Dijan, DILG assistant regional director and concurrent provincial director, Dr. Abraham Pascua, Army Col. Felimon Santos, commander of the 703^rd Infantry Brigade and police deputy provincial director for operations, Superintendent Bernie Orig representing provincial police director Senior Superintendent Crizaldo Nieves who is on official mission abroad.

          Umali issued the challenge shortly after Tacio presented the accomplishment report of the PDEA during the first semester of 2014.

          In his report, Tacio,a member of the PPOC, cited they have conducted 233 operations against illegal drugs and arrested 322 persons and seized 532 grams of metamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu and 9,550 grams of marijuana and filed 226 cases in court.

          Of those arrested, 173 were pushers and 92 were possessors. Of the 233 operations, 176 were carried out during buy-bust and the rest  through search warrants, checkpoints among others.

          Tacio said for the period covered, Cabanatuan recorded the highest number of drug-affected barangays with 13 followed by Sta. Rosa, San Jose City and Sto. Domingo.

          He said the agency is employing a three-pronged strategy of conducting joint intelligence workshop, the neutralization of drug personalities and the close monitoring of clandestine laboratories, suspected drug dens and shabu tiangge.

          Umali said that while the PDEA is doing its job of neutralizing drug personalities in the province, it would be to the best interest of the public if it would identify the biggest drug pushers involved.

           “You need to name names. Identify the biggest drug pusher. And are there public officials and policemen involved? And is there any  clandestine laboratory in Nueva Ecija?,” he said.

          He said if the agency could not release the names, then its intelligence build-up would amount to nothing.

          “And if you could not give us hard facts on illegal drugs, how can we possibly provide you with the needed support to solve the drug menace?,” he said.

          Tacio did not publicly respond to the governor’s dare. But when pressed by newsmen, he said five politicians and between five to 10 law enforcers were involved in the illegal drugs trade.

          He said, though that he could not yet disclose the names of those involved because the information they gathered is still being validated. 

          Umali also expressed concern that this city, Nueva Ecija’s urban and commercial center, has emerged as the drug capital of the province thus, disturbing its climate of peace.

He said he found it disappointing that while he heads the RPOC, disturbing peace and order problems need to be addressed in his province. “How can you talk peace in the entire region when in the province where I belong I can’t give peace?,” he said.   

          He said he would call an executive session in the coming weeks to further tresh out the drug problem. – Manny Galvez

VP BINAY: COMPLAINT FLAWED, NOT BASED ON FACTS, DRIVEN BY 2016 POLITICS

MANILA-Vice President Jejomar C. Binay today described the plunder complaint filed against him as devoid of factual basis and connected to the 2016 presidential elections where he is widely seen as the frontrunner.

The Vice President also revealed that the complainants, all local political opponents of the Binays, are backed by a known group of lawyers who has been trying to resurrect dismissed cases against him.

In a speech before the Financial Executives of the Philippines (FINEX) and the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), Binay said the complainants have a routine of raising non-existent issues against his family during election season.

“This complaint is no exception, although we have been informed that this time around, our local opponents have been provided with the needed resources, financial and otherwise, by certain national interest groups, particularly a group of lawyers closely identified with a national personality,” he said.

The Vice President said the group – which he did not identify – “has been trying in vain” to resurrect the dismissed cases against him.

Binay also said he expects more complaints and issues to be raised against him in the coming months.

“Believe me, this is only the beginning. We expect more to come. And like the one filed yesterday, these complaints will be devoid of facts, devoid of legal basis, and fueled by the dirty politics that was supposed to have been swept away with the previous administration,” he said.

The Vice President expressed confidence that the complaint will be dismissed. He also said he will continue focusing on his work in government.

“In a fair and impartial evaluation, this complaint, and all the others that we know for a fact are in the pipeline, will be dismissed. Nonetheless my commitment to advance the interest of our overseas Filipino workers, provide shelter for the poor, and assist our fellow Filipinos in need will remain undiminished by these false and politically motivated accusations,” he said.

The Vice President also said those behind the complaint intend to sow intrigue between him and President Aquino by spreading the word that the complaint was a Palace move.

“And it appears that there is a deeper agenda at play. We have been told that those who are pulling the strings want to sow intrigue between President Aquino and myself. They want me to think that the Palace is orchestrating the filing of this baseless complaint against me and my son to divert attention from the impeachment complaints filed against the President,” he said.

“Gusto nilang isipin ko na pakana ito para isalba si Pangulo at dahil dito ay magtampo ako at sumama ang loob sa ating Pangulo. Sa madaling salita, gusto nilang pag-awayin kami ng ating Pangulo,” he said.

The Vice President also pointed out that the complainants focused only on his allies in Makati, and dropped the names of their allies who attended City Council sessions.

“They only included the names of our allies. But their allies and partymates were part of the city council and were present when the council approved the ordinances they cited, so why exclude them? Your guess is as good as mine but that, for me, is undeniable proof of the selective, frivolous and political nature of this co-called complaint,” he said.

P50.2-B new prison facility to generate 53,800 jobs in NE

PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija–The plan to transfer the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City to Nueva Ecija through the construction of a P50.2-billion regional prison facility (RPF) is expected to generate at least 53,800 jobs to Novo Ecijanos, its proponents said yesterday.

          In a project presentation of the proposed NBP at the Sierra Madre Suites here yesterday, architect Armando Alli, adviser of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Center, said the two-storey new facility will be constructed under the build-transfer-maintain structure at a 500-hectare area in Barangay Nazareth in Gen. Tinio town inside the Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation.

          The project was presented during a public hearing called by Gov. Aurelio Umali amid concerns over its environmental and socio-economic impact in the province.

          The project will be a joint undertaking of the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Corrections.

Alli said that based on estimates, the construction will require 40,000 workers, some 4,800 custodial and rehabilitation officers and 9,000 people for prison maintenance.

Umali said the national government should prioritize Novo Ecijanos for employment and source of construction materials.

He said Novo Ecijanos should carefully weigh the pros and cons of the project amid issues over its environmental impact in the adjoining communities.

Teodora Diaz, BuCor assistant director, said the facility will have a maximum capacity of 26,000 inmates. She said they expect the project to be approved by the Investments Coordinating Committee of the National Economic and Development Authority within this month and by the NEDA Board of Directors next month.

The bidding has been set in February 2015, contract-signing in April 2015 and actual construction will start in October 2015. Construction will take three years.      

          To be transferred are 20,000 inmates from the NBP and 2,000 from the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.  

          President Aquino earlier indicated he wants to have the NBP to be transferred by year-end to the FMMR.

DOJ Undersecretary Francisco Baraan, the department’s  supervising official on the BuCor and the NBP, said the new facility  will follow international standards.

He said that at present, prison conditions in the various penal facilities in the country leave much to be desired, citing those in Muntinlupa, Palawan and Davao.

“I saw correctional facilities in Japan, Canada and Australia and our facilities pale in comparison, he said, adding that Muntinlupa, for one, does not look like a prison facility at all and constitutes cruel and degrading punishment to the prisoners.

The 551-hectare NBP in Muntinlupa , which opened in 1940, is now heavily congested as it houses 14,500 prisoners in its maximum security detention area alone although it was programmed to accommodate only 8,400 inmates. All in all, the NBP houses around 20,000 inmates.        

The government plans to convert the Muntinlupa penitentiary, valued at around P42 billion,  into a mixed-use commercial area.

The plan to transfer the NBP to the province dates back to a decade ago. Umali recalled that as early as 2004, his predecessor, then-governor Tomas Joson III, had been scouting for a site in Talugtug town but the plan did not push through.   

In May 2012, the Aquino administration has been working to carry out the transfer of the NBP and the CIW.

The plan to transfer the 20,000 inmates from the NBP and 2,000 inmates from the CIW was pursued after local officials in Tanay, Rizal opposed an earlier order to transfer them there.

In 2006, Aquino’s predecessor, then-president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Executive Order 568 authorizing the transfer of the NBP to a 272-hectare reservation in Barangay Cuyambay in Tanay.

The public hearing was attended by city and municipal mayors and vice mayors and other local officials. (Manny Galvez)

BCDA implements P207.18M worth of SCTEX infra projects

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga-State-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is currently implementing six infrastructure projects worth P207.18 million that is expected to give motorists speedy, comfortable, and convenient travel while plying the 94-km Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).

These are the P71.62 million Long-Term Permanent Works at Pasig-Potrero Bridge, P18.96 million Protection Works at Gumain Bridge’s Pier Nos. 5 & 6, P7.13 million Construction Management and Supervision of the Long-Term Permanent Works at Pasig-Potrero Bridge, P68.48 million Heavy Maintenance Works– Asphalt Pavement Resurfacing, P12.43 million Heavy Maintenance Works– Bridge Revetment, Slope and Drainage Repair Works, and Fortification Works of the Pasig-Potero Bridge.

BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Arnel Paciano Casanova said five of the six projects are still in their early stages of implementation.

He noted that the P28.56 million fortification works of the SCTEX Pasig-Potero Bridge is on track and will be completed by the end of the July, just in time for the torrential rains that usually come during the months of August to October.

“We are on track in completing the fortification works by the end of July so that when the strong rains come, the structural integrity of the Pasig-Potero Bridge and the temporary Bailey Bridge will not be compromised and ensure the safe travel of the motorists plying the SCTEX,” Casanova said.

Casanova said the fortification works, which is part of the long-term permanent repair works, involves the installation of concrete sheet piles around the damaged abutment of the Pasig-Potero Bridge. 

An abutment refers to the substructure at the end of a bridge span wherein the bridge’s superstructure rests.

He explained that the installation of concrete sheet piles would secure the eroded slope of the bridge abutment as well as its exposed bored piles from further scouring by strong current of floodwaters during the rainy season.

It will be recalled that last year, the strong river current initiated by the heavy downpour during the height of Tropical Storm Maring set off a massive erosion of up to 10 hectares of land from the banks of the Pasig-Potrero river that caused the damage to a segment of the toll road that serves as an approach to the Pasig-Potrero Bridge. (BCDA)

PNoy graces inauguration of Iglesia Ni Cristo’s Ciudad de Victoria

BOCAUE, Bulacan-President Benigno Aquino III graced Monday the inauguration of Ciudad de Victoria of Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) in Bocaue town which is home of the Philippine Arena- presently the “world’s largest domed indoor structure.”

“Angkop nga po ang pangalan ng lugar na ito—na may kahulugang Lungsod ng Tagumpay—lalo pa’t sinasalamin nito ang mga nakamit na tagumpay ng Iglesia sa nagdaang siglo. Mula po sa pagkakatatag ng Kagalang-galang Felix Manalo hanggang sa patuloy na paglago ng inyo pong kongregasyon, tinitingala ang Iglesia ni Cristo hindi lang sa ating bansa kundi maging sa iba’t ibang panig ng daigdig (This place has a fitting name- which literary means City of Victory- for it mirrors the achievements of the Iglesia in the last century. From its establishment by the honorable Felix Manalo up to the continued growth of the congregation, they look up to Iglesia Ni Cristo not only in the Philippines but in other parts of the world as well),” Aquino told over 55,000 INC members that attended the occasion inside the jam-packed arena.

He added that the 75-hectare complex serves as a concrete example of the exceptional unity manifested by the group throughout the years.

The INC is known as a close-knit religious organization, whose congregation leaders visit their members and actively encourage them to participate in various church activities and other community services.

“Pero batid nating itinayo ang strukturang ito, hindi para makipagpaligsahan. Ipinagawa ito para sa banal at dakilang layuning noon pa man ay pinangarap na ni Ka Eraño Manalo- ang magtaguyod ng espasyo upang maglingkod at ibahagi ang biyaya ng Panginoon sa lokal at pandaigdigang komunidad (But we understand that this structure was built not to compete. It was built for the holy and great cause, which was the dream of Bro. Eraño Manalo- to have a space to serve and share the blessings of God to the local and global community),” Aquino stressed, referring to the late executive minister of INC.

Philippine Arena, whose construction cost over $200 million, was constructed to withstand strong earthquakes and super typhoons.

The design was inspired by the narra and banyan trees and has a dome spanning over 3.6 hectares.

It stands with two other massive structures- the 20,000-seater Philippine Stadium and Philippine Sports Center.

Apart from these, others to be built within the area soon include the Eraño G. Manalo Medical Center and New Era Sports Academy of New Era University.

The development of Ciudad de Victoria is in line with the group’s centennial celebration this year.

Established on July 27, 1914, membership of the INC presently span over 100 countries in all six inhabited continents. 

Ecija mayor tells Fort Magsaysay execs : ‘don’t bypass us on Bilibid project’

PALAYAN CITY, N ueva Ecija–Neophyte Mayor Adrianne Mae Cuevas has called on the military leadership to consult the city government on the plan to transfer the New Bilibid Prisons from Muntinlupa City to the Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation in the province.

          Cuevas told newsmen that the Army’s 7^th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division has set for Wednesday the public hearing on the proposed transfer of the NBP but they have not been invited to the said consultations.

          “They need to consult us Palayenos on the planned transfer. In the first place, people from other places who will travel to the proposed NBP site in Laur will pass our place. So our voices will have to be heard,” she said.

          Earlier, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Ge. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said President Aquino wants to have the NBP transferred inside the Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation (FMMR) by 2014.

Catapang said the Chief Executive wants a modern national penitentiary, reportedly worth P40 billion, to be included in his accomplishment report for 2014.

Cuevas said that personally, she is not opposed to the project but would want that a thorough consultation with people in the impact areas should be included in the public hearing.

“My only concern is the welfare of my constituents,” she stressed.

          She said that in the past months, there have been certain moves made by the 7^th ID leadership which have not been coordinated with the city government.          “Sometimes, we learn of it from the national offices instead of the 7^th ID so we need to be notified because it falls within our jurisdiction,” she said.

          Cuevas explained that consultations with local government units (LGUs) are provided for in the Local Government Code, more specifically Sections 2 and 7.

          Section 2, she said, provides that “all national agencies and offices are mandated to conduct periodic consultations with appropriate LGUs non government organizations and people’s organizations before any project or program is implemented in their respective jurisdictions.”

          On the other hand, Section 7 states that “no project or program shall be implemented by government authorities unless the consultation mentioned in preceding sections are complied with the prior approval of concerned city council is obtained.”    

          Considered the largest military camp in the country, the 44,000-hectare reservation - named after another democracy icon - former President Ramon Magsaysay, houses the Army’s 7^th Infantry Division (7^th ID), the Scout Ranger Regiment, the Special Forces and the Airborne Forces.

It was also in this reservation where the elder Aquino and his fellow former senator Jose Diokno were placed under solitary confinement for one month during the Martial Law years.

The transfer is now being worked out in coordination with other government offices such as the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and is being eyed as Public Private Partnership Project of the Aquino administration.

Last May, DOJ Undersecretary Francisco Baraan, its supervising official on the BuCor and the NBP, said the new facility being eyed is a modern one that will follow international standards and will cost P40 billion.

Baraan said the 551-hectare NBP in Muntinlupa , which opened in 1940, is now heavily congested as it houses 14,500 prisoners in its maximum security detention area alone although it was programmed to accommodate only 8,400 inmates. All in all, the NBP houses around 20,000 inmates. – Manny Galvez  

VP BINAY THANKS PUBLIC FOR ‘VOTE OF CONFIDENCE’

MANILA-Vice President Jejomar C. Binay thanked the public for their “vote of confidence” as reflected in the rating he received in Pulse Asia’s survey, which showed that he remains the top pick for president in the May 2016 elections.

“Vice President Binay accepts with gratitude and humility the Pulse Asia survey results where 41 per cent of our people consider him their top choice for president,” said Joey Salgado, vice presidential spokesperson.

“While we have two years to go before the 2016 elections, the Pulse Asia result is a vote of confidence in Vice President Binay's performance and preparedness to lead the nation,” he added.

The poll, conducted from June 24 to July 2, showed that 41 percent of 1,200 respondents would choose Binay as president if the 2016 elections were held today.

Binay’s score for the second quarter was slightly higher than the 40 percent rating he received in Pulse Asia’s March 19-26 survey.

“We recognize that the Pulse Asia and the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) surveys were conducted at a time when political developments could have affected satisfaction and trust with our top leaders and government in general. Nonetheless, the Vice President accepts the results of these surveys and will continue to work to improve the lives of our people,” Salgado said.

In second place is Sen. Grace Poe with 12 percent, followed by Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada with nine percent.

Tied for fourth to sixth places were Sen. Chiz Escudero, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago with seven percent each.

They were followed by Senators Bongbong Marcos and Alan Peter Cayetano with five percent each.

Sen. Bong Revilla obtained two percent, while Senate President Franklin Drilon and former senator Richard Gordon got one percent each.

Meanwhile, the same survey showed that Poe was the top choice for vice president for 2016, receiving 26 percent of the respondents’ votes.

Escudero came in second with 22 percent while Cayetano got the third place with 14 percent.

PAG-IBIG SETS ASIDE P6B FOR GLENDA CALAMITY LOANS

MANILA-The Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund) has allocated some P6 billion in calamity funds for members affected by typhoon Glenda (Rammasun), Vice President Jejomar C. Binay said Monday.

“We have set aside P6 billion to make sure that we have enough to fund calamity loan applications of Pag-IBIG members whose homes were damaged by typhoon Glenda,” he said.

Binay is the chairman of the Board of Trustees in his capacity as chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).

The Pag-IBIG calamity loan is available to members living in areas that have been declared under state of calamity. Eligible members may file loan applications within 90 days from the declaration of a state of calamity.

Areas that have been declared under state of calamity include the provinces of Bataan, Laguna, Quezon, Cavite, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Samar, as well as Muntinlupa City and Obando in Bulacan.

Binay said under the Pag-IBIG calamity loan program, members with at least 24 monthly contributions may borrow up to 80 percent of their total savings at an annual interest rate of 5.9 percent.

“This interest rate is the lowest in the market and is almost half of the previous interest rate of 10.75% per annum,” the housing czar said.

He added that the loan is payable within 24 months after a grace period of three months.

“Our members do not have to worry about paying the loan immediately. With the three-month moratorium, those who have taken out loans only need to start paying the monthly amortization on the fourth month. This will allow them time to take care of urgent concerns,” Binay said.

According to the Vice President, members with existing Pag-IBIG multi-purpose or calamity loans may still file for new calamity loan applications, provided that the sum of all loans, including the new one being applied for, does not exceed 80 percent of his total accumulated savings.

“Those with existing Pag-IBIG Housing Loans, on the other hand, may apply for the calamity loan and can avail of the full loanable amount, provided that the housing loan is not in default at the time of application,” he added.

The calamity loan is considered part of the short-term loan programs being implemented by Pag-IBIG and is treated separately from housing loans.

The Vice President also said that to expedite loan applications, Pag-IBIG will deploy roving offices to be stationed at the city or municipal halls of affected areas if needed.

“It is the mandate of Pag-IBIG to provide speedy and accessible aid to our members who are affected by calamities,” he said.

Morever, Binay said aside from the calamity loan, Pag-IBIG members with existing housing loans may also file insurance claims against allied perils if the property covered by the loan was damaged by the typhoon.

The amount that can be claimed depends on the extent of damage to the property.

Application forms for the calamity loan and the insurance claim may be downloaded from the Pag-IBIG website (http://www.pagibigfund.gov.ph) or may be requested from Pag-IBIG branches or roving offices.

As US banks shut down remittance programs VP BINAY CONCERNED OVER RISING REMITTANCE FEES

MANILA-Vice President Jejomar C. Binay has expressed “deep concern” over the recent moves of United States banks to restrict the use of their facilities for international money transfers in response to regulatory pressure from the US government.

“In particular, a plan to increase remittance fees would adversely impact on the millions of Filipinos in the United States who regularly send money to their families in the Philippines,” Binay said in a letter to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco, Jr.

Binay is the Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers’ Concerns.

The Vice President expressed optimism the BSP will look for solutions to mitigate the impact of the recent developments.

“I take note of the efforts of the BSP to address this development and I am optimistic that you will make the needed representations and take the needed steps to mitigate the effects of such policies on our kababayans in the US,” he said.

According to the New York Times, Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, and Citigroup have scrapped programs that allowed migrant workers to send money back to their families at a reduced cost, in response to increased regulation.

The increased regulation is part of the US government’s efforts to curb money laundering activities after a series of money-laundering scandals.

In 2012, HSBC was accused of failing to monitor more than $670 billion in wire transfers and more than $9.4 billion in purchases of US currency from HSBC Mexico.

HSBC admitted to laundering money for drug cartels and agreed to pay a $1.9 billion settlement to avoid lawsuit.

The US has been the biggest source of OFW remittances in recent years, with almost $10 billion remitted to the country in 2013 alone.

Drilon to DBM: Release DAP SAROs

MANILA-Senate President Franklin M. Drilon today urged the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release all documents, including pertinent Special Allotment Release Orders (SAROs), pertaining to the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) funds which were availed of by lawmakers.

“The records are with the DBM and Secretary Florencio Abad said that the DBM is conducting a thorough research on the matter. Upon the completion of its report, the DBM should release them for the sake of transparency,” said Drilon.

“These are public records and it is only right that the public be given access to these documents so that they can scrutinize and find out if public funds were indeed put for public use,” he stressed.

The Senate President likewise reiterated his earlier call for the Commission on Audit (COA) to conduct a comprehensive audit of the DAP, and investigate if there were red flags in the implementation.

He said that a COA full-blown audit would find out if DAP funds were misspent.

“The COA should heed calls for a complete audit of DAP. Only a COA report would dispel fears that these funds were used for personal gains,” said Drilon.

Legarda Wants Filipinos to be Heritage Warriors

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today asked Filipinos to be “heritage warriors” who will defend and conserve the tangible and intangible heritage handed down to us by our forefathers.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities, made the statement as she hailed the new graduates of Escuela Taller Intramuros who are heritage warriors in their own right as they restore deteriorating or damaged built heritage.

“It was heartbreaking to see centuries-old churches in Bohol and Cebu crumble down to an earthquake in October last year because these structures were not only symbols of faith but also of a rich history. But seeing the young graduates of Escuela Taller, I feel a renewed sense of hope that we can still save our precious heritage,” she said.

The Escuela Taller is a vocational school in Intramuros initiated by the Spanish Government. It aims to teach skills related to building construction to disadvantaged but talented Filipino youth. Students in this vocational school specialize in areas like masonry, carpentry, metal works, painting, plumbing, and acquire skills in woodcarving and stone carving.

Students have been involved in revival projects for the historic quarter of Intramuros, restoration of colonial churches and bridges, and other related heritage restoration projects.

As she lauded the third batch of Escuela Taller Intramuros graduates during the Graduation Ceremony today at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Building, Legarda said she hopes that more Filipinos will also fight for our heritage by reviving and promoting its various aspects.

She lamented that many other tangible and intangible heritage need to be conserved.

Legarda added that heritage is also a fundamental source of socio-economic empowerment, stressing that it can boost cultural tourism in areas of rich heritage to produce more jobs and generate bigger income for communities and local governments.

“We are endowed with a rich cultural history—our dances, chants, weaving traditions, textiles, heritage churches and buildings, language. We must strive to protect all of these, our pamana from our ancestors, which we must also pass on to our progeny. I am sure each of us can find an aspect of our culture that we are most interested in. That interest is enough to spark action and hopefully would enjoin every Filipino to become heritage warriors,” Legarda concluded.

Sotto pushes life imprisonment for hazing participants

MANILA-It is about time someone should be held accountable for the barbaric initiation rite that is hazing.

Senator Vicente C. Sotto III wants the life sentence imposed on any officers or members of fraternities or sororities that participate in any form of hazing, regardless of what happens to the victim or victims.

 

"This is a senseless brutal initiation rite that has claimed a number of young and promising lives. It is a barbaric act that has no place in modern society," Sotto said.

At present, the Anti-Hazing Law only imposes life imprisonment "if death, rape, sodomy and mutilation results there from" Graduated penalties are imposed depending on the circumstances and the condition of the victim.

But with the recent death of one more hazing victim, it is time to revisit the law and put more teeth into it.

In Senate Bill (SB) No. 97, the lawmaker seeks to amend  Section 4 of RA 8049, otherwise known as the Anti-Hazing Law of 1995 which provides for graduated penalties for hazing.

Under Sotto’s proposed amendment, “any officers or members of the fraternity, sorority or organization who actually participated in the infliction of physical harm in a hazing or other form of initiation rites shall be liable as principals and shall suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua.”

The proposed amendment in effect upgrades the penalty to life imprisonment of the participants regardless of what happens to the hazing victim.

"So many lives are still lost even despite the law. It is long overdue that we end this cycle of senseless violence," Sotto said. "How many promising lives, how many parents are still going to endure the pain of seeing their love ones die, or get maimed, in the hands of these barbarians?"

The latest victim of the fatal initiation rite was 18-year-old De La Salle College of St. Benilde student Guillo Servando. The senator has been helping the families of hazing victims like Marvin P. Reglos, 25, who died on February 19, 2012 and Marc Andre Marcos, 21, who died on July 30, 2012 both students of San Beda 

In his proposed measure, Sotto pointed out that RA 8049 was enacted to address the death and violence happening in fraternities, sororities and organizations.

Yet, "despite its enactment in 1995, there are still numerous reports of death and injuries in various parts of our country. It only shows that there is a need to strengthen the law, by providing a higher penalty" on hazing.

“While the Constitution mandates that a" educational institution shall teach the rights and duties of citizenship, strengthen ethical and spiritual values, develop moral character and personal discipline, students on the other hand, shall have the duty and responsibility to promote and maintain the peace and tranquility of the school by observing the rules of discipline,” Sotto explained. 

“The State should not be proscribed from interfering with the social development of students, particularly when life is at stake.  The enactment of Republic Act No. 8049, otherwise known as an Anti-Hazing Law serves to address the rampant violence happening in various fraternities, sororities and organizations," Sotto pointed out.

The proposed amendment  also seeks to include  the imposition of maximum penalty a) when hazing or initiation rite is committed under the influence of illegal drugs or liquor; and 

b) when there is a presence of non-resident or alumni fraternity members during the hazing. 

Sotto asked the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs to set hearings for his proposed amendment, before lives are claimed by brutal initiation rites.  The bill has been referred to the committee since last year.  

"We have to stop this violence on our children. Our educational institutions should be beacons of hope, not of death. We cannot allow another death," Sotto stressed.

VP BINAY WINS LIBEL SUIT VS EX-MAKATI VICE MAYOR

MANILA-Former Makati Vice Mayor Roberto Brillante was found guilty again of libel against Vice President Jejomar C. Binay and was ordered to pay P500,000 in damages to the city’s former chief executive.

In a 13-page decision dated June 30, 2014, Judge Selma Palacio Alaras of the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 62 said Brillante "willfully, unlawfully and feloniously” disseminated a defamatory statement that caused “dishonor, discredit and public contempt” upon Binay.

Alaras ordered Brillante to pay a fine of P6,000 as well as P500,000 in moral damages to the Vice President.

Binay filed a libel suit against Brillante in 2006 after the latter released a press statement that accused the former mayor of allegedly bribing three Sandiganbayan justices to win a graft case.

The Sandiganbayan had dismissed a complaint filed by Brillante against former Mayor Elenita S. Binay and nine others for lack of probable cause.

Brillante, citing unnamed sources, had said in a radio program and a press conference that "lobby money" resulted in the dismissal of the case

In his testimony, Binay said Brillante's statement "was calculated to disseminate malicious imputations" and "clearly brought damage" to his name, reputation, integrity and honor as a public servant. 

Brillante, on the other hand, told the court his statement was done in "good faith" but the court said Brillante failed to act in “good faith” when he neglected to “substantiate or even attempt to verify his story before publication,” and his information were “mere gossips peddled by unnamed sources.”

It further said that Brillante showed malice, a critical element in libel cases, when he “made such remarks with knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard as to the truth or falsity thereof.”

According to the court, journalists have a responsibility to report the truth, and in doing so must at least investigate their stories before publication, and be able to back their stories up with proof.

"There must be some foundation to their reports; these reports must be warranted by facts," the court said.

“There was no showing that accused (Brillante) made any attempt to talk to Mayor Binay to verify statements contained in the defamatory articles, especially considering the gravity of the accusations made against the latter.”

“Accused’s failure to verify the truth of the information from Mayor Binay himself is in itself an evidence of his lack of bona fide efforts to verify the accuracy of his information," it added.

While Brillante was found guilty of libel, the court imposed a penalty of fine instead of imprisonment because of the "wide latitude given to utterances against public figures" consonant to Administrative Circular No. 08-2008.

In 1993, Brillante was also slapped with a P500,000 fine for being convicted of five different counts of libel against Binay. The libel charges were related to the publication of the articles entitled "Binay accused of plotting slays of rivals," "Binay Slay Plan on (Augusto) Syjuco" and "Plea for Cory to Save Makati," all of which were published in January 1988.