Senator Marcos talks with MILF Chief Negotiator Iqbal: Help Return Arms to PNP

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JINGGOY ASKS COURT’S PERMIT TO ATTEND SENATE SAF 44 PROBE

MANILA-Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada formally asked today the approval of the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division to allow him to attend the hearing on the Mamasapano incident scheduled on Monday, February 9.

 

In an urgent motion submitted today, Sen. Estrada requested that he be allowed to participate in the hearings of the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs led by Sen. Grace Poe as “part of his constitutional and legal obligations.”

 

Estrada, who previously filed Senate Resolution 1134 calling for an inquiry into the bloody Maguindanao clash between the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police (PNP-SAF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and other elements, said that the investigation into the matter is of national interest for which he would like to fulfill his constitutional duty and obligation.

 

Sen. Estrada hopes that he will be permitted to leave his detention facility in PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame in Quezon City under the usual escort and security conditions at his expense two hours before the start of the hearing and be brought back within two hours after the adjournment of the hearing.

 

Sen. Estrada “has been fulfilling his obligations as a duly elected Senator of the country since last year,” the motion read.

 

The motion cited that the 90-day preventive suspension against him was already served and lifted by the Senate last December. Estrada has resumed his legislative functions and already filed 22 bills and resolutions since last month.

 

“As a senator, I would really want to get to the bottom of this one. Gusto kong malaman ung sino ang nag-order ng pagsugod ng ating mga kapulisan doon sa kuta ng MILF,” Jinggoy previously answered when asked why he wishes to attend the forthcoming hearings.

 

Sen. Estrada is requesting that he be allowed to participate in the hearings from the commencement of the probe until its adjournment.

 

The said motion is expected to be submitted for the consideration and approval of the court tomorrow, February 5, 2015.

Those summoned to Senate Mamasapano probe must present report using "seconds from disaster" format

MANILA-Police and military units summoned to the Senate’s probe on the Mamasapano firefight should present a “chronological sequencing” of events from the minute “A-1 intel” was received on the location of the prey to the time the body of the last police commando was plucked out of the killing zone. 

“So we can have a clear understanding of what really happened, then I suggest that we adopt a timetable format,” Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto said today.

“Let’s put in a sequence. From the time the green light was given to the “Mike One Bingo” moment to the calls for SOS,” he said.

“Mahirap intindihin kung patalon-talon, so mas maganda in chronological order, minute by minute,” said Recto of the much anticipated Senate probe next week on the January 26 carnage which left 44 Special Action Force (SAF) men and scores of Moro guerilla fighters and civilians dead. 

Recto said a “seconds to disaster” format, wherein highlights of the operation are clocked, will ferret out “differences or inconsistencies” in reporting.

“Kung sinabi ng isang Army unit na  sa ganitong oras nakatanggap sila ng mensahe sa pulis, pero ang sabi ng pulis eh two hours later ‘yun, doon pa lang malalaman na natin na merong  pagkakaiba sa narrative,” Recto said.

Using a single format, he said, “will allow for side-by-side comparison of reports. It will also enable one unit to validate the claim of another.” 

This will, however, entail the submission of communication logs by all the parties involved in the operation, which the Senate can summon, Recto said.

“And with eight different offices investigating the matter – from the Ombudsman to the Justice department to the two chambers of Congress to the PNP to the AFP and even the MILF – then having a time-based report will allow us to check if those called to the probe have been consistent in their testimonies,” he said.

Recto said testimonies, reports from civilians and local government officials can later be woven into the timetable. 

“Kung walang format na susundin, truth will be lost in the welt of confusing reports,” he said.

Senate told to invite SAF 44 kin to probe

MANILA-“Widows, mothers and relatives” of the fallen police commandos should be the invited to the Senate probe on the Mamapasano incident so they can shed light on “the brave last moments” of their loved ones who were phoning them till the end, a senator suggested today.

"The embattled SAF men were talking and texting to their relatives. Yung iba doon humihingi pa ng cellphone load sa kanilang mga kamag-anak, Sen. Ralph Recto said.

“Meron pang isang SAF, perhaps sensing the desperateness of the situation, sinamahan ng kanyang nanay sa pag-ro-rosaryo,” Recto said.

“There were many who were pleading with their friends, relatives to convey to their higher ups their need to be reinforced and extracted, which unfortunately did not happen,” Recto said.

Recto said he came to know of these from the stories of the kin of the 44 SAF men when he attended the wake for them in Camp Bagong Diwa Thursday night.

“May ibang kamaganak na nagsasabi na 2 or 3 PM nakakatanggap pa sila ng text, contrary to reports that the firefight ended noon of January 26,” the senator said. 

   

Recto said many relatives of those who perished in a 12-hour firefight with Moro rebels said they were in constant communication with encircled police officers until the latter ran out of battery power or cellphone load.  

“Although there was no audio recording of the fight, the nearest that we have to a ‘black box’ are the text messages of these brave men and their conversation with their relatives,” Recto said.

“You want to piece together the picture on the ground at that time? Then we can get it from the persons they last talked to. It may not be the whole picture, some may just provide snapshots, but it will help investigators draw the scenario at that time,” Recto said.

“I tend to believe that a great deal of the communication traffic out of the combat zone was not to their superiors or colleagues but to their loved ones,” Recto said.

Recto however believes not all SAF men were able to get in touch with family and friends in their time of peril.

“But for those who were able, then the Senate should invite without any compulsion whatsoever for them to attend,” he said.

“I know they are still mourning. And we should respect their privacy. But for those who would like to share their stories then we should welcome them here,” Recto said. 

‘What were our heroes last words? Sa text messages natin malalaman o sa kuwento ng kanilang mahal sa buhay,” the senator said.

“We need honest words, unblemished by political bias, that can take place only between the closest of kin,” Recto said. 

SK elections postponed to make way for reforms

MANILA-The Senate passed on third and final reading a bill postponing the elections for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) from February 21 this year to the last Monday of October 2016.

House Bill No. 5209 seeks to allot time for restructuring and reforms in the Sangguniang Kabataan.

“Elections can wait. Both chambers are working overtime to put reforms in place. Holding the SK elections without these reforms will render all efforts made by legislators useless,” Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., sponsor of the measure, said.

Marcos, chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government, stressed that the youth plays a significant role in community affairs, policy-making and public governance.

“The Sangguniang Kabataan must first be reformed and restructured in order to effectively represent the needs and concerns of the youth sector. We need to prepare the significant legislation that would institute meaningful, timely and viable reforms in the SK,” Marcos said.

To institute reforms in the SK, Marcos also authored Senate Bill No. 2401, the Youth Development and Empowerment Act of 2014, which seeks to amend the age of SK officials from 15 to 17 years old to 18 to 24 years old. The bill also seeks to provide trainings to professionalize and make the elected SK members aware of the responsibilities they face and enforce anti-dynasty measures down to the barangay level.

“It is urgent and important that we reform the SK as a platform for engaging the youth in the grassroots level, and where the youth will be honed to become better and more effective public servants in the future,” Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, chair of the Senate Committee on Youth, said.

“We can talk of any date of SK election as long as it will be under a new SK Reform Law,” Marcos said. (APPLE BUENAVENTURA, PRIB)

Drilon: Principle of command responsibility not applicable in Mamasapano attack

MANILA-The principle of “command responsibility” is not applicable in the Mamasapano encounter, hence President Aquino cannot be criminally charged on the basis of this doctrine, according to Senate President Franklin M. Drilon.

Drilon, former justice secretary, said that Aquino did not commit any violation of the principle of command responsibility in connection with the Mamasapano bloody encounter that killed 44 policemen last week.  

“I do not agree that President Aquino has incurred any liability on the principle of command responsibility under international law. Under the Rome Statute, command responsibility will apply if the superior, knowing his subordinates will commit a crime, fails to stop the commission of the crime, or knowing that his subordinates committed a crime, fails to punish them,” said Drilon.

“In this particular case, the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police, per news report, was there to serve a warrant of arrest to known terrorists, not to commit any crime, so the principle of command responsibility does not apply,” explained Drilon.

“The command responsibility has no application with President Aquino   under the Rome Statute,” he added.

The doctrine has recently been codified in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to which the Philippines is signatory. Sec. 28 of the Statute imposes individual responsibility on military commanders for crimes committed by forces under their control. 

According to the doctrine of command responsibility, a superior may be held criminally responsible for a crime committed by his subordinates if it is proven that despite his awareness of the crimes of subordinates, he fails to fulfil his duties to prevent and punish these crimes.

To hold a person criminally responsible under the doctrine, these three requirements must be proven:

(i)                A relationship of superior-subordinate linking the accused and those who committed the underlying offences at the time of the commission of the crime;

(ii)              The knowledge on the part of the superior that his subordinates have committed or taken a culpable part in the commission of a crime or are about to do so; and

(iii)             A failure on the part of the superior to take necessary and reasonable measures to prevent (“duty to prevent”) or to punish those crimes (“duty to punish”).

“Banatu Festival” ushers Cabanatuan’s 65th founding anniversary

CABANATUAN CITY – Three festivals, including the “Banatu Festival,” have been launched by the city government as local officials, led by Mayor Julius Cesar “Jay” Vergara and Vice Mayor Marius “Jolly” Garcia usher its 65^th founding anniversary today.

            The week-long festivities kicked off last January 30 with a Mass at the St. Nicholas de Tolentine after which Vergara led a boodle fight at the historic Plaza Lucero.

He later led the launch of the “Banatu Festival,” the longganisa cook-off challenge, Palaro sa Parke, Banatu Latin Dance Festival, Sayaw Cabanatuan and Teachers’ Night.

          Aside from the Banatu Festival, other festivals were the Tricycle Festival, Kite Festival.

          Last January 31, was marked by a carabao race, kasalang bayan, dog show, Battle of the Beauty Queens (Miss Gay Cabanatuan), barangay night, Tricycle Festival, songfest, bazaar, jobs fair. 

          On February 1, the festivities were marked by a fun run, adventure fun race, Kites Festival, Bb. Cabanatuan Grand Coronation Night, the off-road 4x4 challenge while on February 2, the grand finals of the zarzuela was held.

          Today, February 3, the Grand Parade will usher in the drum and lyre, street dance and float competitions while a golf tournament will be held at Lakewood to be capped by the Gawad Parangal at the Plaza Leticia Gardens and the Grand Celebration night at Plaza Lucero.

In his message, Vergara stressed that the “Banatu Festival” marked a significant milestone in the city’s rich history. He said the word banatu refers to a type of vine which grows in the riverside. It is used as bind for “baklad” (fish trap) and other instruments to catch fish.

Vergara said banatu bespeaks of the city, its leaders and its people, explaining that their collective concern and love for Cabanatuan serves as a strong bind in facing the challenges to its march to progress and development.  

“More importantly, this bind gives us the confidence that you are my partners in our resolve to continue the progress and change of Cabanatuan in the years to come,” he said.        

           This city, a former barrio of Gapan City, was converted into a pueblo or municipality in 1777 and finally into a chartered city on February 3, 1950 by virtue of Republic Act 526.

          Before the Vergara administration took over, the city’s history was marred by a long trail of political violence, starting with the burning of the old city hall in 1980. It was portrayed as a “wild, wild West” due to the alleged presence of warlords and private armies.

          In 1989, its then vice mayor was killed in an ambush by armed men suspected to belong to his political rival. In 1995, its outgoing mayor was murdered in an ambush in a nearby town.

These turn of events apparently scared investors who looked for investments somewhere else.

          But Vergara said that now, the city has shed its once unsavory image and became one of the nation’s top performing and competitive component cities.

          As a sign of growing investor confidence, shopping giant SM Corp. is soon opening its mall in the city in 2015, which is expected to generate no less than 1,000 jobs.

          According to the city’s business and licensing office, 726 new businesses mushroomed in the city in the first 10 months of 2014, bringing to a whopping 4,105 the total number of registered business establishments, with combined capital investments of P600 million.

          To top it off, its income is nearing the P1 billion mark. (Manny Galvez)

Senate will support any process that will uncover the truth on the Mamasapano attack, assured Drilon

MANILA-Senate President Franklin M. Drilon said the Senate will support any move that will uncover the truth on the Mamasapano attack and likewise end the spread of misinformation and lies regarding the unfortunate tragedy that left 44 elite commandos dead.

“I support any process that will lead us to the truth and enable Filipinos to get to the bottom of this unfortunate and unwarranted bloody encounter that killed dozens of members of thePhilippine National Police Special Action Force,” said Drilon.

“Whether it is through the Truth Commission being proposed or through the Board of Inquiry, or with the aid of a congressional hearing, the most important thing is we get to the facts,” he added.

“Our search for justice in this event begins by establishing the truth. Every Filipino deserves to know why our policemen died, how they were killed, and most importantly, who in the end killed them,” Drilon stressed. 

He said the immediate establishments of the facts will also stop the spread of misinformation, confusion and lies about the unfortunate tragedy.

Drilon explained that the bill on the creation of a Truth Commission will be referred to the appropriate Senate committee, which will look into the necessity of creating an independent fact-finding committee to investigate the Mamasapano attack.

“If the committee to where the bill will be referred believes that in order to uncover the truth, the creation of a Truth Commission is necessary, then we will support it,” said Drilon.

LEGARDA CALLS FOR "GREEN GOOD GOVERNANCE", URGES IMPLEMENTATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, today urged local government units (LGUs) to practice green good governance, through the implementation of environmental laws, particularly the Ecological Solid Waste Management Law or Republic Act No. 9003.

Legarda made the statement during the hearing of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, which discussed bills that seek to regulate the manufacture and use of plastic bags and promote biodegradable materials as an alternative for everyday use.

 “Plastic material, more often than not, end up as litter filling up our landfills and clogging our waterways. Post-clean up operations in Metro Manila and other urban areas are made difficult by plastic bags which are routinely thrown away after only one use,” Legarda noted.

She added, “Given the many challenges we face due to environmental degradation and climate change, it is about time that we shift from a throw-away mentality and promote sustainable daily habits.”

"All of us play an important role in solid waste management. This can be done through simple activities and programs that involve the concepts of reducing, reusing and recycling, such as clean-up and recycling drives," Legarda stressed.

"Green good governance is the key to the effective implementation of our environmental laws. Imagine if all LGUs implemented the Solid Waste Management Law, it would be cleaner, greener and bluer Philippines. I hope our leaders will have the political will to implement the law at full speed," Legarda concluded.

Inquiry, disclosure of bank accounts ‘related’ to Jinggoy illegal

MANILA-The Anti-Money laundering Council (AMLC) may have gone too far of its investigation into bank accounts of certain persons and breached privacy laws, as it was revealed by own admission of the prosecution panel that there was no petition for freeze order on the bank accounts of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.

 

A petition for freeze order is an essential requirement by Republic Act 9160, as amended (Anti-Money Laundering Act) before the AMLC can actually proceed with its investigation into the “related accounts” of its subjects.

 

According to the AMLC law, the term “related accounts” which may be subject to bank inquiry by the AMLC refer to the “accounts, the funds and sources of which originated from and/or are materially linked to the monetary instrument(s) or property(ies) subject of the freeze order(s).”

 

“Indeed, in the absence of any freeze order, there is no legal basis to subject the alleged ‘related accounts’ as identified in the AMLC Inquiry Report, to the AMLC’s bank inquiry.  In other words, the bank inquiries conducted on the alleged ‘related accounts’ were done in violation of Republic Act No. 9160, the laws on bank secrecy, and the account owners’ constitutional rights to privacy, to be secure in their persons, papers and effects, and to be accorded due process, among other rights,” the defense lawyers said in their reply to the opposition of the prosecution with regard to the Motion to Suppress/Exclude the AMLC report filed by Sen. Estrada.

 

The said “related accounts” belong to Mr. Francis Yenko, formerly holding a directorial position in the office of Sen. Estrada and currently the City General Services Officer of the City of Manila, and Juan Ng, among others.

 

Consequently, AMLC also violated confidentiality provisions for unlawfully divulging the findings of their bank inquiry as it was earlier leaked to a newspaper, even before the same could be presented or before the AMLC representative’s testimony was heard in the ongoing bail proceedings in Sandiganbayan Fifth Division.

 

A malicious banner report published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer stated that Yenko and Ng acted as “dummies” and “conduits” for Sen. Estrada’s alleged kickbacks and commissions from Janet Napoles and her bogus non-government organizations (NGOs). Sen. Estrada vehemently denied the accusation.

 

“First of all as I have repeatedly mentioned before, I never authorized anybody, Mr. Ng, Mr. Yenko, or whoever to transact with my PDAF. So whatever transactions that they may have, if they have any, I have nothing to do with it,” Sen. Estrada previously said in a statement.

 

“The prosecution and the AMLC’s utter disregard of the law and continuous blatant violation of constitutionally guaranteed human rights in their pursuit to vilify and crucify is truly frightening. Lahat na lang ay gagawin nila, labag man sa batas, kahit taliwas na sa tama at mga umiiral at legal na proseso, para lamang ako ay pabagsakin at para ako madiin dito sa sinasabing PDAF scam. Hindi ako makakapayag at ipagtatanggol ko ang aking karapatan,” Jinggoy said.

RDC forms TWG that would prepare Central Luzon for implementation of Senior High School

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga-Regional Development Council (RDC) has formed a technical working group (TWG) that is meant to address gaps and prepare Central Luzon for the implementation of Senior High School (SHS) by School Year 2016-2017.

 

“Department of Education (DepEd) has reiterated the need for the support of all local government units as well as concerned national agencies in preparation for SHS and full implementation of K to 12 in general. It shall be needing help particularly in provision of adequate facilities and other logistical concerns,” RDC Vice Chair and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Severino Santos said.

 

The TWG shall be chaired by DepEd with the provincial government of Pampanga as co-convenor and all governors, mayors of highly urbanized cities, President of the League of Municipalities in Central Luzon, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Labor and Employment, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and NEDA as members.

 

RDC 3 is the highest policy-making body in Central Luzon and serves as the counterpart of the NEDA Board at the subnational level.

It is the primary institution that coordinates and sets the direction of all economic and social development efforts in the region and serves as a forum where local efforts can be related and integrated with national development activities.

Council members include all governors, city mayors, municipal mayors of capital towns, presidents of municipal mayors’ league, regional directors of national government agencies and representatives from the private sector. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu)

RDC calls on all gov’t hospitals to allocate a dedicated ward for Indigenous Peoples

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga-Regional Development Council (RDC) in a resolution called on all state owned hospitals in Central Luzon to have a dedicated ward for Indigenous Peoples (IPs).

 

“Republic Act 8371 otherwise known as the IP Rights Act states that members of indigenous cultural communities shall equally enjoy full measure of human rights and freedoms without distinction or discrimination. Members of the Sectoral Committee on Social Development vouch for the need to have a dedicated ward to facilitate non-discrimination during hospitalization,”RDC Vice Chair and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Severino Santos said.

 

The Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital in particular is enjoined to dedicate 5-10 beds for IPs.

 

“Moreover, we have appealed to Department of Health to include in its priority program the establishment of Ospital para sa mga Katutubo to achieve the provision of inclusive health services in the region,” Santos added.

 

RDC 3 is the highest policy-making body in Central Luzon and serves as the counterpart of the NEDA Board at the subnational level.

It is the primary institution that coordinates and sets the direction of all economic and social development efforts in the region and serves as a forum where local efforts can be related and integrated with national development activities.

Council members include all governors, city mayors, municipal mayors of capital towns, presidents of municipal mayors’ league, regional directors of national government agencies and representatives from the private sector. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu)

RDC creates TWG that would fast-track relocation and resettlement of informal settler families in Manila Bay area

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga-Regional Development Council (RDC) has created a technical working group (TWG) on housing that would fast-track relocation and resettlement of informal settler families (ISFs) in Manila Bay area.

 

“This move is pursuant to the Supreme Court mandamus in December 2008 which ordered selected government agencies to clean up, rehabilitate, and eventually preserve Manila Bay through an operational plan that has a timeline of up to 2017,” RDC Vice Chair and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Severino Santos said.

 

In Central Luzon, the Manila Bay area covers the provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Tarlac.

 

“The TWG shall be chaired by Department of Interior and Local Government with NEDA, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, National Housing Authority and the provincial governments of those within the area as members,” Santos added.

 

Figures from DPWH show that there are about 15,200 ISFs living along major river systems in Region 3.

 

RDC 3 is the highest policy-making body in Central Luzon and serves as the counterpart of the NEDA Board at the subnational level.

It is the primary institution that coordinates and sets the direction of all economic and social development efforts in the region and serves as a forum where local efforts can be related and integrated with national development activities.

Council members include all governors, city mayors, municipal mayors of capital towns, presidents of municipal mayors’ league, regional directors of national government agencies and representatives from the private sector. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu)

RDC OKs construction of Small Reservoir Irrigation Project in Nueva Ecija

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga-Regional Development Council (RDC) has passed a resolution favorably endorsing the construction of the proposed P498 million Balbalungao Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (BSRIP) in San Isidro village, Lupao, Nueva Ecija.

 

“BSRIP aims to boost agricultural production through the provision of irrigation and drainage infrastructures in the area which would lead to increase in farmers’ income,” RDC Vice Chair and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Severino Santos said.

 

The project is eyed for completion in three years.

 

RDC 3 is the highest policy-making body in Central Luzon and serves as the counterpart of the NEDA Board at the subnational level.

It is the primary institution that coordinates and sets the direction of all economic and social development efforts in the region and serves as a forum where local efforts can be related and integrated with national development activities.

Council members include all governors, city mayors, municipal mayors of capital towns, presidents of municipal mayors’ league, regional directors of national government agencies and representatives from the private sector. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu)

RDC endorses construction of new Sta. Cruz Public Market via Design-Build-Transfer scheme

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga-Regional Development Council (RDC) has given the green light for the construction of a new public market for Sta. Cruz town in Zambales under the Design-Build-Transfer scheme of the Build-Operate-Transfer law.

 

“The P171 million infrastructure shall have 432 stalls at its dry section with a floor area of 3.60 square meters for each stall. Surrounding these stalls will be 28 air-conditioned spaces with each floor area ranging from 17-44 square meters,” RDC Vice Chair and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Severino Santos said.

 

“The private sector shall be invited to participate as investor through the designing of the entire plan and subsequently constructing the market itself,” Santos added.

 

Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zambales earlier recommended the project via Resolution No.2014-253.

 

RDC 3 is the highest policy-making body in Central Luzon and serves as the counterpart of the NEDA Board at the subnational level.

It is the primary institution that coordinates and sets the direction of all economic and social development efforts in the region and serves as a forum where local efforts can be related and integrated with national development activities.

Council members include all governors, city mayors, municipal mayors of capital towns, presidents of municipal mayors’ league, regional directors of national government agencies and representatives from the private sector. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu)