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Editor: Dionisio L. Pelayo • Saturday, August 1, 2015 A3
Aquino annoints Roxas admin bet in 2016 presidential derby
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By Butch Fernandez
RESIDENT Aquino on Friday virtually proclaimed Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II as the administration’s standard bearer, in advance of the October filing of certificates of candidacy for aspirants in the 2016 presidential elections. Malacañang officials, however, promptly played down concerns that Aquino may be found to be in violation of election laws against premature proclamation as the well-attened political event— which included ruling Liberal Party stalwarts, led by Senate President Franklin M. Drilon and Cabinet officials—at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City, was billed as “a gathering of friends.” Communications Secretar y Herminio B. Coloma Jr. and Chief Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Aquino was not at all worried about potential liability for making an early endorsement of Roxas, Aquino’s friend and 2010 running mate, as the
LP standard bearer in next year’s presidential derby. “No he [Aquino] is not,” Coloma said, noting that even election lawyer Romulo Macalintal had said that “the President may make a personal endorsement.” The presidential endorsement, in effect, seals an upcoming rematch between Roxas as LP bet and Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, who is running under the opposition United Nationalist Alliance. In his speech, Aquino told supporters that it is part of his obligation to ensure reforms began under daang matuwid will continue, which is why choosing and endorsing his successor is crucial.
Saying he felt no one else can guarantee with certainty the future of daang matuwid, Aquino then proceeded to endorse Roxas, triggering hearty applause from his Club Filipino audience. “We will go with whom we can be certain will continue the straight path. And I believe that person is none other than Mar Roxas.” Justifying his choice, Aquino recalled that Roxas “was the first who worked to bring the BPO [business-process outsourcing] sector here and ensure it flourished in the Philippines.” T he President pointed out that from having 2,400 BPO employees in 2000, the sector has ballooned to an P18.9-billion industry, employing over 1 million people in 2014. “I know that, whatever orders are given Mar, he will not leave until the situation is stable. Whether in Zamboanga, Bohol, or Leyte, even when communications has been cut off because of [Typhoon] Yolanda, I know that everything is in good hands and that he does not need to wait for orders, just to ensure that all needs are met,” Aquino added.
Popularity rating disappointing
AQUINO admitted, however, he was puzzled why Roxas was
having difficulty improving his popularity ratings, trailing behind Binay and Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in presidential surveys. “What’s puzzling to us: In spite of everything that Mar has done, in spite of his sacrifices, it’s as if there’s an entire industry dedicated to bringing him down.” “For my part: The triumphs of one person do not vanish into thin air, just because he does not broadcast them. And in choosing, I, like you, do not consider those who are clearly credit mongers, and those who have clearly strayed from the straight path,” Aquino said. He urged voters to examine what candidates have done, saying: “The longer their experience, the better, because it is in their experience that we will see evidence of their being true and excellent partners along the straight path.” “It is clear who, of all the choices, deserves to be our next leader. And if his numbers are low at this point in time, it only means that we need to do even more to make him known to all,” Aquino said. “To my bosses, I tell you today: In my opinion, the one who has shown exemplary work and true integrity, the one fully ready to continue the straight path, is none other than Mar Roxas.”
‘Perpetuation of elite rule, antipoor policies’
PROGRESSIVE groups called the recent anointment of Roxas as LP presidential candidate “logical choice for a laki-sa-layaw, pompous son of sugar haciendero of a President to prefer his kindred spirit.” “As far as the workers are concerned with the affairs of the country, Aquino’s choice did not come as a surprise. Aquino did not hide the fact that he desired a candidate who will continue his rabid antipoor policies and Roxas undeniably fits the bill,” said Leody de Guzman, chairman of militant labor group, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP). The BMP views Roxas’s acceptance of the baton from Aquino not only as a continuation of the programs of Aquino that led to wage suppression, widespread underemployment, contractualization and circumvention of labor laws but also their furtherance. De Guzman argued that, “Roxas’s banking and business background will be utilized to stir up foreign investments and will directly translate to relentless liberalization of the market, deregulation of strategic industries, privatization of state assets and labor flexibilization.” More so the labor leader perceives
that Aquino’s endorsement of Roxas will not only serve in the interests of the oligarchs but is also self-serving for it assures him a free pass from all accountabilities for his administration’s transgressions. “Roxas’s neoliberal economic stance and entry in the 2016 presidential race has placed him in the crosshairs of the workers’ rage. He should expect it anytime soon,” he added. Meanwhile, lawyer Aaron Pedrosa of Sanlakas took a jab at the public event at Club Filipino, where Aquino announced his anointment of Roxas saying, “It was composed of the same old dynasties and personalities that benefited from the Aquino regime and aim to perpetuate their economic and political control from 2016 onward.”’ “It only took less than a week for Aquino to expose himself. This administration never intended to pass the anti-dynasty law for it is the lifeline of their elitist rule and their activity at Club Filipino is testament to that. Roxas’s campaign shall be fueled by these corrupt dynasties, he said. Both groups vowed to oppose all presidential candidates that will bear the neoliberal economic agenda in their political platform. With Mavyn Benaning and Claudeth Mocon
Eye clinic owner files libel, disbarment, civil cases vs top PhilHealth officials
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PREPARING FOR THE BIG ONE Students of the Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology in Manila participate in the Metro-wide Earthquake Drill on Thursday. NONIE REYES
DMCI: ‘Photo-bombing’ issue has no basis in law
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By Joel R. San Juan
AYING that the “photo-bombing” issue against P2.7-billion Torre de Manila project has no legal basis in law, the DMCI Project Developers Inc. (DMCI-PDI) has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to dismiss the petition, filed by the Knights of Rizal (KOR) seeking to stop further construction its 49-story condominium building project in Manila. In its 24-page position paper submitted to the Court, the DMCI-PDI described KOR’s petition as “high on political drama, but short on the facts and the law,” that warrants the immediate lifting of the temporary restraining order (TRO) that it issued enjoining the completion of the project. It noted that there is no provision in Republic Act (RA) 10066 of the National Heritage Act, RA 4846, or the Cultural Properties Preservation and Protection Act and RA 7356, the law creating the National Commission for Culture and the Arts that protects the background or backdrop of any historical or cultural property. “The law does not prohibit the construction of any structure that would overshadow, mar or otherwise obstruct the background or backdrop of any monument or park,” the DMCI-PDI noted. The private respondent pointed out that KOR’s claim that Torre de Manila offends the senses of every Filipino who honors the memory of national hero Jose Rizal does not bring it within the legal definition of a nuisance per se. It also denied that the building altered the physical integrity of the Rizal
Monument considering that it is 870 meters away from the monument. The building also cannot be considered as nuisance, according to the DMCIPDI, as it does not pose a direct threat to public health or safety. Furthermore, the DMCI-PDI said the fact that Torre de Manila was given the necessary permits and exemption confirms that it is not a nuisance. “Torre de Manila is a legitimate residential condominium project that was demonized in the media as a ‘photobomb’ that would mar the view of the Rizal monument. However, the concept of ‘photo-bombing’ in relation to national monuments and shrines is not in the law. Buildings and high-rises, including those around public monuments, are inevitable in metropolitan areas because of the increase in population and the lack of available space,” DMCI argued. It noted that even several prominent Filipinos, such as National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose, urban planner Architect Felino Palafox Jr., the Philippine Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations Inc. have independently issued opinions and statements defending Torre de Manila from public bashing in the media. It also warned that a ruling against the construction of Torre de Manila would create a dangerous precedent and result to “economic havoc.” It noted that several high-rises and buildings surround most of the monuments in Metro Manila and other parts of the country. In particular, the DMCI-PDI cited the runabout at the Bantayog ni Bonifacio in Caloocan City, where an SM supmer-
market and other buildings stand; the Bonifacio monument on J.P. Rizal Street in Makati City where several high-rise condominiums and commercial buildings have been put up and other monuments, such as the Edsa Shrine in Ortigas Center, Liwasang Bonifacio in Ermita, Manila, the Ninoy Aquino Monument in Makati City, the Rizal Monument in Zamboanga City, the Statue of Arsenio Lacson in Manila, and the monument of Gen. Pio del Pilar in Makati City. “A ruling directing the demolition of Torre de Manila will have the practical effect of evicting thousands of residents of high-rise condominiums, knocking down malls and public markets, and tearing down banks, hospitals and other industries crucial to business and the national economy,” it explained. It stressed that a ruling requiring the destruction of Torre de Maila constitute taking of private property for public use requiring payment of just compensation. The DMCI-PDI noted that as of May 31, DMCI-PDI had spent P1.28 billion for the construction of the building and that it would lose about P4.27 billion in capital investments and unrealized profits should the Court order it to be demolished. “Petitioner seeks to enjoin the construction and development of Torre de Manila and to demolish it to secure for the general public the continued enjoyment of the Rizal Monument and its surroundings, free of the supposed obstructions of tall buildings such as Torre de Manila. This constitutes public purpose within the contemplation of eminent domain,” the DMCI-PDI said.
HE Quezon City Eye Center (QCEC), one of the private clinics that a Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) official included in the list of clinics that supposedly made fraudulent claims from the state corporation, on Friday filed disbarment, libel and civil cases against PhilHealth officials, led by its president and CEO, Alexander Padilla, for alleged harassment and damaging statements about QCEC. The QCEC, through its mother company Eye Center Conglomerate Inc., filed disbarment cases before the Supreme Court against Padilla, and lawyer Jay Villegas, senior manager of PhilHealth’s Operations Audit Department, for allegedly harassing QCEC and depriving the clinic of payments due to the latter for the use of its facilities. QCEC President Raymond P. Evangelista also filed libel charges before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office against Padilla and Kim Gariando, PhilHealth internal auditor and member of the government company’s audit department, for wrongly accusing QCEC of receiving more than P150 million in Phil-
Health claims and allegedly resorting to illegal means to lure patients. Evangelista, represented by lawyer Lorna Kapunan, is seeking P2.5 million each from Padilla and Gariando in moral and exemplary damages and attorney’s fees for the libel cases. A P34-million civil case for damages for abuse of rights and breach of contract against PhilHealth, lawyers Padilla and Villegas, and Drs. Robert Louie So and Gariando was, likewise, filed by Evangelista before the Regional Trial Court in Quezon City. The disbarment case against Padilla alleged that the PhilHealth CEO “unfairly persecuted and prejudged, and continues to persecute and prejudge, QCEC even if the investigation of QCEC is still ongoing. “Not satisfied with depriving QCEC of its constitutional right to due process, Attorney Padilla launched a media campaign, announcing for the whole world to hear that QCEC is involved in fraudulent claims and that QCEC takes advantage of the already disadvantaged members of society for profit. “Attorney Padilla, also using
resources of PhilHealth, including the audit department and the legal department, committed acts of harassment against QCEC and deprived QCEC of payments for the actual use of its facilities by PhilHealth members.” The libel charges on the other hand stemmed from Padilla’s allegedly erroneous pronouncements that QCEC earned more than P150 million in benefit payments in 2014 and that it has three physicians with more than 1,000 cases of fraud. “Philhealth also stopped paying the pending claims of QCEC and announced the allegations and sanctions without giving the clinic due process and informing it of the charges before these were aired in the media through a news conference,” the complaint said. The other respondents were included in the charges for their participation in what Evangelista described as Padilla’s “apparent vicious intent to tarnish the reputation of QCEC as a health provider facility and destroy QCEC’s business.” Joel San Juan
Lack of quorum to kill anti-dynasty, FOI bills By Marvyn N. Benaning Correspondent
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HE House of Representatives failed to do its job in three successive session days after President Aquino delivered his final State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday. Members of the Makabayan Bloc, which prides itself as the most diligent group of legislators in the lower house, confirmed that those who applauded the President most on July 27 were missing from July 28 to 30. Traditionally, the lower house does not hold sessions on Friday to allow members to return to their districts. If the pro-administration lawmakers continue to absent themselves in preparation for the electoral campaign next year, Aquino’s request to Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. to approve the Anti-Dynasty bill and the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill would mean nothing, the seven-member bloc said. Nonetheless, the lawmakers will be around during the budget deliberations, particularly after the
Makabayan Bloc, revealed that the claims about the insertions of nine senators in the 2014 national budget are true. In fact, the bloc said, the P323.6billion realignment orchestrated by Aquino and Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad in the same year funded more than 1,000 projects at the behest of lawmakers. Among the nine were Sens. Antonio Trillanes IV and Alan Peter Cayetano, who are both planning for higher office. On Page 951 of the recently released National Expenditure Program (NEP), Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon of Kabataan said the Aquino administration pooled P90.4 billion from various departments and agencies and P233.2 billion from the Special Purpose Funds (SPFs.) These funds were then transferred to several agencies and to other SPF accounts to deodorize them, even if they eventually went to projects allocated to Liberal Party (LP) lawmakers or for programs pursued by Cabinet members belonging to the same party.
Worse, Ridon said, the funds could be channeled to the presidential campaign of Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, who was anointed by Aquino as the LP presidential candidate in the May 9, 2016, election. Roxas has been blamed for the fiasco at Metro Rail Transit Line 3, which lost 57 train cars out of 73 when he and his subordinates kicked out Sumitomo from its maintenance contract. He was also slammed for the Typhoon Yolanda mess, when he tried to take over Tacloban purportedly to speed up “rehabilitation” and caused uproar among the disaster victims. Bohol mayors whom Roxas criticized for the snail-paced repair of town halls and government buildings destroyed by an earthquake also lashed back at him, saying that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) that he heads took an eternity to give them the guidelines for the construction projects. Under Roxas’s watch, not a single fire truck for the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) was purchased, even as the bureau had P2.6 billion for the program.