Second frontpage n CA suspends Lopez’s
confirmation as DENR secretary/p.2
n Tax Churchrun schools? Bishops say it’s govt’s call but…
n Purge of House leaders eyed next week, says Alvarez Page 3
Page 5
MINDANAO DAILY T H E P U RV E YO R O F T R U T H , J U S T I C E , A N D D E V E LO P M E N T
Volume VI, No. 235
Website: www.mindanaodailynews.com
Friday
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Cops arrest man with P2.3m of alleged shabu By GERRY LEE GORIT Correspondent
CAGAYAN de Oro City--A person was arrested with more than half a kilo of suspected shabu, with an estimated street value of about P2.3 million in a buy-bust operation conducted by the Divisoria police late.
Inspector Jessie Palencia, deputy station commander of the Divisoria police, said the suspect, Sobair Mimbalawag was caught red-handed with the illegal substance during a buy-bust operation in his house in Barangay Balulang late Wednesday afternoon. Taken from Mimbalawag’s possession were 10 sachets of alleged
methamphetamine hydrochloride weighing 512.3 grams. The suspect is considered a high-value target and it took the police several months to conduct surveillance on him, said Senior Inspector Maricris Mulat, Divisoria police station chief. “His [Mimbalawag] arrest See shabu, page 7
War on drugs
Lawmen arrest 9 suspects in Caraga ARRESTED. Police Inspector Jessie Palencia (right), deputy sta-
tion commander of the Police Precint 1, reviews the documents used in filing the case against Sobair Mimbalawag, who was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Balulang, on Wednesday. Mimbalawag is a suspected shabu pusher. Photo by Gerry Lee Gorit for Mindanao Daily News
Authorities arrested nine suspects and seized around P220,000 worth of shabu in the Caraga region following orders from the main headquarters to resume the war on illegal drugs. Caraga Police Director Chief Supt. Rolando Felix said that police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency operatives conducted the
anti-illegal drug operation and seized 23 sachets of suspected shabu from the suspects. Arrested during a joint operation on Tuesday dawn in Barangay Doongan were Jabbar Dangcogan, 23, Abdulkhayr Dancogan, 45, and Farhan Pantao, 19, all residents of Barangay Sandoc in Marawi City. In another operation, Tandag
City police operatives arrested Thelma Meras, 52, Janibel Cacas, 28, and Bobby Abrigo, 29, all residents of Barangay Dagocdoc, Tandag City. Other anti-illegal drug operations were conducted in the cities of Cabadbaran and Surigao, the official said. noel b. najarro of pna
De Oro students stage noise barrage over death penalty By Froilan Gallardo of MindaNews
CAGAYAN de Oro City-Students and teachers of Xavier University blew whistles and staged a noise barrage outside their school here to protest the House of Representatives’ decision to reinstate the death penalty for drug-related crimes. Fr. Roberto Yap, S.J., XU president, led the students and teachers in blowing whistles and urging drivers to honk their horns for three hours outside the
In Focus
school campus Wednesday afternoon. “We are ver y disappointed that the House of Representatives voted to reimpose the death penalty. We hope the Senate will not,” he said. Yap said there are three “strong” reasons why death penalty should not be reinstated again: first, many studies have shown that death penalty does not deter crime; second, there is a No to Death Penalty. Students and teachers of Xavier University in possibility that extrajudicial Cagayan de Oro City stage a noise barrage outside their school to protest the House killings will be of Representatives’ decision to reinstate the death penalty for drug-related crimes. See penalty, page 7
MindaNews photo by Froilan Gallardo
PopCom: Most contraceptives to expire in 2019 n A top official of the Commission on Population (PopCom) on Thursday warned of untapped contraceptive products that are set to expire in 2019 with the derailed implementation See expire, page 7
CEB marks first anniversary of first US destination n The Philippines’ leading carrier, Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB), celebrates one year of service between Manila and its first US destination, Guam. See marks, page 7
MINDANAO DAILY SECOND FRONTPAGE mark francisco, Section Editor EDITOR: RUEL V. PELONE
Friday
March 10, 2017
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Lopez unfazed
Despite growing opposition against her confirmation before the Commission on Appointments (CA), Environment Secretary Gina Lopez on Tuesday said that she was unfazed knowing the people are with her. At present, there are 23 sworn oppositions to Lopez’s confirmation filed before the CA. Lopez said that she knew that the people, particularly environmental advocates, are behind her. Meanwhile, she asked members of the CA with mining interests to inhibit from the CA. “You cannot make decisions based on your pocket. It’s wrong,” Lopez said. Lopez is set to face
SUPPORT FOR SECRETARY GINA. Thousands of supporters of Secretary Gina Lopez gather at the Senate grounds to call for her confirmation as DENR Secretary. photo credit : www . denr . gov . ph
CA suspends confirmation of Lopez as DENR secretary
The confirmation of Environment Secretary Gina Lopez was suspended until Thursday to allow more oppositors to be heard, the Commission on Appointments (CA) said Wednesday. CA Environment Committee Chair Sen. Manny Pacquiao said that there are currently over 20 people, mostly congressmen, who have filed sworn oppositions to Lopez’s confirmation. “We would want to hear all oppositors to be fair,” Pacquiao said. Lopez’s next confirmation
hearing was scheduled ahead of her scheduled overseas trip on Friday night. During the confirmation hearing, Lopez expressed confidence that the agency can get the Philippines out of poverty by taking care of environment which can eventually lead to economic growth. Lopez noted that she had zero tolerance for corruption and that she would not allow the country to suffer for the benefit of business interests. She again brought up that
See unfazed, page 7
some of her oppositors have mining interests to protect. One of them is San Juan City Rep. Ronaldo Zamora, whose brother, Manuel, is currently chairman of mining company Nickel Asia Corporation. “You can tell your brother you totally killed the mountain. You better tell him to behave,” a feisty Lopez told Zamora. Lopez previously ordered the closure and suspension of several metallic mines for serious environmental violations discovered.
First oppositor Manuel Galvez of Clean Air Advocates pointed out that Lopez was “incompetent” and needed to study the environment further. In response, Lopez stressed that achieving clean air was her “passion.” In an interview with reporters, Lopez said that although she is not a “technical” person, her dedication to eradicate poverty through environmental initiatives made her a worthy member of the cabinet. “Do you want a technical guy only? What is important in a
cabinet minister? Is it technical, is it integrity, is it development experience? I want to help the Filipino people and I know that by taking care of the environment it is possible,” Lopez said. “What do you prefer? Someone who knows all the laws or someone that’s been able to make a difference? I’ve been able to eradicate poverty in some areas,” she added. She stressed that it is impossible for a cabinet official to have “all” the qualifications. philippine news agency
Multi-agency P4-b effort to produce green jobs in closed mines As many as 30,000 households could benefit from green jobs that will be generated by a multi-agency four billion-peso investment in three provinces that will be affected by mine closures as a result of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) mining audit that shut down mines near watersheds in Surigao Del Norte, Surigao Del Sur, and the Dinagat Islands. This according to DENR Secretary Gina Lopez, who on Tuesday emphasized that the closure of mines would not result in job losses that could adversely affect the lives of residents depen-
dent on mining for their livelihood. “It is incumbent upon us in government to provide alternatives for our citizens who are affected by our policies. We want to protect the environment, and want to show that we can save lives and provide livelihood at the same time,” said Lopez. According to Lopez, the DENR together with ten other government line agencies are prepared to invest close to four billion pesos to provide employment opportunities for 25 to 30 thousand households. The other agencies include the Department of
Labor and Employment, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Science and Technology, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Philippine Coconut Authority, the Department of Public Works and Highways, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development. “We have a very good, very doable plan that will provide employment See green, page 7
In Focus
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Purge of House leaders eyed next week -- Alvarez Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Tuesday said the purge of dissident House leaders who voted against the administration’s priority bill restoring the death penalty will start next week. “Mapapalitan, hindi tatanggalin, (They will be replaced, not removed),” Alvarez said in an ambush interview. With 216 votes on the affirmative, 54 negative and one abstention, majority of the congressmen passed House Bill No. 4727, or an act imposing the death penalty on drug-related crimes. Hous e le aders w ho voted against the measure include Deputy Speaker
Carlos Isagani Zarate chairing the committee on natural resources; ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. Antonio Tinio chairing the committee on public information; Dinagat Islands Rep. Arlene Bag-ao chairing the committee on people participation; and Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine Ramirez Sato as member of the Commission on Appointments. These lawmakers are endangered of being stripped of their leadership posts for deviating from the Duterte administration’s priority measure. The seven-member Makabayan bloc voted against the bill, saying that the death penalty is anti-poor; a
and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo; Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto chairing the committee on civilservice and professional regulation; Quezon City Rep. Kit Belmonte chairing the committee on land use; Bayan Muna Partylist Rep.
historic tool for suppressing political dissent; vulnerable to corruption; and ultimately, an ineffective deterrent against criminality. Siquijor Rep. Rav Rocamora, in his “no” vote explanation, said the current criminal judicial system is not ready for the reimposition of the death penalty. Rocamora said the current system is mired with flaws conducive to sending an innocent person to death. “I say that the best deterrence is a competent criminal justice system that guarantees due process and make certain the arrest, prosecution, conviction, and services of sentence of those who are truly guilty,”
Rocamora said. Buhay Partylist Rep. Lito Atienza, who is one of the zealous dissenters of the death penalty revival, said that the country’s problematic justice system could endanger many innocent lives. Meanwhile, House committee on dangerous drugs chair Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said he voted in favor of the death penalty because the proliferation of illegal drugs spurred several crimes in the country. “I fully support this measure because like our President, I am fully aware of the dangers, as well as the irreparable damage, that
this menace has brought our people, our children and how the entire future of our country has been compromised,” Barbers said. “Senseless killings, irreversible brain damage and a completely wasted populace are but some of the realities we face with the proliferation of illegal drugs,” he added. House special committee on the West Philippine Sea chair Feliciano Belmonte Jr. voted in the affirmative, noting that he was just being consistent with the vote he made during the time of President Fidel Ramos when the death penalty law was enacted. A report from the Philippine News Agency
Strict implementation of billboard law in Oro pushed
WHEN there is doubt between the implementation of the national law against the local law, automatically the national law will prevail. This was stressed by Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin V. Uy after Councilor Teodulfo E. Lao
said there was a memorandum issued by the former secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) that overpasses, streets and roads cannot be used for any commercial undertaking but solely for public use.
“Even if there is already a memorandum issued by the DPWH that it is prohibited, it was still violated,” Lao cited. He said when he was the barangay chair of Lapasan he opposed the installation of billboards in the overpass, but according to
the proponent, a city ordinance allowed them to do so. “It is high time to review our ordinances and implement it to the fullest for the safety of our people,” he added. Vice Mayor Uy said city ordinances must be parallel to
the national law and under the principle of parens patriae, the government should look into the good of its people. IMPLEMENTATION For his part, Councilor Romeo V. Calizo, chair of the See pushed, page 6
summer SALE
MSU-iiT naTional MUlTi-PURPoSE CooPERaTiVE
To: notice to all Members in Good Standing (MiGS) 39th annual General assembly by Cluster Schedule:
UP TO 50% DISCOUNT ON SELECTED ITEMS
ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Call to Order Proof of Due Notice Determination and Declaration of Quorum Consideration and Approval of the Minutes of the March 19, 2016 Annual General Assembly by Cluster Matters arising from the Minutes of the March 19, 2016 Annual General Assembly by Cluster Confirmation of BOD Resolutions: January to December 2016 Presentation of Officers and Management’s Reports a. Chairperson b. Joint BOD and Management c. Audit d. Election e. Credit f. Other BOD Committees 8. Presentation of Audited Financial Statement of 2016 Financial Condition of Operations 9. New Business: a. Approval of Strategic Plan for 2017-2019 b. Approval and Confirmation of Budget for 2017 c. Appointment of External Auditors for 2017 d. Proposed New Sunshine Guidelines e. Proposed Amendments of the Bylaws f. Presentation and Confirmation of the Newly-elected Coop Officers 10. Other Matters 11. Adjournment BRANCH General Santos City (Cluster 6)
DATE February 25, 2017
TIME 7 AM – 12 NOON
Davao City (Cluster 6)
February 26, 2017
7 AM – 12 NOON
Cagayan de Oro City (Cluster 3) Bulua, Cogon, Carmen, Puerto and Laguindingan Butuan City (Cluster 5)
March 4, 2017
7 AM – 12 NOON
March 5, 2017
7 AM – 12 NOON
Maranding, Tubod LDN, and Pagadian (Cluster 4)
March 11, 2017
7 AM – 12 NOON
Iligan City (Cluster 2) Pala-o, Buru-un, Tubod, SuarezTominobo, Poblacion and Bacolod LDN Iligan City (Cluster 1) Tibanga Main, Kiwalan and Manticao
March 18, 2017
1 PM – 5 PM
March 19, 2017
7 AM – 12 NOON
VENUE Robinson’s Mall Activity Center, General Santos City USeP Social Hall, Obrero St., Davao City Brgy. Nazareth Gymnasium, Cagayan de Oro City FSUU Gymnasium, Butuan City Christ the King College de Maranding, Maranding, Lala, Lanao del Norte MSU-IIT Gymnasium, Tibanga, Iligan City MSU-IIT Gymnasium, Tibanga, Iligan City
Prepared by: Engr. Jeremy V. Pinzon Board Secretary
Attested by: Dr. Rhodora S. N. Englis Chairperson, Board of Directors
Notes: 1. Please bring at least one (1) valid I.D. for verification of identity. 2. Election 2017 will be done simultaneously with opening program and business meeting.
R.E.R. Highway, Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City Telefax. No. (088) 856-5763, Cel. No. 09268376542
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Opinion
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Morales betrayed public trust re DAP suit
LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… There are those who turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground… There are those who hate the one who upholds justice in court and detest the one who tells the truth… There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts…. maintain justice in the courts…” (Amos 5:7, 10, 12 and 15, the Holy Bible). -oooMORALES BETRAYED PUBLIC TRUST RE DAP SUIT: Betrayal of public trust, treachery against the people’s aspirations for a just and truthful government, and culpable and shameless violation of the Constitution, especially on its provisions on honesty and integrity in public service, and on fighting graft and corruption in all levels. These, to many, sum up what Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales did in the decision she issued recently on the controversial disbursement acceleration program (DAP) of then former President Aquino and former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad. The DAP was used by Aquino and Abad in taking
gerry lee gorit Photo Journalist
PAT SAMONTE CHRIS PANGANIBAN Regional Editor Caraga Regional Editor-Davao Rene Michael BaÑos uRIEL C. QUILINGUING Regional Editor Northmin Contributing Editor Demosthenes P. Maglasang Sr.
RODRIGO B. SEVILLA Regional Editor-Davao
JOE FELICILDA Editorial Consultant JOE PALABAO Feature Editor
ATTY. MARIO T. JUNI
NOTARY PUBLIC- JUNI LAW OFFICE CELL NO: 09352379999/ (088) 8573595 CRUZ TAAL ST., CAG. DE ORO CITY Legal Counsel ---------------------------------------------------------------
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of the law. Then, with her decision, Morales displayed double standard of justice in discharging the duties and responsibilities of her office, in gross disrespect of the Constitution because, in the P10 billion pork barrel scam involving then Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla, she expeditiously found them liable for plunder and had them jailed hurriedly without bail, so that, except for Enrile, they are in detention until now. -oooMORALES’ DOUBLE STANDARD AS OMBDUSMAN: Yet, in the more serious case of stealing government funds amounting to P150 billion or so through the DAP perpetrated by Aquino and Abad which were evidently Morales’ benefactors, which P150 billion is definitely much, much more than the P10 billion involved in the pork barrel scam, Morales not only dilly-dallied on investigating the matter, despite the Supreme Court order. She clearly twisted and mangled existing laws on plunder, graft, and corruption, to make sure that Aquino---the man who
Atty. Batas Mauricio
appointed her Ombudsman despite her retirement from government service--would not face trial, and to ensure that Abad could escape prison even if he gets convicted with what she charged him with. In fine, I couldn’t blame the likes of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption and media personalities who think first before they write or broadcast something, if, in unison, they accused Morales of grave wrongdoings and sought her ouster from her office which, in hindsight, was given to her only because her predecessor was also ousted through the machinations of Aquino. -oooPLEASE LISTEN: “Ang Tanging Daan” (The Sole Way): a Bible Exposition and prayer session online, could now be heard 24/7 (24 hours a day), in the Philippines and the world at www.facebook.com/angtangingdaan. Phone: 0917 984 24 68, 0918 574 0193, 0977 805 9058. Email: batasmauricio@yahoo.com.
Agree or disagree
AL JACINTO Regional Editor-WestMin
over some P150 billion or so government funds already allocated as budgets of various departments and agencies of government, for distribution to senators and congressmen to entice them to vote for the ouster of then Chief Justice Renato Corona. -ooo“PROTECT AQUINO, ALLOW ABAD TO ESCAPE FULL LIABILITY”: That decision was seen as betrayal of public trust, treachery, and a culpable violation of the Constitution by Morales for many reasons. The first is that, with that decision, she evidently intended to protect Aquino, whom she cleared of any liability over the DAP even if he was a signatory to all orders establishing the DAP, and to enable Abad, the official who implemented the DAP, to escape full liability. Despite his being sued by Morales, it is clear that Abad was merely slapped with an insignificant case of usurpation of authority whose penalty could only be six months imprisonment, disregarding clear orders of the Supreme Court to prosecute the authors, proponents, and implementors of the DAP to the full extent
GOOD governance is a vital requisite for socio-economic development. But if it is true that political patronage, not the ability and aptitude to do a job should be the basis by which one enters in government service - what kind of bureaucracy do we have? One can craft the most balanced organizational structure and formulate the most precise processes and procedures in order to carry out governmental functions, but all of these will be useless if the professionally trained, educated and principled human beings, clothed with good moral character and values are not there to energize the structures and make the processes and procedures work. Even granting, for the sake of example, that those in the circle of power now are clothed with theoretical and applied knowledge in public administration, there is a need for the reinforcement of such knowledge of brilliant insights and ideas, true to life experiences and achievements, that have been tempered by time and
Requisite for socio-economic development is good governance circumstances, through learning from experiences of men and women who became famous not through glorification of the follies of fame, but by transforming their failures into success. At this juncture, it is appropriate for them to be reasonable and courteous enough in the performance of their assigned duties and responsibilities, rather than arrogating their selves to be more powerful and influential than anybody. How could they come up with better ideas, right direction, appropriate course of action and sound solution and/or decision in the course of their duties and responsibilities that would redound to professionalize the city’s bureaucracy, attuned to the needs of the time, thus rectify the errors of principles and processes inadvertently put in place that seem to be obsolete. If there be any, but somehow aggravated by the overbearing arrogance by those in the circle of power, certainly there should be an injustice and at the same time a disturbance of right order for a larger and higher organizational structures. Arrogating among themselves their duties and func-
tions by converting such into power, which can be performed by smaller and lower bodies, cannot be employed under the present administration of City Mayor Celso G. Regencia. If the city‘s bureaucracy is to achieve its end efficiently and effectively, it must be imperatively discreet for the alter egos or the chief of staff to include, among others, all of us as support group to conduct ourselves as a reformed government personnel clothed with moral compass – approachable by people in all walks of life like the CITY MAYOR as our model. Let us share also our personal experiences, exchange individual thoughts and reflections, gains new ideas unrestricted by bias and prejudice, completely devoid of political color. We need to be extra careful, to keep always our footsteps clear and away from pitfall of error and retrogression. The absence of a sense of urgency, however, is illustrated well in the decision designed to make every transaction functional as exercised by many public administrators, who put off making “fateful” decisions with all sort of pretext and
requirements, for fear of not making the best decision possible. Many administrators failed based precisely on this reason. The mountain of red tape involved in any government transaction, which is being designed to make every transaction fraud-proof, is not only ineffective but is also a crime against the public because it steals their precious time. Many among the general public are convinced that the remedy is worst than the malady, that the cost of this precautions far exceeds the losses that they seek to guard against. It may be perhaps of so much emphasis of public administrators that laid regulatory functions of the government to be followed, which tend to achieve negative results, therefore, in that premise the public affairs are not merely matters of political decision but more often political. But the gentlemen in politics have an opportunity to elevate that calling almost to statesmanship. In its essential nature, politics is a mixture of top management or policy making and public relations. Both are respectable occupations. See good, page 7
Forum
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Tax Church-run schools? Bishops say it’s govt’s call but… By Roy Lagarde of CBCPNews
It is the government’s prerogative if it wants to impose tax on religious schools but the move should be studied thoroughly, Catholic bishops said. Bishop Pablo David of Kalookan said that the Church would probably not be running schools if only the government could “adequately” provide quality education, especially on the primary and secondary levels. “The fact is, it cannot,” David said. “We always thought that we in the Church were doing the gov-
ernment a favor by making quality education available wherever the state is unable to do it adequately.” This failure, he said, is visible in public schools where many students are cramped in classrooms and the huge backlog in the construction of classrooms and the need for more teachers. He added that even the government’s resources are still not enough to provide decent education to all its citizens. “We merely augment the lack when the government cannot adequately provide it,” David said. “We do not even rely on public funds to run our schools.” Students attend the flag raising ceremony at the Notre Dame-RVM College of Cota“Should they not treat us
Alvarez wants to tax church-run schools THE government should look into imposing new taxes on schools run by religious institutions in order to shore up more revenues, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said on Monday. During the hearing of the House ways and means committee, Alvarez said it is high-time for the government to consider taxing revenues from tuition fees derived by church-run schools registered as nonstock, non-profit (NSNP) educational institutions. Alvarez said the government should determine if these schools are really NSNP educational institutions. “Yung religious schools, those registered as nonstock, non-profit. Naniniwala ba tayo dun? Kahit sino pwede mag-declare ng non-stock non-profit para hindi makapagbayad (ng tax),” Alvarez said. ( ““ T h o s e r e l i g i o u s schools, those registered as non-stock, non-profit -do we really believe them? Any school can declare itself as non-stock, non-profit so that they don’t have to pay taxes.”) “They don’t cater for the poor. Palagi nag-i-increase ng tuition fees yan. Ibig sabihin, hindi yan non-stock non-profit. Profitable business yan,” he added. (“They don’t cater for the poor. They always increase their tuition fees. That means, they’re not non-stock non-profit. That’s profitable business.”) Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III cited the Constitution which confers tax exemption on all revenues derived by NSNP educational institutions. “Charitable institutions, churches and parsonages or convents See WANTS, page 6
bato. Photo by roy Lagarde for CBCPNews.com
educational field trips not mandatory. Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor M. Briones on Thursday reiterated that educational field trips are not mandatory. In a press conference held at SEAMEO INNOTECH in Quezon City (March 9, 2017), Briones maintained that “no field trips should be undertaken without the written consent of the parents or guardians of the student. Also in photo is DepEd Undersecretary Tonisito M. C. Umali (right). PNA photo by Marvie A. Lloren
Turning Point
A Senate inquiry to suppress information? By William R. Adan of MindaNews
NAAWAN, Misamis Oriental--A Senate inquiry in aid of legislation is simply that – to help the legislators in the crafting of possible laws on something of vital interest to the nation. The Senate may invite government officials or functionaries and private individuals to serve as resource persons to shed light or provide information on issues and matters they are perceived knowledgeable or familiar with. The resource person is also considered a witness because he would testify on what he knows on the subject of interest. It is the primary and critical responsibility of the chair
of the committee that conducts the inquiry to avoid the pitfall of an investigation becoming prosecutorial, reducing to a crime suspect a resource person or witness and those others who may figure out in the unfolding of information being elicited about. It is presumed that before the conduct of any congressional inquiry, be it in the House or in the Senate, a participating legislator must have a vision in his mind on the possible law that could be crafted or improved on existing one out of the information that may be generated from the exercise. With such vision, which in academic research is called a theoretical or a conceptual framework, his line of questioning is purposively guided and focused.
Without any framework in mind, questions may dwell on the peripherals and irrelevant, and accomplishing nothing for the interrogator but media mileage or an occasion for grand standing. One may recall how the lawmakers in the House competed repeatedly to ask salacious questions on the love life of the resource person Ronnie Dayan with his publicly disgraced paramour, rather than on asking pointed questions on the commerce of prohibited drugs in the national penitentiary. In the Senate inquiry on EJK, it was silly for a senator to dwell and compete with a self-professed hired killer on the issue of spiritual renewal, claiming that his renewal is See inquiry, page 6
as their partners and allies rather than as adversaries?” he said. Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who once called the bishops as “a bunch of hypocrites”, yesterday said church-owned schools should be taxed to improve the government’s revenue collection. At the hearing on the Duterte administration’s tax reform bill, he called for a revisit of the government’s income tax policy, claiming that some schools cater to students from higherincome families and hike tuition. The bishops and various church organizations See church, page 6
Family of slain gov’t doctor casts doubt on slain suspect THE family of the slain “people’s doctor,” Dreyfuss Perlas, doubted the involvement of a suspect recently killed by the police in Lanao del Norte. Batan Councilor Dennis Perlas, the father of Dreyfuss, said that they are doubtful if indeed Agapito Amparong, who was identified by the Lanao police as a suspect in the murder of his son, really had a hand in the killing. He noted that the police may have identified Amparong as one of the suspects in the killing of the young doctor because he already had a series of murder charges in Lanao. Perlas further told the PNA in an interview on Thursday: “I was informed that the police were about to serve the warrant against the suspect (Amparong) when he ran away. The police reported that they saw the suspect carrying a hand grenade, the reason why the authorities shot him.” Meanwhile, the Perlas family announced that the burial of the slain doctor will be on Saturday, March 11 in Batan town. Dr. Perlas, a rural health physician, was killed last March 1 by unidentified assailants while on his way home to Lanao del Norte. SP condemns brutal slay of Lanao del Norte health officer Through Resolution No. 12638-2017, the 18th City Council during its regular session Monday, March 6, 2017, condemned in the strongest possible term the murder of Dr. Drey as a senseless and barbaric act. The resolution, filed by Councilor Maria Lourdes S. Gaane, chair of the committee on health, sanitation and health insurance, also requests all law See doubt, page 6
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Friday, March 10, 2017
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committee on police, fire and public safety, agreed with the observation of Councilor Enrico Salcedo, who reported violations of the city’s billboard law. Councilor Calizo said there seems to be complacency in the enforcement of the said law. “Much as I agree that there has to be a review, revisit of the ordinances covering this concern, but what I am thinking about is on how to clearly point under whose responsibility are all these laws, the importance of which should be strictly done and there has to be review on the penalties covering those who attempt or who commit violation of these laws,” he cited. He said concerned departments must be reminded of their respective duties in relation to the billboard ordinances. Vice Mayor Uy thanked Councilor Salcedo for the report and Councilor Edna M. Dahino, who also reported on this concern few months ago. He referred the matter to the committees on ways and means, on police, fire and public safety, and on public works chaired by Councilors George Goking, Calizo and Zaldy Ocon, respectively, for appropriate action. Not one, but three committees will look into this, he added.(LCR)
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have been strongly vocal against the extrajudicial killings as a result of the government’s war on drugs and the revival of the death penalty. San Jose Bishop Roberto Mallari, chairman of the
CB CP Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education, asked lawmakers to “get to know more” the Catholic schools and its contributions to society. “In fact, government should even think of supporting them to maximize the good that they can do,” Mallari said. Free education? David warned that some Catholic schools are even closing because of lack of resources and the escalating salaries of teachers. He added that many Catholic schools have been suffering because of the exodus of teachers to the public schools where they can get a better pay and the the declining population brought by “free education”. “Pretty soon we may have to close down some of them,” David said. And contrary to public perception, the bishop said that public schools are not entirely free because they are run with taxpayers’ money. “That’s not a bad thing in itself. We’re of course happy when public education is upgraded for the benefit of the poor but let’s not have any illusion about it. It is not free! It is paid for by the public tax payers!” he said. And we merely augment the lack when the government cannot adequately provide it,” he also said. No gov’t subsidy Explaining the tuition costs in some Church-run and top universities, he said that the budget per student at the University of the Philippines is close to that of the Ateneo de Manila University or the De La Salle University. The only difference, he said, is that the parents of DLSU or Ateneo students pay the bill for their children’s education. On
the other hand, it is the taxpayers who foot much of the bill for students in state universities. He stressed that parents who send their children to Church-run schools are also taxpayers but they don’t rely on public education even if they have every right to do so. “Because, rightly or wrongly, they believe that their children would get better education in the private Church-run schools,” said David. “To be able to give quality education, our schools have to charge reasonably. Do they have a choice?” he also said. He added that Catholic schools also do not get the same subsidies that public schools are getting, except some partial assistance from the Education department for senior high school students that cannot be absorbed in public schools. “I think we can run schools that cater mainly to the poor if we get full subsidies from the government,” David pointed out. “Without such subsidies, how else can we give quality education if not by charging tuition fees that could adequately finance school operations?” Nevertheless, he said, the Church still runs schools for the poor financed by foundations. “Ask about scholarship grants given by Catholic schools to poor but deserving students through foundations put up by their alumni, you’ll be surprised,” David said. CBCPNews
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actually, directly, and exclusively used for religious, charitable, or educational purposes shall be exempt from taxation,” the Constitution read. Commercial properties of these schools not used for educational, charitable or religious purposes can be taxed, Dominguez noted. Alvarez cited the need to revisit the tax exemption provision for NSNP institutions in the 1987 Constitution. In an ambush interview after the hearing, Alvarez said it is unfair that schools run by religious institutions are not taxed on their income from tuition fees as compared to other private schools. “Other private schools impose lower tuition fees but why do they pay taxes on their income? Meanwhile, these schools run by religious institutions, imposing higher tuition fees, are free from paying income tax,” said Alvarez. (PNA)
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from page 5 superior to the latter because he is a Bible reader. Most of the interrogating senators had the notion that spiritual renewal or conversion is a oneshot affair, and that a renewed person sins no more. If he sins again by lying, he’s a fake convert and therefore cannot be trusted and believed. Retired SPO3 Lascañas was invited by the Senate as resource person on its EJK inquiry or more specifically on what he knows about the alleged and talked-about Davao Death Squad or DDS. The senators knew that the retired policeman has publicly recanted his October 2016 testimony in the Senate on the DDS. Yet the senators – Chair Lacson, Sotto, Ejercito, Cayetano, Pacquiao and Villanueva took turns in impeaching the credibility of Lascañas with no less than the Chair’s opening statement advancing judgment on the unworthiness of Lascañas’s testimony even if the resource person has not yet opened his mouth. Lacson and Sotto threw at Lascañas Supreme Court rulings on recanted testimonies and the hazard or price of recanting a testimony, as if the former police officer, a law student, was not aware of what he was going into. Many also forgot that a
senate inquiry is not a judicial proceeding and such rulings on recantation of testimonies do not necessarily import to the senate proceeding whose main purpose is to gather information not to establish the guilt of a witness. Credible or not, they have to listen to him because they invited him to talk notwithstanding their knowledge of his personal circumstances. Senator Ejercito commented that the senate inquiry is a déjà vu for him recalling how his father was removed from the presidency through similar exercise hinting that this time the charade is aimed at toppling another popularly elected president. The good senator should be reminded that the process undergone by President Joseph Estrada, his father, now the mayor of Manila, was an impeachment, historically the first ever in the country, not a regular senate committee inquiry in aid of legislation. Moreover, the current senate inquiry is called and controlled by supporters and loyalists of an incumbent president. The comparison is far-fetched. At one point, Senator Villanueva, intending most likely to humiliate the resource person, stupidly asked him whether he is appearing in the Senate for the second time to sponsor a law, or something to that effect, forgetting that it was his role, not the resource person’s task to do it. An invited resource person in any gathering is its guest. As a guest, he is entitled to some respect and civilities no matter how lowly his rank and status in society may be. But that’s not how our lawmakers often treat their invited resource persons in congressional inquiries. Invited guests are at times ridiculed, treated as suspected criminals, harassed and even threatened. Come to think of it, if from the beginning Lacson and company believe that SPO3 Lascañas is not a credible witness, why did they still bother to invite him? It seems the motive was no longer to make inquiry in aid of legislation but to publicly impeach his credibility as a storyteller and to discredit his earlier public confession on the Davao Death Squad that implicated to it murderous projects the former mayor of Davao City who is now the President of the Republic. The senate inquiry was terminated, ended, notwithstanding the availability of other witnesses who are coming out to collaborate the testimony of Lascañas. In his privileged speech in the Senate on 8 March 2017, Senator Trillanes read some affidavits of individuals
implicated by Lascañas to the DDS affair, all collaborating the latter’s testimony or public confession. In the light of this development, will the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs reopen its inquiry on EJK and DDS? Ironically, this time around to keep mum on the matter is tantamount to – in judicial proceeding – suppression of evidence. To reopen, on the other hand, may expose further the true person of the tenant in Malacañang. It’s a catch-22 for the Palace-toeing senators. ••• (MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. William R. Adan is a retired professor and former chancellor of the Mindanao State University Naawan campus in Misamis Oriental).
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enforcement agencies to launch a no-nonsense investigation and to bring to the bar of justice the perpetrators of the crime. In her special report, Councilor Gaane said, the 31-year old doctor was fatally shot by still unidentified men as he was going home from a medical mission. Dr. Drey has been serving as the municipal health officer of Sapad Town, she said. “As a public health officer for 24 years and once a municipal health officer, we join the outcry, if not the outrage, at this senseless killing of public servants whose only job is to help the poor sector of our Maranaos and Muslims. Never mind that the peace talks between the NPA and the government has been stalled. The fact that he died a violent death while performing humanitarian tasks no way related to military or police operations, betrays the peace and order situation in this part of the country,” she stressed. The lady councilor said she is hoping that investigations on the case will be relentlessly pursued. “We are hopeful that Drey’s senseless killing would not be another whitewash in the growing list of recent unsolved killings. This includes the high profile Fernandez kidnapping and the Chris Cabingas murder. We plead with the police authorities of Region 10 to find time from their “tokhang”” campaign and exert best efforts to solve Dr. Drey’s murder and other unsolved cases,” she added. A report from PNA and LCR of The Power
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is a product of weeks of observing him and gathering more information,” Mulat said in a telephone interview Thursday. She said they received tips from concerned citizens that the suspects may have been involved in selling the illegal substance as it was observed that highend vehicles would drop by Mimbalawag’s residence at night. Mulat said there is a high possibility that the suspect is a working for a drug syndicate judging from the volume of shabu that he was dealing. “This is no small-time pusher. He may be involved in a huge organization the extent of which we still have to find out,” she added. Aside from the suspected shabu, Mulat said they also confiscated bank deposit slips, some amounting to P300,000. But Mimbalawag denied he is a drug dealer saying he was just asked by a stranger to bury a box in his yard, although he admitted he was user but stopped six years ago. “I did not know the content of the box nor the identity of the person who told to bury it,” he said, adding that he agreed to the arrangement because he needed the money for his wife’s child delivery. He said he was paid P500 to bury the box. From their investigation, Palencia said they found out that the suspect put the illegal substance in a box and bury it after selling some sachets. Mulat said they are still deepening their information-gathering to determine the extent of Mimbalawag’s alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.
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legitimized, and lastly, life is sacred. “Only God can take away life,” he said. In a statement distributed to the press here, Fr. Antonio Moreno, S.J. , provincial superior of the Philippine Society of Jesus, deplored “the myth of the death penalty’s effect against crime”. He said death penalty, if implemented in a flawed judicial system, would only affect the poor. “It only promotes a culture of death that desensitizes the youth to violence and revenge,” the statement said. Four congressmen representing Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro – Rep. Maximo Rodriguez (2nd district, Cagayan de Oro); Rep. Rolando Uy (1st district, Cagayan de Oro); Rep. Juliette Uy (2nd district, Misamis Oriental); and Rep. Pedro Unabia (1st district, Misamis Oriental) – all voted yes to reimpose the death penalty. Many netizens from Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental said the representa-
tives did not consult them on the death penalty bill when asked in Facebook. “They never did, of course. We are nobody compared to their petrifying fear of getting defunded of their almighty pork,” Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Antonio Roa Montalvan II, said, “No, kay doble gasto na on their part. Wala pa sila kabawi sa election expenses” (No, because that would be double spending on their part. They haven’t recouped their election expenses yet), said Francis Pilapil.
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of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law. In a press conference, PopCom Executive Director Juan Antonio Perez said 98 percent of contraceptive brands will expire by the end of 2019 and will remain unused if the Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order (TRO) continues to block the distribution of select contraceptives and certification of all other family planning commodities. “Effectively, it will end in 2019. All contraceptives will no longer be available by the end of 2019,” Perez said. In June 2015, the SC issued a TRO to the Department of Health from “procuring, selling, distributing, dispensing, or administering, advertising, and promoting the hormonal contraceptive ‘Implanon’ and ‘Implanon NXT’”. In August 2016, after a motion for reconsideration had been filed by the government, the SC denied the government’s motion and expanded the TRO to cover other contraceptive products available in the Philippine market. The RPRH Law or Republic Act 10354 guarantees universal access to all methods of modern contraception, comprehensive sexuality education, and maternal and child care. Perez also noted that the Philippine population may explode to 113 million in 2022 from its current count at 104 million. Perez explained there will be 3 million more births by 2022 if the TRO on implants is maintained. “Our prediction is there will be an additional 3 million more births because of the withdrawal of Implanon by 2022,” he said. Perez said 2.6 percent of women were recipients of implants and it was projected to increase to 9 percent if the TRO had not been imposed. Mothers dying during childbirth or maternal deaths may also rise by an additional 1,000 deaths a year, he added. For his part, Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) Executive Director Romeo Dongeto called on the Supreme Court to lift the TRO affecting
Friday, March 10, 2017 family planning. “It is lamentable that almost five years since its enactment, the agencies tasked to implement the law cannot focus on implementing but are instead occupied with addressing legal issues such as this TRO,” Dongeto said. Dongeto said this SC decision would result in contraceptive stockout in the country affecting more than 13 million Filipino women. “Addressing unmet need for family planning is a big step towards fulfilling Filipinos’ reproductive health and rights as enshrined in the RPRH Law... We hope that this Women’s Month, the Supreme Court will finally decide in favor of the rights and health of Filipinos, especially women,” he added. (PNA)
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The introduction of CEB flights to and from Guam has largely contributed to the surge in tourist arrivals from the Philippines. CEB is the only low-cost carrier operating direct services between the Philippines and Guam. The Guam Visitors Bureau reported a 74.3% yearon-year increase in tourists from the Philippines in 2016, versus 2.9% in the previous year. On the back of CEB’s four flights per week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) to and from Agana, the Philippines is now one of Guam’s fastest growing sources of visitor arrivals. “We take pride in servicing the growing Filipino community in Guam, as flying this route has enabled more of our kababayans to come home to their families more often. At the same time, we have also made the Philippines more accessible to the Guamanians, for business and leisure,” says Atty. JR Mantaring, CEB Vice President for Corporate Affairs. “We are also proud to have contributed to the record tourist arrivals in Guam, which in turn has brought about a positive impact on a range of island businesses, strengthening trade and tourism between the Philippines and Guam. The ‘Cebu Pacific effect,’ which has made flying to the destinations we serve faster, more affordable, and more accessible for a greater number of people, has boosted tourism and the local Guam economy,” added Mantaring. The Manila-Guam service paved way for CEB to expand its reach across the Pacific, further boosting a network that now spans over 100 routes on 66 destinations across Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and USA. Its 59-strong fleet is comprised of four Airbus A319, 36 Airbus A320, seven Airbus A330, eight ATR 72500, and four ATR 72-600 aircraft. Between 2017 and 2021, CEB expects delivery
of one more brand-new Airbus A330, 32 Airbus A321neo, and 12 ATR 72600 aircraft. For bookings and inquiries, guests can visit www.cebupacificair.com or call the reservation hotlines (+632)7020-888 or (+6332)230-8888. The latest seat sales can be found on CEB’s official Twitter (@ CebuPacificAir) and Facebook pages. Guests may also download the Cebu Pacific official mobile app on the App Store and Google Play.
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CA Committee on Environment on Wednesday (March 8, 2017). Her confirmation was deferred after the Senate underwent a reorganization on February 27 with new Senate leadership positions and chairmanships decided. She gained the ire of lawmakers, mostly from the House of Representatives, for having ordered the closure of 23 metallic mines and suspension of five others for serious environmental violations discovered. Around 19,000 people are expected to be “directly affected” by the closing of mines, Lopez said. She, however, assured that displaced miners could be trained to practice ecotourism as it had more longterm benefits. Last week, thousands of people gathered in front of the Senate in Pasay City to rally for Lopez’s confirmation. Among the groups present in the rally was the anti-mining group Alyansa Tigil Mina which held a banner that read: “Protect the environment. Defend people’s rights. Confirm Sec. Gina Lopez.” Aside from Lopez, also slated for confirmation is Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. However, senators previously cast their doubts on his confirmation following the release of documents which showed that Yasay reportedly renounced his US citizenship at the US Embassy in Manila on June 28, 2016 or two days before Pres. Rodrigo Duterte appointed him to the cabinet. During the CA hearing last February 22, Yasay said that although he applied for a US citizenship, his application was denied which is contrary to the documents that stated that he did possess a US citizenship. Yasay’s confirmation was suspended due to pending concerns of some congressmen. In a separate interview, Yasay maintained that he never lied about his citizenship. (PNA)
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in the short and long term, jobs that do not involve mining activities that will damage our much-needed watersheds,” explained the DENR chief.
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ment principles in your own business; second, by demanding sound management principles in government; and third, by assisting in the adaptation of business methods to government. We are all united to a common goal in preserving the gains of the Regencia administration. Partly or wholly, this must be done by supporting right principles and by instilling faith in the right ideals. Practically, a large part of the job depends on the machinery of the city government. Come now the days when, not pressure, but inspiration, kindness and stimulation drive a man to work without reservation and yet with eagerness to accomplish a given task fairly well. To accomplish this fate, those in the circle of power should know human behavior and instincts. Loyalty can be best expected of employees and political supporters if those in the circle of power especially the chief of staff are just men. Fair dealing and treatment should be the right attitude towards subordinates and constituents. We can see that it in our Chief of Staff now, the indefatigable Atty. Raafael Benidictos. As a chief of staff of the city mayor, a highly political position by its nature, should be an exemplar of good personal appearance, pleasant mannerism, and friendliness, cheerfulness and good health, so that he can command respect among his subordinates and clienteles. He must be a paragon of honesty, intelligence, enthusiasm, aggressiveness, loyalty, vision, initiative, industry, perseverance, and decisiveness so as to establish employees and clientele’s confidence in him, thus exercising fairness to all. In short, not only a chief of staff but all of us must not act as a boss but a leader and as partners for good governance in the city’s bureaucracy to hasten the development processes of the Regencia administration. Development policies should not be based solely on what is economically sound, but give due emphasis on what would promote the best ideals of the Regencia administration. Each one of us has not only duties and responsibilities to dignify our acts as public officials or employees, but also to make it prevalent – “to answer any call for public service fast and to see to it that the poor man is given his due,” the very advocacy of City Mayor Celso G. Regencia that should be followed by those in the circle of power. from page 4 (Demosthenes P. Maglasang If you have a skill in see- Sr., City Information Staff, ing what needs to be done, Office of the City Mayor, and know how to get it done, Iligan City). you make some contributions to the government. NEED TARP? You need not be active CALL: 8578447 in politics or run for office to contribute to manageOR, 745380 ment in public affairs. You MOBILE: +639061389421 can help, first, by showing respect for sound manageShort-term employment opportunities include reforestation, desilting of agricultural land, napier and bamboo farming, livestock raising, and biochar manufacturing. Biochar is a powerful soil enhancer that holds carbon and makes soils more fertile. It can boost food security, discourage deforestation and preserve cropland diversity. Biochar systems can reverse soil degradation and create sustainable food and fuel production in areas with severely depleted soils, scarce organic resources, and inadequate water and chemical fertilizer supplies. Medium and long-term jobs, on the other hand, will be generated by the manufacture of charcoal briquettes, ecotourism activities, infrastructure, and agro-post harvest processing. Lopez stressed that “providing economic opportunities and protecting the environment are not mutually exclusive.” “It is not one or the other; we can and should do both at the same time, because we cannot sacrifice the welfare of future generations to meet short-term economic objectives.” The environment secretary added that even experts from the Mineral Policy Center based in Washington, D.C. have referred to water as “mining’s most common casualty.” “Any competent scientist will tell you that mining affects fresh water through the heavy use of water in processing ore, and through water pollution from discharged mine effluent and seepage from tailings and waste rock impoundments,” explained Lopez. Lopez said she hoped legislators and fellow cabinet secretaries “look at the issue of protecting our watersheds in the long term because we could face a very, very serious problem with water many years down the road.” A study conducted by the think tank World Resources Institute (WRI) said in late 2015 that the country is in danger of experiencing water scarcity in 23 years. The study predicts the Philippines will experience a “high” degree of water shortage in the year 2040. The Philippines is ranked 57th out of 167 countries that will likely be a water stressed country in 2040. The study defines water stress as “the ratio between total water withdrawals and available renewable surface water at a sub-catchment level.”
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Friday, March 10, 2017
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