News
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2016
A3
Du30’s Peru trip confirmed—Palace P ties that were arranged by the Apec and Peru,” Andanar said. But, Andanar clarified that the President’s travel plans may still change if more important matters would come up before the Apec Summit, that would require Duterte to attend to. “It can change tomorrow. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow. Maybe there could be other activities that could just spring up and activities that are more important than activities in Peru,” he said. Last Friday, Duterte said he was thinking about skipping the Apec summit because he hates long-haul flights.
By Sandy Araneta
RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has changed his mind, opting to attend the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Peru next week. On Friday, he was considering opting out of the trip that would pave the way for another meeting with leaders of three superpowers after the Asean meeting in China.
“For now, it [his Peru trip] is confirmed,” Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar told the staterun radio station dzRB. Duterte’s trip will include
meetings with leaders of countries who will be attending the summit. “It’s all about meeting the different leaders of the world. And, also being present in the activi-
Duterte will also have a twohour stopover in New Zealand to take a rest, according to Andanar. As of Sunday, Duterte has not disclosed any plans in New Zealand. “We don’t know if there will be an activity with the Filipino community or with other officials of government of New Zealand and it remains to be seen,” Andanar said. The Apec summit will be held in Lima, Peru from November 19 to 20. Duterte said last Friday he was considering skipping the Apec Summit in Peru next week because he hates long-haul flights. It would be Duterte’s first time
to attend the annual meeting of Pacific Rim leaders, which also include US President Barack Obama, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. “If my presence is dispensable, I’d rather not kasi malayo [It’s far]... I hate long-hauls,” Duterte said. Duterte said Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr., was convincing him to push through with the trip to Lima. The estimated travel time from Manila to Lima is about 19 and a half hours for direct flights. It could take longer should the president’s plane make stopovers.
Duterte said he could fly to Peru via New Zealand, while another route would require a stop in either New York or Miami in the US. “It’s a long way across the globe. It’s a long-haul, it will kill you by the time you reach [Peru],” he said. Duterte in Apec would bring him in close quarters with Obama, whom he had repeatedly criticized over the US government’s censure of his bloody war on drugs. The President has been as vocal about his desire to strengthen ties with China and Russia as he moves to lessen the Philippines’ dependence on its long-time ally, the US.
Duterte, Aguirre top NBI guest list PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will be the guest of honor and speaker in today’s celebration of the National Bureau of Investigation’s 80th Founding Anniversary. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II will also join the celebration and introduced the President during the program to be held at the NBI gym beginning at 1:00 p.m. Other invited guests include officials from other agencies under the Department of Justice, law enforcement agencies and representatives from a number of embassies of foreign governments. The anniversary activities on Monday begins with a Thanksgiving Mass at the NBI Chapel at 8:00 a.m., after which there will be a Wreath Laying at the Wall of Honor at 9:30 a.m. that was established in memory of the heroism of NBI Agents and Special Investigators who have died in the line of duty. The anniversary program that begins at 1:00 o’clock in the afternoon will be the highlight of the celebration where Duterte will deliver his Anniversary message. Sandy Araneta
ON MEDIA KILLINGS. While the Freedom of Information Executive Order arms Philippine media workers with the capability to investigate corruption and abuse, President Rodrigo Duterte’s Administrative Order No. 1 creating the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) protects them against intimidation and violence. PTFoMS Executive Director Usec. Joel Sy Egco (3rd from left) formally hands over the inventory of cases involving media killings to Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra who represented the President while PTFoMS and PCO officials look on.
Manila hospital gets new hi-tech machine MANILA Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada has acquired a state-ofthe-art CT scan machine for the city-run Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center. Estrada led the blessing and inauguration of the new P36-million, 16-slice Somatom CT scan machine, the latest addition to the long list of brand new medical equipment he has purchased to upgrade the six public hospitals of the city. “Nowhere in Metro Manila
can you see sophisticated medical equipment in a public hospital like we have here. And Manileños can use this for free,” Estrada said. Estrada said he understands the predicament of poor patients when availing expensive but needed medical tests and procedures such as CT scan. “How much is the CT scan in private hospitals? The cheapest is around P5,000, and this is too much for most of the poor families here in
Manila,” he pointed out. Dr. Roy Vizcarra, head of the Radiology Department of GABMMC, said the new 16-slice CT scan machine will replace the old two-slice machine they have been using for years. GABMMC is a 150-200 bed capacity district hospital in Delpan Street, Tondo. Constructed in 1998, it provides high quality specialized health services and was recently renovated and re-
ANTI-CRIME PROGRAM. Philippine Constitution Association president
Martin Romualdez (center) receives a plaque of appreciation from Bernard Ranger Corella (right) president and founding chairman of Guardians Philippines International Inc. and Army Col. Danilo Ayap for supporting the anti-crime programs of the Guardian Brotherhood. The event was the 21st anniversary and 8th National Convention of Guardians held at Lyceum of Alabang in Muntinlupa City. Ver Noveno
equipped by the city government. “Normally a CT scan procedure is about P10,000 to P12,000… but we give it to our patients for free, whatever the cost, they don’t pay anything,” Vizcarra said. The 16-slice CT scan machine, according to Vizcarra, is more accurate and faster in producing 3D images, enabling doctors to detect a patient’s illness at an early stage and with more clarity. The machine can detect diseas-
es such as aneurysm, appendicitis, liver tumor, lung, liver, and pancreatic cancers; kidney stones and tuberculosis and other infections, among others, and can also be used in “staging” almost all types of cancers. The CT scan machine can also do virtual colonoscopy (VC), a medical imaging procedure used to diagnose colon and bowel disease, including polyps, diverticulosis and cancer, he added. Sandy Araneta
High court clears disbarred lawyer THE Supreme Court has reinstated a lawyer in the Roll of Attorneys and allowed him to continue his legal practice after he showed remorse for more than a decade after being disbarred for violation of the Code of Professional Responsibility. In a resolution promulgated on Oct. 18, 2016, the Court en banc however gave lawyer Mosib Ali Bubong a stern warning that a repetition of the same or similar act will be dealt with more severely. Bubong, then the Register of Deeds of Marawi, was disbarred in 2005 for violating Rule 6.02 of the CPR when he took advantage of his position as Register of Deeds and employed his knowledge of the rules governing land registration for the benefit of his relatives. The Court agreed with the recommendation of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines to reinstate Bubong, stressing that “[p]enalties, such as disbarment, are imposed not to punish but to correct offenders,” adding that “[t]he goal
of disciplinary proceedings is restoration and not retribution.” The Court found that Bubong had established by clear and convincing evidence that he is worthy to be reinstated as a member of the Bar. It held that sufficient time had elapsed from the imposition of the penalty to ensure a period of reformation, adding that Bubong’s claim of remorse and reformation was supported by various certifications, letters, and resolutions attesting to his good moral character and his fitness to be reinstated as a member of the Bar. The Court noted that during his disbarment, Bubong has committed himself to public service in his community as he continued to be active in his IBP Chapter by providing financial assistance to the bereaved family of its deceased members. It also noted that he is the corporate secretary of a non-stock, non-government organization which manages and operates a non-formal Arabic school in his community. PNA
10-year passport, driver’s license price buster, says solon By Rio N. Araja THE extension of the validity period of passports and driver’s licenses should not make them more expensive, Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. said on Sunday. Andaya, a deputy speaker and
author of the bills prescribing a 10-year passport and a five-year license to drive, said “lengthening the legal life of such important documents should not spark an increase in their processing fees.” “Longer expiry dates do not mean that we should up price,”
he said. He cited “cost recovery, not the profit motive,” as the “established basic principle” in setting the fees and charges. “The idea is just for the government to recoup all the expenses in processing the permit,
which may include the cost of equipment procured to ensure fast delivery,” he said. “These are basic documents citizens must have and as such must be affordable.” The renewal of a non-professional driver’s license costs P526,
while the fee for the renewal of a passport is P1,200 for at least seven working days of processing time and P950 for one to be released in 15 working days. According to Andaya, the income statements of the Land Transportation Office and De-
partment of Foreign Affairs showed a rising revenue stream, mostly generated from the issuance of driver’s licenses and passports, respectively. Under House Bill 2827, he said by lengthening the validity period of the passports, red tape is cut.