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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Bam, Win urge govt to counter TRAIN effect
Australia sends aid to Marawi crisis victims
By Macon Araneta
By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan
TWO senators on Friday called on the Philippine government to immediately implement countermeasures to soften the blow of rising inflation on underprivileged Filipinos, warning that inaction could result in growing hunger rates across the country. Senator Win Gatchalian said the inflation is strongly correlated to increasing hunger prevalence among poor and near poor Filipino households. Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs, noting that more than half (51 percent) of the inflation felt during January can be attributed to food inflation. “This means that many of our countrymen are in danger of going hungry if the government doesn’t take immediate action to shield them from rising prices,” he added. Alarmed by the rapid increase in prices of goods and services due to the Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion Law, Senator Bam Aquino renewed his push for the immediate implementation of financial assistance to poor Filipinos.
‘Salisi’ gang member nabbed at Naia AUTHORITIES on Friday arrested a member of the notorious Salisi Gang wanted for victimizing air travelers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Joint forces from the Manila International Airport Authority-Police Department and Pasay City Police conducted an entrapment operation to arrest Rey Asumbrado in a fastfood restaurant in Pasay City. Police said Salisi Gang members lurk anywhere where there are people— malls, restaurants, airports, fastfood joints and computer shops—and are just waiting for victims to get distracted. They either divert their victims’ attention or wait until their targets are distracted before they move in for the kill. Asumbrado victimized an outbound passenger last Feb. 6 in Naia Terminal 2. It was learned that he has previous criminal records also for the same offense in 2012 and 2017 in Terminal 3. Joel E. Zurbano
Maintenance work ongoing at Star Tollway STAR Tollway Corp. is currently undertaking regular and preventive road maintenance along portions of its 42-kilometer Star Tollway in Batangas to further raise the level of safety and comfort of its motoring patrons. STC has also deployed additional road equipment for faster and more efficient work. Last year, STC restored and fortified the partly damaged Sabang Bridge in Batangas City ahead of schedule. The P200million project was completed in time for the Christmas season when traffic numbers would go up by more than 20 percent. Sabang Bridge connects traffic between the Ibaan and Batangas City exits of the Star Tollway.
ARRAIGNMENT. Customs fixer Mark Taguba (center, wearing a hat at the back) and Eirene Tatad (front), consignee of P6.4-billion shabu shipment from
China who was arrested in Iloilo last week, attend their arraignment hearing at the Manila RTC on Friday. The hearing, however, was rescheduled on Feb. 23, 2018. Norman Cruz
PDP urges candidates to support federalism By Rio N. Araja
H
OUSE Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has warned that the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino will actively and openly campaign against any candidates for senator and other elective positions in the forthcoming 2019 elections who will strongly oppose the proposed federalism.
Speaking before over 3,000 new party members at the Datu Lipus Makapandong Cultural Center in Patin-Ay in Agusan del Sur, Agusan called on the people to
back the shift to a federal system of government that would pave the way for the development potential in the countryside. “I have one request. Please don’t vote for
candidates, particularly for senators, who are opposing federalism,” he told the new members, led by Agusan del Sur Gov. Edward Adolph Plaza, and Representatives Evelyn Mellana and Maria Valentina Plaza. “It is like this. PDP is one party with one advocacy of federalism. So to us, if you do not support federalism, we really have to campaign against you since you do not want to [help] spur development in the provinces,” he said. Under a federal form of government, the poor and neglected provinces shall stand to benefit significantly,
he pointed out. “We wish to pass federalism to be part of Constitution to ensure a change within the term of President Rodrigo Duterte,” Alvarez said. He said it is high time to raise the political maturity of the voting public and the whole nation as well, adding that the old practice of politics based solely on popularity or personality must not be the basis to elect leaders. He challenged senatorial aspirants in the 2019 elections to make a clear stance on federalism. Alvarez also rallied behind the President,
who had admitted being a dictator to put the country in order, saying the President’s critics were the ones acting as despots. “He [Duterte] is not really a dictator. People must see it this way, he is just exercising his powers in accordance with the principles of democracy,” he told a television interview. “The problem lies with some people, the small minority that is used to dictate on the leaders of the country. They are [actually] the dictators,” he said, adding “the President does not want to listen to them. He does not want them to dictate on him.”
Lapeña defends decision not to destroy ‘supercars’ By Vito Barcelo BUREAU of Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña on Friday defended the bureau from criticisms on why 22 luxury vehicles including high-end sports cars known as supercars were not among those destroyed during the bureau’s 116th anniversary, saying the luxury cars are still subjects of ongoing litigation at the Bureau of Customs. A brand-new McLaren, two units of brand new 2017 Chevrolet Camaro—both considered supercars; two units of brand new 2017
Range Rover, a brand-new 2017 Land Rover Evoque, 12 units of brand-new Toyota Land Cruisers—all consigned to Gamma Gray Marketing are still undergoing legal proceedings, he said, adding the Manila International Container Port-Law Division is expected to resolve the dispute. Supercars 2005 Ferrari F430 2006 and Lamborghini Murcielago consigned to Mary Joy Aguanta and Veronica Angeles, were declared forfeited in favor of the government by the MICP. However, the case is under appeal proceedings after the importers filed an appeal, the
BOC said. Other supercars which were not destroyed include a Lamborghini Gallardo and a Rolls Royce consigned to Allan Usman Garcia and Roy Garchitorena, respectively, and are now under examination and verification of import documents. A warrant of seizure and detention will be issued once the customs authorities find a probable cause to issue the same. Lapeña vowed that the bureau will be steadfast in facilitating the disposition of the said cases. “Resolving the instant cases necessitates that due
process is observed by giving the parties involved the opportunity to present their case,” according to MICP District Collector lawyer Balmyrson Valdez. On Feb. 6, President Rodrigo Duterte led the condemnation of 20 smuggled luxury vehicles at the Port Area in Manila. On the same day, 10 other smuggled vehicles were simultaneously destroyed at the Ports of Davao and Cebu. Lapeña has also dispelled doubts and rumors from the public as to what happened to the supercars such as McLaren and Lamborghini and why they were not
included in the condemnation conducted. The customs chief also vowed that the cases involving all remaining luxury vehicles will be resolved speedily while following the legal procedures. “There are still a few who do illicit activities at the Bureau of Customs. This has to stop. We will not allow smugglers to blatantly disregard our laws, rules, and regulations on importation. The Bureau of Customs will be drastic in its efforts to combat smuggling and all forms of corruption,” Lapeña added.
Pag-IBIG reports biggest home loan, highest income in 2017 PAG-IBIG Fund chairman Eduardo D. del Rosario on Friday announced before stakeholders that the state-run housing agency has broken previous records in home loan disbursements and income in 2017 during the Pag-IBIG Fund’s 2017 Chairman’s Report held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. “2017 was a recordbreaking year for Pag-IBIG Fund. It was a year that each of us can be proud of. 2017 reaffirmed Pag-IBIG Fund’s standing as a strong and reliable partner of Filipino workers and other stakeholders. As Pag-IBIG Fund’s contribution to the pro-poor agenda of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, homeownership was made even more affordable especially to the low-income earners,” said Secretary del Rosario, who also heads
the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council. He said that Pag-IBIG Fund released P65.1 billion in home loans in 2017, the highest ever housing loan takeout in its 37-year history. This is the first time that the agency breached the P60billion mark. The amount was disbursed to 80,964 Pag-IBIG members last year. Del Rosario also reported on the financial standing of Pag-IBIG Fund. For 2017, Pag-IBIG Fund recorded an all-time high gross income at P43.33 billion. He also said that Pag-IBIG Fund reached P30.27 billion in net income in 2017—the highest net income it ever recorded and its first time to hit the P30-billion mark. Pag-IBIG Fund also recorded its highest ever total assets at P488.74 billion.
STABBED. Lawyer Samuel Jardin (left) and his client Layla Belandres show on Friday, Feb.
9, 2018, a complaint affidavit and photos of the victim as they call on the Duterte administration to investigate the case of Chinese Yuan Wanchun who is in critical condition after he was stabbed by an unidentified member of the Bureau of Immigration inside the BI office in Manila. Manny Palmero
THE Australian government has allocated P42.7 million (AUD1.1 million) to the United Nations World Food Programme to support the Philippine government’s response to the Marawi crisis. With this funding, WFP will be able to provide six months of school meals for 50,000 students affected by the crisis. “As a good friend and neighbor, Australia is committed to providing humanitarian assistance when necessary,” said Australian Ambassador Amanda Gorely. “Through our partnership with the Department of Education and Task Force Bangon Marawi, we are supporting people affected by the Marawi crisis,” she said. Australia has supported early recovery activities by addressing the immediate food needs of people affected by the crisis. In addition to school meals, Australia’s support will provide food assistance for nearly 23,000 households and 8,100 affected laborers and farmers. Australia said the support will contribute to peace and stability in the area, and allow students to finish the academic school year, which ends in March. “Education plays an important role in community-building. We’re pleased these emergency school meals will support students’ education and development,” Gorely said. In July 2017, Australia donated rice which was prepositioned and used to feed more than 57,000 primary and secondary students in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur.
Abide by contract on choppers, Canada told THE Philippines called on the Canadian government, through the Canadian Commercial Corp., “to abide” with the $300-million procurement contract to sell the 16 Montrealbuilt Bell helicopters to Manila, an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs said. DFA acting s p o k e s w o m a n Charmaine Aviquivil also said in a statement that the Canadian supplier should not be “influenced by extraneous factors.” “On the procurement of Bell utility helicopters by DND-AFP, the Department of Foreign Affairs notes that the procurement of the utility helicopters, which will be used for support operations, and also for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief [HADR] activities, was done in pursuance of PH procurement law,” Aviquivil said. “We fully expect parties to abide by the contract and not be influenced by extraneous factors,” she added. Canadian government in a report said that it will review its agreement with the Philippines after International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines-Canada slammed the said negotiation due to human rights violations. Sara Susanne D. Fabunan