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Task force to review convicts’ GCTA rules
BE WARNED.
PCSO General Manager Royina Garma has warned STL operators not to resume their operations, after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered on July 26 the suspension of STL operations nationwide due to reported irregularities and ‘massive corruption’ but lifted the suspension on Aug. 22 provided the Authorized Agent Corporations comply with certain requirements.
By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Justice has formed a task force to review guidelines for processing the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) granted to inmates following the public outcry over suggestions that convicted rapist and murderer Antonio Sanchez might be re-
leased early for good behavior. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the task force will be composed of prison authorities and will be given 10 days to review the guidelines. The task force will also ask the Bureau of Corrections for a list of inmates that have already been released as a consequence of reduced sentences be-
cause of GCTAs. “Should there be any sign of fraud or irregularity, I will order a separate probe,” Guevarra said in a message to reporters. BuCor earlier said about 200 inmates have been released on the basis of reduced sentences after being awarded Next page GCTA credits.
VOL. XXXIII • NO. 195 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
STL owners defy Duterte—PCSO
Police told to go after non-compliant operators By Maricel V. Cruz
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ONE of the 87 small town lottery authorized agent corporations have complied with the conditions set by President Rodrigo Duterte almost a week after the Chief Executive lifted the ban on the numbers game. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Of- ippine National Police to run after those fice General Manager Royina Garma defying the order. warned all STL AACs not to resume “For now, though the President has their operations as she called on the Phil- lifted the suspension, no STL AAC has
complied with the requirements, yet. So, therefore, we have not issued any certification for them to resume their operations,” the PCSO official told lawmakers in a briefing with the House of Representatives’ Games and Amusement Committee. Duterte on July 26 ordered the suspension of STL operations nationwide due to reported irregularities and “massive corruption” but some AACs reportedly continued with their daily draws. Next page
National ID pilot test starts on Sept. 2; 10,000 people eyed THE government expects to register some 10,000 individuals for the pilot testing of the national identification system which will run from Sept. 2 to December this year, according to officials Tuesday. National Economic and Development Authority chief and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said on the sidelines of the 3rd Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines Forum in Manila that “Once it’s [the registration] perfected we
can already ramp up the registrants.” “Next year we will be ramping up as soon as the pilot test will show that we are implementing the National ID the right way,” Pernia said He added: “Then we are going to ramp up so that next year, we should be doing 50 million registrants, and then the following year, 2021, another 50 million so that by the end of the [term of the Duterte] administration, we would have Next page
House panel OKs tax reform package By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives’ committee on ways and means on Tuesday approved Package Four of the Duterte administration’s comprehensive tax reform program, which deals with capital income taxation. The committee, chaired by Rep. Joey Salceda of Albay unanimously approved House Bill 304, or the “Passive Income and Financial Intermediary
Taxation Act,” in just one hearing. The bill has been recommended for plenary action. Salceda said the bill proposes to make capital income and financial intermediary taxes “simpler, fairer and more efficient.” “This bill seeks to reform the taxation of capital income and financial services in the country, by redesigning the financial sector taxation into a simpler, fairer more efficient and a revenue neutral tax system,” he said. Salceda added that “the approval of this bill is earnestly sought so we can compete better in Next page
TAX REFORM. House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez (left) discusses with Deputy Majority Leader Llanda Bolilia (right) and Committee on Ways and Means Vice Chairman Sharon Garin (center) tax measures on Income and Financial Intermediary Tax Reform during the committee hearing. Ver Noveno
WEATHER Flood alert over ‘Jenny’ THE National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Tuesday placed on alert all its local units in Aurora and other nearby provinces for potential flooding and landslides due to the onslaught of Tropical Storm “Jenny.” Next page
ARREST PROTESTED. Groups storm Camp Karingal in Quezon City Tuesday in protest against the arrest and filing of what they called trumped up cases against National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace consultant Esterlita Suaybaguio on Monday during the observance of National Heroes Day. Manny Palmero
CPP leader nabbed in Cubao condo tipped off the authorities on the presBy Rio N. Araja ence of the suspect at Unit 9H, 9th floor, and Maricel V. Cruz Tower 5, Escalades Condominium comAUTHORITIES have arrested a female pound, 20th Avenue in Cubao. Espinosa was arleader of the Comrested on Aug. 26 at munist Party of the P h i l i p p i n e s - N e w THE Department of Justice on around 2 a.m. by virPeople’s Army in Qu- Tuesday began its preliminary tue of a search warinvestigation into the criminal rant issued by the ezon City. Chief Supt. Joselito complaint filed against a con- Quezon City Regional Esquivel Jr. of the gresswoman and officers of Trial Court Branch 89. Police said they Quezon City Police militant group Anakbayan over District identified the recruitment of a senior high found a 9mm handthe suspect as Esterl- school student. The Philippine gun, a grenade, amita Espinosa, 60, with National Police-Criminal Investi- munition and subveraliases of Nali, Loida gation and Detection Group filed sive documents in her the complaint against Kabataan possession. She was and Ester. Espinosa, single, is Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago, charged with violating the secretary of the Bayan Muna chairman Neri Col- firearms and exploMetro Manila region- menares, former Akbayan Rep- sives laws. On Tuesday, Deal party committee of resentative Tom Villarin, and six the communist group. others for kidnapping, trafficking fense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana dared Esquivel said a in person and child abuse. Next page concerned citizen
Taylor Swift wins MTV’s Video of the Year
Senator initiates ‘pork’ watch By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz SENATOR Panfilo M. Lacson on Tuesday urged the public, especially taxpayers, to help him expose the insertions of pork barrel in the P4.1trillion budget for 2020. He branded as “dubious insertions and useless appropriations” the insertions being made by some Congress members. “Any technical support from the outside will certainly help in our scrutiny of the 2020 budget books,” said Lacson, who claimed he is preparing to engage in yet another protracted game of “hide-and-seek” against pork. Next page
PETA: PH has role in Amazon fires
POP superstar Taylor Swift lit up MTV’s annual Video Music Awards Monday, taking home the award for Video of the Year and nodding to her winning song’s celebration of LGTBQ rights in accepting her prize.
WHILE much of the world takes to Twitter and Facebook to express their abject horror over the fires burning vast swaths of the largest rainforest on Earth—the Amazon—PETA is calling them out for being part of the problem
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