Back MIF, House minority leader tells Senate

HOUSE Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan on Monday appealed to the Senate leadership to support the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF).

Libanan of 4Ps party-list group issued the statement after Speaker Martin Romualdez announced on Sunday that President Marcos had included the proposed MIF under the bills in LegislativeExecutive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) list, making it a priority measure for the administration.

Libanan said the designation of MIF under LEDAC could be the President’s was way of telling senators to give priority to passing the measure.

“We prioritized this in the House because it is very important to our country. [We hope] the Senate deliberates and decides on it quickly,” Liba - nan told reporters. He said the House of Representatives -“without hearing any instruction from the Palace” -- fulfilled its legislative mandate to act on the measure, approving d its version of the MIF in December 2022.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had declared the Maharlika Investment Fund bill as one of 11 priority administration measures, Speaker Romualdez said on Sunday.

This was also confirmed by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri who said the Maharlika Fund as well as measures pushing for minimum wage hike top the Senate agenda as the Congress session resumed Monday.

Romualdez said the 11 measures are now part of the bills adopted by the LEDAC, bringing to 42 the total number of priority measures. Maricel V. Cruz

THE Department of Justice will conduct a preliminary investigation into the human trafficking charges filed against 12 individuals involved in the trafficking of more than 1000 Filipinos and foreign nationals into the country and then force them to run various illegal online schemes.

This came after the Philippine National Police- Anti Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) has filed before the DOJ criminal complaints against the respondents, mostly Chinese nationals, for human trafficking, violation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, serious illegal detention and violation of immigration laws.

The DOJ said the complaint was filed last Saturday and the accused, mostly Chinese nationals, opted to avail of a preliminary investigation by signing a waiver of any objection against their delivery to the proper judicial authorities under Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispino Remulla said those charged also include Indonesian nationals.

The respondents were brought by PNP-ACG to the DOJ for inquest proceedings along with several victimwitnesses. Rey E. Requejo

LTO launching digital driver’s license via app

THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) is set to launch a digital driver’s license that will serve as alternative to the physical card.

LTO chief Jay Art Tugade said the electronic version of a driver’s license can be accessed through a “super app” developed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

“The advantage of the digital license is that motorists can present it to law enforcement officers during apprehension. It is equivalent to presenting the physical driver’s license,” Tugade said in a news release issued Monday. It did not say exactly when the digital version would be made available and implemented.

GSIS: P814m allotted for four Davao areas

STATE pension fund Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is offering emergency loan to active members, and old-age and disability pensioners working or residing in the provinces of Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro; and the municipalities of Caraga and Governor Generoso in Davao Oriental.

“Naglaan kami ng halos P814 million para sa 36,155 active members and 4,539 pensioners sa mga nasabing lugar na naapektuhan ng mga kalamidad tulad ng pagbaha at lindol. Bukas ang loan application hanggang May 27,” GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso said.

To qualify, active members must be residing or working in the calamity areas; not be on leave of absence without pay; have no pending administrative or criminal case; have at least three monthly premium payments within the last six months prior to application; have no due and demandable loan; and have a net takehome pay not lower than the amount required under the General Appropriations Act after all monthly obligations have been deducted.