IN BRIEF

DILG auditing local peace councils too

deprived of the tax rebate,” he told reporters.

Erfe raised concern that a worst-case scenario may happen since the newly SC-approved Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability mandates that a PAO lawyer from the case’s jurisdiction and a PAO lawyer from another regional district must represent the accused or the complainant “in just one and the same case.”

“Can you imagine if a public lawyer from a region goes to another region to represent either the respondent or the plaintiff? That is what the Code is telling us. The concerned lawyer would be left with no option but to leave his or her assigned clients in the province,” he said.

BIR files raps vs. own workers for P6.4b in losses

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue on Thursday asked the Department of Justice to prosecute a BIR employee and his wife for violation of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, following alleged P6.4 billion in revenue losses due to an alleged sales suppression scheme the couple is accused of.

In a complaint, the BIR through Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui accused BIR employee Aldwin Base, his wife Chiradee Base, and relative Jelson Vargas of violating Section 264-B of

Kuwait...

From A1 examination in Kuwait. the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 (Tax Code), as amended.

Recruitment agencies are asking for help from the Department of Migrant Workers, which had yet to comment as of press time, because many OFWs who have completed their requirements would be affected.

“According to our Philippine Embassy in Kuwait, all those new entry visas in Kuwait from the Philippines are not allowed to enter but those with residence visa or what you call iqama are allowed to enter,” Cortes said.

This was after the government said it lost P6.4 billion in revenues through a sales suppression scheme allegedly perpetrated by a software firm being operated by Base, his wife, and Vargas. Section 264-B penalizes the “purchase, use, possess, sell or offer to sell, install, transfer, update, upgrade and keep, or maintain any software or device designed for or capable of modifying, hiding, or deleting electronic records of sales transactions and providing a ready means of access to them.”

Cortes declined to comment on Kuwaiti media reports that the decision was based on the Philippines’ alleged non-compliance with its bilateral labor agreement with the Gulf state.

He said Kuwait has yet to officially inform Manila of the reason behind the suspension.

The envoy, however, emphasized Manila is committed to resolving the issue “in an amicable manner.”

“In the case of Kuwait, we cannot deny that there are very, very friendly relations plus very strong people-topeople links,” he said.

It imposes a penalty between P500,000 to P10 million and imprisonment of not less than two years but not more than four years.

It also states that a cumulative suppression of electronic sales record in excess of the amount of P50 million shall be considered as economic sabotage and shall be punished in the maximum penalty provided under the same provision.

According to Lumagui, the Base couple are running the software management company identified as Basebyte Software Management and Consultancy Services (Basebyte).

“Our ambassador there is liaising and coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make sure that nothing is lost in translation,” he said.

“One, what kind of ban will this be? What type of cessation of visa is it?

Number two, what are its limits and who are those covered? Number three, why? So, all that will be threshed out with our discussion with the MOFA.”

At least 290,000 Filipinos live and work in Kuwait.

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government will check the performance of Peace and Order Councils (POC) in 1,715 local government units in the country to ensure they are actively implementing programs to secure their communities.

“Through this annual audit, we want to make sure that our regional, provincial, city and municipal POCs are functional and are carrying out strategies and interventions to further improve the peace and order situation in their areas,” said DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr.

This year, each council must score 70% or higher compared to 65% last year to be considered functional based on the following: Organization; Meetings; Policies, Plans and Budgets; Reports; and General Supervision.

“The higher functionality rate is a reflection of more favorable LGUs” Abalos said. Joel E. Zurbano

Pass NAIA checkup records, MIAA told

A LEGISLATOR on Thursday asked the Manila International Airport Authority to submit to the House of Representatives its electrical maintenance records and plans for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to determine if regular checks were made that could have prevented the recent power outages at the country’s premier gateway.

Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan of Bicol Saro party-list group made the request during the hearing of the House committee on transportation on its motu proprio inquiry into the power outage that happened at the NAIA Terminal 3 last May 1 or Labor Day, which affected more than 9,000 passengers.

Coming...

From A1

The President said he was able to briefly discuss the matter with Timor Leste Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak on the sidelines of the 42nd ASEAN Summit.

“Yes, it turns out that congressman Arnie Teves applied for political asylum but was denied,” Marcos said.

“I think they will continue to go through the process,” he said, noting that Teves can still appeal the decision.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to inform the Timor-Leste authorities that Teves was wanted for murder and a suspect in the March assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo.

On Thursday, Remulla said Teves was still in Timor-Leste, asking for reconsideration, and was also trying to seek refuge in Cambodia.

The Justice Secretary, however, said he told the Cambodian ambassador that Teves is a person of interest in the killing of Degamo. Vince Lopez, Maricel V. Cruz, Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

Meralco...

From A1 consumption during the dry months.

Meanwhile, oil prices may go up next week, ending three consecutive weeks of price cuts, based on the first three days of world oil trading movement.

According to an industry source, oil prices may go up by P1.15 per liter for diesel, P1.13 per liter for kerosene, and P0.30 per liter for gasoline.

Meralco announced on Tuesday that consumers in its franchise area will experience higher rates of P0.1761 per kWh in May, bringing the overall rate for a typical household to P11.4929 per kWh from the previous month’s P11.3168 per kWh.

“That will taper off around July. From March to June, we need to expect an increase both in terms of consumption and price,” Zaldarriaga said. He said consumption goes up be-

“The way it is written by the Kuwait Civil Aviation, it says all visas, so it may be tourist, it may be student, it may be business, as long as new entry, they will not be allowed entry, but those who have their residence IDs may do so,” he added.

“We’re confident that we will be able to find a mutually satisfactory solution to whatever issues we feel need to be discussed with Kuwait.”

The Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers earlier implemented a deployment ban in February for newly hired or first-time domestic workers in Kuwait following the murder of Jullebee Ranara.

The country last imposed a total deployment ban to Kuwait in 2018 after OFW Joanna Demafelis was slain and discovered inside a freezer at an abandoned apartment there. en route to Manila from Indonesia.

From A1 negotiations towards the early conclusion of an effective and substantive COC consistent with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, within a mutually agreed timeline,” Widodo said in his chairman’s statement.

“We emphasized the importance of self-restraint in the conduct of activities by claimants and all other states... that could further complicate the situation and escalate tensions in the South China Sea.”

In his intervention at the 42nd ASEAN Summit Retreat Session Thursday morning, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said all stakeholders “must ensure that the South China Sea does not become a nexus for armed conflict.”

“We must avoid the ascendance of might and the aggressive revision of the international order. In an increasingly tween 10 and 15 percent in March to June due to higher temperatures, which drive the use of air conditioners. volatile world, we require constraints on power contained by the force of the rule of law,” he said.

“Temperature levels play a very big part in terms of overall demand, between 10 to 40 percent,” Zaldarraiga said.

Meralco is also set to complete this month the implementation of the last distributionrelated refund, equivalent to P0.8656 per kWh for residential customers.

The impact of this will be felt in the customers’ June billing period.

Meralco also expects temperatures to continue to be elevated in the coming months due to the El Nino weather phenomenon, which could impact on demand and supply.

Meanwhile, Meralco’s generation charge went up to P7.6697 this month from P7.3295 per kWh in April due to higher Wholesale Electricity Spot Market and power supply agreement costs.

This already includes the collection of the final installment of deferred charges, equivalent to around P0.20 per kWh.

Cortes said the DFA is waiting for official talks to start with the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to discuss the coverage of the ban.

In his arrival statement in Manila yesterday evening, Mr. Marcos said he “reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes and advocated for a rulesbased maritime order anchored on the 1982 UNCLOS.”

Beijing claims almost the entire sea while four ASEAN countries – the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Brunei – have overlapping claims to part of it.

Widodo insisted ASEAN members must remain united in resolving the crisis or risk the “break up” of the bloc.

“There cannot be a party within or outside ASEAN that can benefit from internal strife in Myanmar. The violence must end,” he told reporters through a translator.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said it was time to review the non-interference principle to give ASE -

SC...

From A1

The SQA order effectively reinstated Rosal for the time being pending resolution of the petition before the high court and took back the proclamation of second placer Alfredo Garbin Jr. as city mayor.

Rosal defeated Garbin by a narrow margin of less than 1,000 votes in the May 2022 elections.

“The Supreme Court En Banc deemed it necessary and proper to issue a status quo ante order requiring the parties to observe the status quo prevailing before the issuance of the Comelec resolutions

Imelda...

From A1

93-year-old Marcos matriarch were silenced after Imee and Imelda’s niece

AN the ability to deal with challenges such as the Myanmar crisis that have regional implications.

Mr. Marcos said the recalibrated approach will see ASEAN trying to engage Myanmar “at every level and to all the political factions that are active and are involved in that crisis situation.”

“We came to this conclusion simply because ... we have laid out the Five-Point Consensus and we put it forward to Myanmar, but it has been two years and there has been no movement. We decided we must try and do it in another way,” he said.

“And there are many members who have experience in these long ongoing political negotiations and the advice is to engage everyone equally, and that is what we intend to do,” Mr. Marcos added.

Since the Myanmar military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s government in 2021 it has overseen a bloody crackdown on dissent that has killed thousands of people. With Maricel V. Cruz and AFP dated October 4, 2022 and May 4, 2023,” the SC said in a resolution.

The said Comelec resolutions disqualified Rosal as candidate for mayor of Legazpi City and directed the special city board of canvassers to proclaim Garbin Jr. as the duly elected mayor.

Comelec spokesperson and lawyer Rex Laudiangco confirmed the poll has received the SC ruling and that it will comply.

“Said compliance of Comelec with established processes guarantees all parties to the case the opportunity to avail of all legal remedies under our jurisdiction,” he said.

The Court en banc also required the Comelec, Garbin, Rosal, Joseph San Agus-

Eliza Romualdez-Valtos denied them.

Before that, then-Bacoor Mayor Lani Revilla erroneously tweeted about Imelda’s death, as she expressed condolences to the family of the widow of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

While Congress would be more than willing to assist the MIAA in improving NAIA’s equipment and facilities, Yamsuan said it was regrettable that the agency appears to be insensitive to the welfare of thousands of airline passengers inconvenienced by the crippling power outages that occurred during the peak travel seasons of January 1 and May 1 of this year. Maricel V. Cruz

PBBM...

From A1 re-examine the case as a favor to the Philippines. That’s all we talked about. Not much more than that,” President Marcos told the PH media delegation onboard the presidential bound to Manila when asked if he was able to discuss Veloso’s case with Widodo.

The President said he mentioned Veloso’s case when he was walking with Widodo to one of the events during the Summit amid the hectic schedule of his Indonesian counterpart, who hosted the gathering.

Mr. Marcos mentioned to Widodo that the Philippine government is working hard on Veloso’s case, as he emphasized that they respect Indonesia’s laws on illegal drug charges.

The President earlier said the Philippine government is not giving up on Veloso -- who has been in Indonesia’s jails for 13 years or since 2010 -- as they are continuing asking for all legal remedies, including her pardon, commutation of her sentence, or even extradition to serve her sentence in the Philippines.

Vince Lopez

tin Armogila, and Oscar Robert Cristobal to file their comments within a “non-extendible period of ten days from notice.”

Armogila, who was a candidate for city councilor in last year’s election, filed a petition seeking the disqualification of Rosal on the grounds of vote buying under Section 68 (A) of the Omnibus Election Code and violation of the prohibition on release, disbursement, and expenditure of public funds under the said law.

The case filed by Armogila stemmed from a Facebook post on March 31, 2022 about a Tricycle Driver’s Cash Assistance Payout, which coincided with the 45-day ban on the release of public funds.

Revilla then deleted her post, apologized in a separate tweet, and later claimed her account was hacked.

Imelda also reacted to Revilla’s social media mess, saying, “Still alive. I’m just old.”

In Brief

DepEd sets start of early registration for SY 2023-2024

encourage out-ofschool children and parents/guardians of prospective learners to participate in the early registration.

All public elementary and secondary schools were also ordered to update or encode daily in the early registration facility in the Learner Information System (LIS) using the school head or administrator account.

Aviation authority issues notice on China rocket launch debris

THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has issued notices to airmen (Notam) informing them about the closure of several area navigation routes in anticipation of possible debris drops from the rocket launch by China.

CAAP made the advisory after the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) informed the agency about the Long March 7 rocket launch Wednesday night.

“Though the debris from the rocket launch will unlikely fall on inhabited land, it may still pose danger to aircraft and seacraft,” CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio said.

Apolonio said the Notam area of concern includes the drop zones identified in coordination with the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA). The PhilSA monitors debris from the rocket, which was confirmed to have launched at 9:22 p.m. on May 10 Philippine time, from Wenchang Space Launch Center in Wenchang, Hainan.

“Unburned debris expected to be discarded from the rocket before it entered outer space is projected to have fallen within three identified drop zone areas that are approximately 65 to 79 kilometers from Bajo de Masinloc,” it stated.

PhilSA has issued an advisory to relevant government authorities before the launch to warn of the risks of falling debris to ships, aircraft, fishing boats, and other vessels passing through the drop zone areas, and recommended the issuance of warnings and temporary restrictions.

In case of debris sighting, PhilSA advises the public to immediately inform local authorities for appropriate action, and avoid retrieving the debris. Joel E.

Zurbano