More disciplinary actions vs. Teves

By Maricel V. Cruz

REP. Felimon Espares, chair of the House of Representatives committee on ethics, on Friday shared the view of Speaker Martin G. Romualdez that Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr may face another disciplinary action should he insist on not returning home and continue neglecting his legislative functions.

“(Teves) “is already abandoning his oath of office as a member of the House where he swore to have allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines and to obey the orders of the duly constituted authorities,” Espares said in an interview. Espares was reacting to the decision

DOH detects 3

THE Department of Health (DOH) reported that it has detected three additional cases of the Omicron COVID-19 subvariant XBB.1.16, raising the tally to four.

The DOH further said the three local XBB.1.16 cases were found in Western Visayas, ABS-CBN News reported.

XBB.1.16, also known as “Arcturus,” is a descendent lineage of XBB, a recombinant of two BA.2 descendent lineages. The DOH previously said the strain is capable of evading immunity and appears to be more contagious than previous variants.

The DOH, quoted by ABS-CBN News, added that COVID-19 cases continued to increase, with a daily average of 1,533 cases as of May 10, which is 75 percent higher from last week. This is similar to the number of cases reported on July 11, 2022, with 1,506 cases per day, it added.

The agency also detected 197 new cases of omicron subvariants.

President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr. meanwhile said the Philippines has already been on “normal footing” even before the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an end to the emergency phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a media interview on board his flight back to the Philippines, Mr. Marcos said there is no need to restore the emergency status in the country concerning the global health emergency downgrade. Vince Lopez

In Brief

Agents seize 5 kilos of poppy pods in Pasay BUREAU of Customs (BOC) agents seized more than five kilos of poppy pods worth millions of pesos and arrested its claimant at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City.

In a statement, the BOC said the seizure is part of the agency’s strengthened anti-illegal drug campaign, in coordination with other law enforcement agencies.

The illegal drugs were discovered after the BOC conducted an intensive regular X-ray screening at the CMEC warehouse, and found the parcel declared as “prepared food of cereal corn flakes” which came from Murcia, Spain.

A Customs examiner conducted a physical examination in the presence of the claimant, representatives from XIP, Customs Anti-illegal Drug Task Force, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, Enforcement and Security Service, and PDEA.

“After the physical examination, the subject parcel yielded more or less 5.05 kilos of poppy pods with seeds, a precursor of opium,” the BOC said. Vito Barcelo of the government of Timor-Leste to reject the request Teves to seek political asylum in the country. Espares however said Teves “should still be considered a member of the House of Representatives despite his seeming abandonment of his oath of office.”

Teves was suspended by the House for 60 days in late March for failure to return to the country and face the Ethics Committee despite the expiration of his US visa.

Article VI, Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution provides the House the power to penalize its members for disorderly behavior. The penalty ranges from reprimand, suspension to expulsion.

He added Teves’s privileges and immunities are also suspended, stressing that the Negros Oriental congressman’s status can never be used to evade justice. Nevertheless, Espares said Teves deserves the right to be heard, stressing that “due process” is “fundamental.”

Espares also urged Teves to heed the appeal of the Philippine government authorities led by no less than President Marcos and his fellow legislators to return home “in order to be present and allowed to participate in all deliberations.”

The House has unanimously imposed a 60-day suspension on Teves over his refusal to return home to report for legislative work amid an expired travel authority.

Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa meanwhile decided to end the inquiry on the killing of the Degamo and eight others after 80 persons from Negros Oriental faced five hearings. The hearing also tackled political families—and rivals—in the province.

PH AS WELLNESS HUB.

Department of Tourism (DOT)

Secretary Cristina GarciaFrasco and Agora and Hadi Malaeb, CEO of Agora Group sign a partnership positioning the Philippines as an emerging medical and wellness tourism destination in Asia. The DOT and Agora are expected to participate at the First International Health and Wellness Tourism Congress (IHWTC) 2023 in Germany.

Take part in climate plan, DENR chief urges youth

DEPARTMENT of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Antonia Loyzaga has cited the important role of the youth in tackling climate change, urging young Filipinos to take an active role in crafting solutions to the ongoing climate crisis.

She made the call during an event at the DENR central office in Quezon City as part of the agency’s Earth Day celebration with the theme “Invest in our Planet, Invest in our Youth.”

Over 150 high school, college students, and teachers from Metro Manila attended the event.

“Invest in our youth. We are in the middle of an emergency — and that is the climate crisis. What we need to do with you, the youth, is to become part of the solution,” Loyzaga said.

Rio N. Araja

3 Taguig centenarians get P100K cash gifts

THE Taguig City government on Friday named three centenarian awardees for the month of May.

The awardees were Antonia Alano, 100 years old, of Barangay Countryside; Antonia Gavierez, 103 years old, of Barangay Hagonoy; and Maria Quintua, 101 years old, from Barangay North Daang Hari.

The local government through the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs gave the three centenarians a cash gift of ₱100,000.

Alano is a first time awardee while Gavierez and Quinta, received their 4th and second recognition, respectively. Mayor Laarni Cayetano said each centenarian receives a ₱100,000 cash gift when they turn 100 years old and will continue to receive the amount every year while they live.

Joel E. Zurbano