NBI to probe broadcaster’s murder

By Rey E. Requejo

Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the killing of radio broadcaster Cresenciano Bunduquin in Oriental Mindoro last Wednesday, May 31.

“We’re asking the NBI to look into it, this killing, because we want to know the motives,” Remulla said in a press conference Thursday. Remulla said he issued the directive to the NBI on request of the Presidential

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For his part, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel Ill said once the measure becomes a law, it can be challenged before the Supreme Court.

Pimentel also guaranteed to help anybody who will go to court and question the investment fund.

“For those planning to do this, I will make myself available as source of some facts, information and arguments,” he said.

For the JBIC, Maeda said they are interested in addressing the role of liquified natural gas (LNG) as a traditional source of power in the country, and the need to bring in other energy sources such as hydropower, solar, and wind.

“We have the potential…between Japan and the Philippines to work together,” he said.

“For example, I already had a meeting with Aboitiz (Corp.) Chairman Sabin (Aboitiz) and I proposed to him to have an MOU… and to Metro Pacific, and also to San Miguel,” Maeda added.

He said there is a need to identify the specific project and determine how to switch to more efficient energy, as well as the development of new technology like hydrogen.

The JBIC chair also congratulated the

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Speaker Martin Romualdez thanked his colleagues for the "record-breaking" accomplishments in the House of Representatives.

“True to our tradition, we do not agree to proposals without discussion, nor embrace ideas without debate. We improve before we approve. We do not trade scrutiny for speed,” Zubiri said.

Romualdez, for his part, thanked his colleagues for their hard work and fidelity to their job.

“Each and every member of this august body truly deserves commendation for a job well done.

Congratulations to all of us! When I assumed the post as your Speaker, I invited each one of you to support and join me in fulfilling the aspirations of the Filipino people. For readily heeding this call, I express my sincerest gratitude to everyone,” Romualdez said.

“The unity that we have shown in the performance of duty, and our relentless action in keeping the legislative mill grinding to full efficiency, are now

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Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, Duterte’s erstwhile longtime assistant, broached the idea previously to Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. on Tuesday during a Senate hearing on the multimillion-peso shabu drug haul last year.

Duterte, who has been facing an International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation because of the bloody war on drugs during his term as president, was asked if he would consider working for the Marcos administration.

He stressed that addressing the drug issue is a “matter of leadership,” thus Mr. Marcos should be given the leeway to do so.

“Let us give Marcos the greatest elbow room leeway to do his job in just one year. And in fairness to the police, that’s the problem. The last time I said it, it's a matter of leadership,” the former president said.

In response to Sen. Go, Acorda said he would support any step that would help in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa backed the call to put Duterte in as antidrug czar, saying it will bring back fear to policemen and criminal syndicates involved in the illegal drug trade.

Dela Rosa served as Duterte's

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PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said the maritime exercise would also deal with illegal fishing, smuggling, and a scenario against a suspected vessel involved in piracy.

Asked if the trilateral exercise is related to the ongoing territorial dispute

Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS)

Executive Director Paul Gutierrez. Police reports showed Bunduquin was gunned down by two assailants while he was opening his retail store in Barangay Sta. Isabel, Calapan City at

Philippine government for the approval of the proposed sovereign wealth fund law by both Houses of Congress.

President Marcos said these are the kinds of investments the country needs, which is why the fund is being created.

Maeda said the JBIC also wants to know more details about the country’s potential, targeted projects, and those still in the pipeline so it could make more tangible, specific proposals to upgrade the value of the strategic cooperation.

In the Senate during the deliberations of the controversial measure, Pimentel raised several concerns over the MIF, including its economic viability.

Pimentel, Sen. Imee Marcos, and Sen. Francis Escudero did not cast their votes during the third and final reading of the MIF.

But Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the MIF is “Mission Impossible Fund” no more.

“The version of the measure that we have approved meets the high bar for transparency and accountability. The many amendments that we placed here will assure the Filipino people that this fund will be used properly, efficiently, and effectively,” said Zubiri.

This stand was echoed by the administration’s economic managers, who said the Senate version of the MIF bill eventually adopted by the House of Representatives has more safeguards against potential abuse and is also “more reaping fruits for our beloved institution.

Public opinion on the performance rating of the House of Representatives is fast reaching an all-time high,” the Speaker added.

Zubiri said six Senate measures were enacted into law—four of national application, and two local laws.

Twenty-two bills are now also for the President’s signature—seven of them national and 15 local. Two national bills are pending before the bicameral conference committee, and six more national bills have been approved on third reading.

“A highlight among our accomplishments is our approval of eight of the priority measures of the administration,” Zubiri said.

Three of these measures have already been passed into law-the SIM Registration Act, an Act Postponing the Barangay Elections, and the AFP Fixed Term Law.

Meanwhile, the measure on the Condonation of Unpaid Amortization and Interests on Loans of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries, the Regional Specialty Centers Act, the Extension of the Estate Tax Amnesty Act, and the Maharlika first national police chief during his administration. with China in the West Philippine Sea, Balilo said no. He added that there will be no scenarios involving the Chinese Coast Guard roaming inside the country's exclusive economic zone.

In March, the ICC's Appeals Chamber rejected the Philippine government's bid for the suspension of the ICC prosecutor's investigation into the killings in the war on drugs.

Mr. Marcos then said the Philippines is disengaging from the ICC.

However, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra in April said the country will still pursue its appeal questioning the ICC’s jurisdiction and authority to investigate killings during Duterte’s drug war.

Government records showed that at least 6,000 drug suspects were killed in police operations from June 2016 until November 2021.

Several human rights groups, on the other hand, claimed the actual death toll may be up to 30,000.

Go raised his question after expressing concern that the efforts of the Duterte administration would be put to waste considering the alleged involvement of some cops in the “recycling” of confiscated drugs.

"Let's not waste what former President Duterte started to fight against illegal drugs. When illegal drugs return, we know that criminality and corruption will return," he said.

Dela Rosa, who was the first PNP chief of the Duterte administration, also aired his frustration against the cops involved.

PCG said that it will deploy BRP Melchora Aquino, BRP Gabriela Silang, BRP Boracay, and one 44-meter multirole response vessel for the drills.

The Japanese Coast Guard arrived at Pier 13 onboard the 91.7-meter-long around 4:20 a.m.

“We know that his son ran after the gunmen, killed one of them, and recovered an identification card,” Remulla said.

“They seemed to be gun for hire. Whoever hired the hitmen, we should know them,” he added.

As this developed, several members of the diplomatic community in the Philippines have expressed concern over Bunduquin's murder acceptable to everyone.”

The United States Embassy in Manila said that protection of media freedom is an “integral element” of democracy.

Zubiri said the MIF, as finetuned by the Senate, will “attract investments, impose integrity safeguards, and yield gains for social good.”

“We are going to make the MIF work for the country,” Zubiri promised. “And I am very proud of this version because of the safeguards we put in place. No need to worry.”

The ratified version details strict safeguards for the selection of officers, for which there will be a rigorous vetting process, and introduces lengthy penal provisions to guard against the misuse of funds.

Hefty fines and penalties, including perpetual disqualification from public office, will be imposed on officers who commit prohibited acts, or conceal or tolerate graft and corrupt practices.

Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa expressed faith in the Marcos administration’s genuine intent in pushing for the establishment of the Maharlika fund.

“Malacanang will not do that if it will destroy our country. Who is a president or for that matter, an administration who will do measures to destroy the future of his country?” said Dela Rosa. He said that some of his colleagues in the Senate just have their concerns, but he believes it’s fit the good of our country.

“So let’s work for the betterment of our

Investment Fund Act are awaiting the President’s signature.

The Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act has also been approved by the Senate on third reading. It needs only its House counterpart before it can move forward.

“While this scoreboard shows the quantity of our output, it does not describe the quality of each of these measures,” said Zubiri.

Indeed, the Maharlika Investment Fund only secured the Senate’s third reading approval at 2:32 a.m. on Wednesday, after an 11-hour marathon session taken up by extensive line-byline amendments to the bill.

“All of the senators across the majority and the minority have toiled very hard, from their committee hearings to the rigorous debates and interpellations in plenary. If the Senate has had an excellent performance thus far, it is all thanks to them.”

Meanwhile, Speaker Romualdez said the House also performed its oversight function to find solutions to the country’s pressing problems, like the recent unwarranted increase in the price of onions.

He said due to the inquiry and work

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From A1 cause it would be difficult to have a survey on all these lands,” Mr. Marcos said in the meeting with the Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement (PRISM) on Wednesday.

“From that, the issue on titling will be easier. We will be able to define the parcels of land. It will be easier if we will solve the titling problem," he added.

PRISM also raised with the President other concerns such as high cost of rice production and limited market access, limited access to capital investment, adverse BIR policies, lack of extensive irrigation system, climate crisis-El Niño threat, and slow adoption of vital rice production technology.

The Presidential Communications Office said the present government interventions addressing these concerns include the implementation of Farm and Fisheries Consolidation and Clustering program (F2C2), provision of various support services including credit and financing by the Department of Agriculture, and the Land Bank of the Philippines, and establishment of climate-smart agriculture infrastructure.

The Marcos administration is also formulating the National Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization and Industrialization Plan and other plans to guide the de-

Akitsushima with its Commanding Officer Captain Toru Imai. The United States Coast Guard came shortly afterward with the USCGC Stratton with its commander Capt. Brian Krautler, the 6th Commanding Officer of the CGC Stratton.

“We’re eager to join the Philippine and Japan Coast Guards and participate in meaningful engagements with our allies and partners both in port and at sea,” Krautler said. “This first trilateral engagement country,” Dela Rosa said. His proposal to prohibit the use of government social welfare entities such as the Social Security System (SSS) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to invest in the Maharlika was adopted in Congress’ final version of the bill. done by the committee on agriculture, the biggest onion cartel in the country has been dismantled and the price of the commodity has returned to its previous level. velopment of the agriculture and fisheries sectors.

The embassies of Canada and The Netherlands underscored the need to safeguard media freedom to allow journalists to work without fearing for their lives and called on the government to ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable.

“Attacks on media workers must be urgently investigated, and those responsible must be held accountable,” their joint statement read.

The embassies of the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, Germany and the European Delegation in Manila also condemned the killing.

For her part, Sen. Grace Poe said the bill passed is an enhanced, better version with adequate safeguards to ensure effective and transparent governance of funds.

“We pushed to include the requirement of a fidelity bond worth P10 million for the board members of the Maharlika Investment Corporation to guarantee that they will faithfully account for the funds entrusted to them,” she said.

“As an added protection of the fund, we increased the fines, imposed imprisonment and included perpetual disqualification from public office as part of penalties against officials who will tolerate graft, act as intermediaries for corrupt acts, and those who will be found erring during fund audits."

“We also strengthened congressional oversight over the fund by requiring the quarterly submission of investment portfolio and audit reports,” she added.

According to the senator, they put premium on the public's right to freedom of information by giving them access to investment plans for the fund and to audit its documents.

The Speaker also thanked the other leaders of the House, including its senior deputy speaker, deputy speakers, Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, committee chairpersons and vice chairpersons, the secretariat, and all employees for the chamber’s record accomplishments.

“As we close the First Regular Session, I wish that you will remain steadfast in your duty. Let us take this time to reenergize, reflect and reinvigorate our passion for public service,” he said.

The Speaker also expressed his gratitude to the political parties in the House for their commitment and cooperation in the approval of priority bills of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

Just a few days ago, the Romualdezled Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) signed alliance agreements with each of seven national, local, and sectoral political groups in the House.

Founded in 2019, PRISM is composed of multisectoral groups involved in the rice industry value chain.

It has the mandate to address the fragmented government approach in addressing issues and help protect the interests of all stakeholders, from the farmers to the consumers.

The geo mapping is in line with the government's goal of 100% rice self-sufficiency in five years following President Marcos's approval of the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program (MRIDP).

The President, who concurrently heads the Department of Agriculture (DA), disclosed the government target during a Rice Industry Convergence Meeting in Quezon City on Wednesday.

“This convergence meeting, I think, has given us a good roadmap to follow, but marami pang mangyayari d’yan between now and our goal of having a 97.5-percent self-sufficiency in rice,” Mr. Marcos said.

Mr. Marcos said the government does not have “to be 100%” and that 97.5% is “a good enough number.”

The President explained the remaining 2.5% is for the other necessary niche products. He also encouraged all the stakeholders to stick to the roadmap, which he described as a “good plan” that could enable the country’s agriculture sector to surmount any roadblocks that lie ahead.

[among] the coast guards of these nations will provide invaluable opportunities to strengthen global maritime governance through professional exchanges and combined operations. Together we’ll demonstrate professional, rules-based standards of maritime operations with our steadfast partners to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific,” he added.

Roughly 400 participants are expected to join in the drills, with about 200 personnel from the PCG, 80-100 from the