COA flags PCGG on sale of Mandaluyong properties

By Rio A. Araja

THE Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) that disposed of its building in Mandaluyong City in 2022 for P800 million.

In an annual audit report, the COA directed the PCGG to recover properties from the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses that the “land, land improvements and buildings” at No. 82 EDSA, Mandaluyong City that was recorded in the list of “abandoned, surrendered property assets” in 2021.

The properties, in January 2022, had been appraised total market values of P856.99 million and P721.5 million from Asian Appraisal and Cal-Fil, respectively.

PNP monitoring 36 private armies

By Charles Dantes

THIRTY-SIX private armed groups from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region are being monitored ahead of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

In an interview, PNP Chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. bared that it is the reason why he frequented trips in the region for the past two months since he assumed his position.

“Most of these PAGs are in eight regions. Mostly in BARMM, this is where we are focusing on because in BARMM alone, we monitored 36 (PAGs),” Acorda said. “So our focus is intelligence-driven operations in guiding our regional offices to arrest all of them,” he added.

Acorda said that during his visits to BARMM, he met with various groups and stakeholders that could help PNP in securing peaceful and safe BSK elections in the region.

“The good news here is that all the peace groups that we would meet already gave us the commitment that they would assist to ensure the peaceful and orderly conduct of barangay and SK elections,” Acorda said.

Previously, the PNP reported that they are keeping tabs on 45 inactive PAGs and three active armed groups across the country.

PAGs were used to do violent activities to gain advantages or leverage against certain individuals.

“The property was disposed of through public bidding in May 2022,” COA’s Notes to Financial Statements cited.

The appraisal valued the PCGG land at P836.94 million, the buildings at P18.977 million, and other land improvements at P1.073 million.

The report noted the properties “are being used by the Commission in its operation.”

Tulfo visits Dubai, interacts with OFWs based in the UAE

SEN. Raffy Tulfo visited the United Arab Emirates to personally checked the conditions of overseas Filipinos (OFWs) in Dubai.

Tulfo, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers, was joined by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Usec. Hans Cacdac, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Arnel Ignacio, Ambassador Ferdinand Ver, and Philippine Consul General Renator Duenas Jr. in his fourday visit in Dubai from June 6 to 9.

The senator kicked off his Dubai visit by celebrating Migrant Workers’ Day on June 7 with several Filipinos there, including three Filipino OFW-turned business owners namely Maria Emma Lizano, Olive Samson, and Melinda Nulla. He is proud that they now own a famous Filipino restaurant in Waterfront, Dubai called PALUTO. Macon Ramos-Araneta