Ex-Speaker Alvarez talks on divorce bill

n By RIO N. ARAJA

TODAY is Father’s Day. And for all the fathers out there: hear ye, hear ye.

“Being a father is a big responsibility. Fathers cry, too. They get hurt and abused in an unhappy relationship,” according to former Speaker and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez. Having said that, Alvarez reiterated his commitment to vigorously push the divorce bill in Congress.

Acknowledging the heavy responsibility of being a father and the perception of fathers as providers, protectors, and pillars of the home, he recognizes the “emotional struggles that fathers often conceal beneath their strong demeanor.”

He stressed the importance to

Robin hits back at critics, asserts senators ‘not sleeping on the job’

SENATOR Robinhood Padilla on Saturday hit back at critics who claimed that some members of the present Senate are not “honorable-looking” and not taking their job seriously.

“The Senate now is not in the business of comedy because we inherited many problems facing the nation from the honorable senators who came before us. These are serious problems that need solutions,” said actorturned-politician Padilla.

He said the present batch of senators come from a new generation and are from the masses, and have their feet on the ground. The neophyte senator pointed out that while some senators may seem “noisy,” they were not sleeping on the job or fiddling with their phones absentmindedly.

BLOODLETTING.

Donors bleed at the multipurpose court of Barangay 76-A SIR Phase II in Davao City during a blood donation event organized by the local Philippine Red Cross chapter and the Drivers United for Mass Progress and Equal Rights –Philippines Taxi Drivers Association. Robinson Niñal Jr.

“A senator giving inputs during a session is not a violation, but a parliamentary procedure allowed by the Rules of the Senate. A senator who talks to his or her constituents is not a liability, but a humble fulfillment of obligations,” he said.

Padilla also defended Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Majority Leader Joel Villanueva whom he described as wise and straight leaders who work for the nation, and not traditional politicians.

Joel E. Zurbano

address the “overlooked” issue of battered husbands within marriages.

Alvarez’s push for reforms through the divorce bill reflects his deep understanding of the far-reaching impact it can have on fathers and the families.

By advocating for divorce, the lawmaker said he wants to “create an environment that fosters healthy

BIKE RUN FOR A CAUSE. Mayor co-parenting arrangements and allows fathers to thrive both personally and professionally, thus ensuring the financial well-being of their children.”

“Father’s Day serves as a reminder to recognize the struggles fathers face and their need for support. It is our duty to support fathers trapped in toxic marriages, allowing them to break free and rebuild their lives,” he added.

The NCRPO cops are set to conduct simulations and communication exercises in mapping out contingency measures for various types of incidents that may occur.

"We are anticipating the presence of protest actions, so we are ready to maintain order and security. We will also strictly enforce maximum tolerance and compliance with Police Operational Procedures, especially valuing the human rights of all who will participate in this day," Okubo said.

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said so far, the government has monitored no possible threat to the SONA 2023.

Inbrief

Lawmaker files bill prohibiting bullying

PARTY-LIST lawmaker wants to criminalize bullying at the workplace, saying it is not right to bully anybody anywhere at anytime.

In this connection, ACT-CIS partylist Rep. Jocelyn Tulfo filed House Bill No. 8446 or the Anti-Bullying in the Workplace Act.

She lamented that institutions both in the government and in the private sectors often “normalize” and tolerate office bullying without regard to the victim’s mental health and possible emotional damage caused by the perpetrators,

“This has been an issue at work for a long time ago. It has never given attention to because others would just think it just okay. In fact, there are times that bullying comes from the bosses. They often disguise insults and harassment of their officemates in the form of jokes or friendly banter without being sensitive about the victim’s emotions,” she said.

“We have to protect our workers. We have to remember that part of our labor workforce’s welfare is their emotional and mental well-being. It’s never okay to bully someone regardless of the place, even in schools or at the offices,” she added. Rio N. Araja

Bill eyes additional prisons under BuCor

leads the observance of San Juan City’s 16th cityhood anniversary with a parade of bikers which is also meant to drum up public consciousness on the local government’s water conservation drive dubbed ‘Ang Tubig ay Buhay’ starting at the city’s historic Pinaglabanan

BI retains Tier 1 status for 8th year in campaign vs. human trafficking

n By VITO BARCELO

THE United States government has recognize the Philippines Bureau of Immigration (BI) for its “unwavering commitment in combatting human trafficking.”

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said was told that the country has maintained its Tier 1 status for the eighth consecutive year in the US State Department’s 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report. The BI, as an active member of the DOJ-led Inter-Agency Council against Trafficking (IACAT), has played a crucial role in strengthening efforts to protect overseas Filipinos from the threat of human trafficking and labor exploitation abroad.

Tansingco cited the agency’s dedication to safeguard the welfare of the Filipinos.

“We will continue to protect our kababayans from this modern day slavery,” he said.

“The Bureau of Immigration remains steadfast in its commitment to fighting this crime and ensuring the safety and well-being of our citizens abroad,” the BI chief added.

The report acknowledges the Philippine government’s serious and sustained efforts in combating human trafficking, amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

DAVAO City Rep. Paolo Duterte and Benguet City Rep, Eric Yap wants additional penal penitentiary facilities under the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) to decongest the country’s prisons. Citing the “substandard and inadequate” jail facilities in the country resulting in over congestion and subhuman conditions of the prisoners, the two lawmakers filed House Bill No.8071 seeking to establish an additional penitentiary system to provide prisoners decent and humane accommodation.

“The Constitution vehemently opposes the use of substandard or inadequate penal facilities under subhuman conditions. Despite the said mandate, there are only seven existing correctional facilities in the country which are under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Corrections,” Duterte stressed.

The seven facilities are the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City; Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City; Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan; Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro; San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City; Leyte Regional Prison in Abuyog, Leyte, and the Davao Prison and Penal Farm in Panabo, Davao. Rio N. Araja

TAKING A STAND.

Students hold signs as they protest outside the parliament in Budapest during their joint demonstration against the Hungarian government’s education policy as they called the new legislation a ‘revenge law’ designed to punish and demoralize protesters. AFP

Sudan war drives one million kids from homes—UN

THE conflict in Sudan has displaced more than one million children, 270,000 of them in the Darfur region, the UN children’s agency (UNICEF) has said, warning more were at “grave risk.”

Fighting has raged in Sudan since midApril between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

As well as the more than one million displaced, at least 330 children have been killed and more than 1,900 wounded, UNICEF said in a statement on Thursday.

“Many more are at grave risk.”

The United Nations agency said an estimated 13 million children were in “dire need” of humanitarian assistance.

“Children are trapped in an unrelenting nightmare, bearing the heaviest burden of a violent crisis they had no hand in creating –caught in the crossfire, injured, abused, displaced and subjected to disease and malnutrition,” said UNICEF Sudan representative Mandeep O’Brien.