Sandigan clears Imelda anew on graft raps

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE Sandiganbayan’s Second Division has dismissed another suit, Civil Case 0014 by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) against former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., his wife Imelda, as well as their alleged cronies who were included in the complaint.

In a decision promulgated on Tuesday, June 27, the antigraft court junked the complaint for failure of the PCGG to prove its allegations.

The court noted that the writs of sequestration issued by complainant PCGG against the properties cited in the case “do not, by themselves, prove that the properties are ill-gotten.”

“Nothing on the face of these documents shows that defendants Ferdinand E. Marcos and Imelda R. Marcos had any interest or control over the subject corporations,” the court said in the decision written by Associate Justice Arthur Malabaguio.

Division chairman Associate Justice Oscar Herrera and Associate Justice Edgardo Caldona agreed with Malabaguio’s findings.

Civil Case 0014, which was filed on July 22, 1987, by the Cory Aquino-era PCGG sought the forfeiture and reconveyance of assets and properties owned by alleged dummies of the former President and first lady, including Philippine Village Hotel, Puerto Azul Beach and Country Club, Ternate Development Cor- poration, Fantasia Filipina Resorts, Inc. Ocean Villas Condominium Corporation, and Silahis International Hotel.

Since the main defendants—Ferdinand Marcos Sr.; Modesto and Trinidad Enriquez; and Rebecco Panlilio—died during the pendency of the case, they were substituted by their heirs in the case, including President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., Maria Imelda Marcos-Manotoc and Irene Marcos-Araneta.

In 2009, the PCGG estimated that the properties included in Civil Case 0014 amount to P581 million.

The court noted in its decision that to prove the illegal acquisition of the defendants of the properties, the PCGG relied on the affidavit of a single witness, its own records custodian, Maria Lourdes Magno.

The court also noted that Magno had no participation in the preparation of the exhibits, was not a signatory to the documents and had no personal knowledge of the veracity of the contents of the documents.

Yamsuan urges support for farmers’ pension

REP. Brian Raymund Yamsuan of Bicol Saro has appealed to his fellow legislators to support a measure establishing a fund that would provide lifetime pensions for the country’s 9.7 million small farmers and fisherfolk, most of whom live in poverty.

Yamsuan was referring to his House Bill (HB) 7963 which aims to establish the Agricultural Pension Fund (AFP) to be managed by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).

Once enacted, Yamsuan said the measure stands to benefit at least 708,000 workers in the Bicol Region who are

Lawmaker gives PBBM ‘above par’ rating in 1st year as Chief Executive

By Maricel V. Cruz

CAMARINES Sur Rep. Luis Raymund

Villafuerte has cited President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his “above-par” performance in his first year in office.

Pinoys in Russia not keen on return to PH, says DFA

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday said no Filipino in Russia has sought repatriation following the short-lived mutiny by the Wagner mercenary group.

“So far, no Filipino in Russia has sought for repatriation, unlike last month in Sudan, almost all our countrymen there sought immediate repatriation,” Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Raymund Cortes said, in a televised media briefing.

employed in the agriculture sector, said Yamsuan, citing the latest available data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

“Our farmers and fisherfolk are among the poorest of the poor in our society. Despite their hard work and sacrifices to ensure that we have food on our tables, they retire without expecting any lifeline aid from the government. Providing them with pension benefits when they reach old age is a long-overdue measure that Congressman LRay and I hope will be approved in this Congress,” Yamsuan said. Maricel V. Cruz

Villafuerte commended the Marcos administration for having made “notable breakthroughs” in his goal to deliver jobs and better lives to Filipinos as well as attract more investments and put the economy back on its pre-pandemic path of high and inclusive growth.

“President Marcos has performed above par as Chief Executive, with his first year in office distinguished by notable breakthroughs in his overriding promise of more jobs and better lives for our people via an economy that is not only strong and resilient but also inclusive and sustainable,” Villafuerte, president of the National Unity Party (NUP), said.

“It has been a short learning curve for Mr. Marcos,” said Villafuerte, “as his Administration has managed to accomplish better-than-expected initial results in the President’s 2022 “Bangon Bayan Muli” campaign pledge to uplift the lives of all Filipinos. The rosy indicators this early on the watch of Mr. Marcos underscores that while his government needs to do a lot more over the next five years to fully realize its social and economic transformation agenda, it is, for sure, on track toward achieving the President’s vision for a prosperous, inclusive and resilient Philippines.”

As the President marks this week his first 12 months at Malacañan Palace, his administration has “reported a higher employment rate; generated local and foreign direct investments (FDIs) and pushed business-friendlier reforms that create even more jobs and restored the economy to its pre-pandemic high-and-inclusive-growth trajectory; accelerated programs to attack poverty and provide economic relief to disadvantaged sectors such as the jobless, lowincome families, farmers and the homeless; and shepherded our people to the digital world and the post-pandemic ‘new normal,’” said Villafuerte.

The DFA official, however, assured that the Philippine Embassy in Russia is always ready for any repatriation through its contingency plans just to make sure the repatriation of Filipinos there since we are prepared “both financially, logistically and of course, mentally.”

Currently, Cortes said there are around 11 Filipinos who were stationed in Rostov-on-Don located close to the Ukraine-Russia border while another 10,000 are in different parts of Russia.

The embassy over the weekend asked Filipinos in Russia to remain vigilant and take precautions and warned them against putting out political opinions on social media.

The head of the Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin went into exile in Belarus on Tuesday following the aborted rebellion, as NATO warned it was ready to defend against “Moscow or Minsk.” Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked his regular troops for averting a civil war, as Moscow announced preparations to disarm Wagner fighters.

The DFA further said the Philippine government is continuously coordinating with the Filipino communities in Russia.