IN BRIEF

Sti penalties eyed for phishing, scams

denial of the appeal to stop the ICC probe does not grant the ICC any jurisdiction over those it tagged as behind the extrajudicial killings.

He pointed out that it is important to note that a foreign entity has no authority to investigate the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

WITH cases of phishing and other forms of online fraud on the rise, Bicol Saro Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan has proposed that these crimes be classified as acts of economic sabotage punishable with life imprisonment and a fine of up to P5 million.

the so-called Davao Death Squad.

Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. meanwhile said the ICC has no business meddling in the country’s internal affairs. He said ICC has no right to issue warrants of arrest for some duly elected Philippine officials.

Revilla took the cudgels for fellow senator Ronald Dela Rosa and former President Rodrigo Duterte who led a campaign against illegal drugs.

“It is obvious the ICC’s interest here is not justice but something else entirely,” Revilla said, adding that in other places, “civilians, teachers, schoolchildren, are being killed.”

Sen. Francis Tolentino added that the

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez meanwhile said the government can allow the investigation by the ICC into thousands of anti-drug war killings and question the tribunal’s jurisdiction later.

“The proper and only course of action of the Republic of the Philippines is to raise the issue of jurisdiction when the case is eventually filed in the ICC. Jurisdiction can be questioned at any stage of the proceedings”, he said.

The Mindanao lawmaker also expressed confidence that the international tribunal would eventually grant the country’s appeal for it to lay off its anti-drug war.

“When the case is brought to the ICC, we raise the issue of jurisdiction and the Philippines will surely secure its dismissal for lack of jurisdiction,” he added. Maricel V. Cruz

“Classifying these online fraudulent schemes as acts of economic sabotage aims to send a strong message to criminals who exploit technology for unlawful gain. The measure will hopefully deter the commission of these crimes that have continued to proliferate as we usher in the digital economy,” Yamsuan said.

Yamsuan noted that from 2020 to 2021, the BSP received 42,456 complaints from consumers who fell victim to financial fraud.

The Philippine National Police (PNP), for its part, received reports of fewer text scams this year compared to 2022 following the implementation of the SIM Registration Act. However, financial crimes such as “click-the-link” scams using SIM cards and involving electronic wallets like GCash, Maya, and Coins.ph rose by 190 percent from January to June of 2023. Maricel V. Cruz

Recto: Disclose all fees, toll from infra projects

DEPUTY Speaker Ralph Recto on Thursday said pay-per-use public infrastructure, such as roads and airports, should be affordable to end users, and must be considered—and even disclosed—from the outset.

In considering public-privatel partnership (PPP) projects, willingness-topay surveys and consultations must be done exhaustively, Recto said.

Design Excellence (BERDE)” program.

“In the face of climate change the government should walk the talk in promoting the use of sustainable structures,” Binay said.

Binay said that the NSB integrates sustainable features such as energy-efficient systems, water conservation measures, and the use of eco-friendly materials.

It would also consume between 30 percent to 50 percent less energy than standard buildings.

Its construction was green-lit by the 17th Congress in 2017 after former Sen. Ping Lacson, the then-chair of the Committee on Accounts, in 2016 called for the need to relocate to a new site due to increasing space limitations and the need for enhanced facilities.

Macon Ramos-Araneta