A MANILA trial court has allowed news website Rappler to file a motion seeking to dismiss a cyberlibel suit against it and its founder.
Judge Rainelda H. Estacio-Montesa gave Rappler and Chief Executive Officer Maria A. Ressa 10 days to file the pleading, according to a copy of the order. Prosecutors will have 10 days to answer.
The case will be submitted for decision after that, the court said.
Businessman Wilfredo D. Keng sued Rappler for publishing an article on May 29, 2012 that said he owned a car used by the late Chief Justice Renato C. Corona and was involved in illegal activities.
The Senate convicted Mr. Corona in 2012 for corruption, — Vann Marlo M. Villegas
THE SUPREME Court has again deferred action on the ballot recount results involving the vice presidential election protest of former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr.
The magistrates, sitting as members of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), did not take action on the case in Tuesday’s session, court spokesman Brian Keith F. Hosaka said in a mobile-phone message.
“The case remains pending and is still being deliberated by the members of the tribunal,” he said.
Mr. Marcos filed the election protest in 2016 against Vice President Maria Leonor G. Robredo, who is now halfway through her term.
Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa submitted last month a report on the recount in three pilot provinces chosen by Mr. Marcos where massive cheating allegedly occurred. The three provinces were Iloilo, Negros Oriental and Camarines Sur.
Ms. Robredo has asked the tribunal to give her a copy of the report “to put to rest the speculations in the greater interest of transparency.”
The court has belied a Philippine Star column that said it had ruled 8-6 in favor of Mr. Marcos. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas
BUSINESSWOMAN Janet Lim-Napoles has asked the Supreme Court to stop her trial at the country’s anti-graft court for plunder.
In a 100-page petition, Ms. Napoles, accused of masterminding the so-called pork barrel scam, also asked the tribunal to void three Sandiganbayan orders that denied her plea to dismiss the cases against her.
She said the court had abused its discretion when it refused to dismiss the information for lack of jurisdiction.
She noted that complaint originally filed by the Ombudsman in 2014 did not identify the main plunderer, as required by jurisprudence. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas
DESPITE THE worsening road congestion and commuter problems in Metro Manila, Malacañang on Tuesday said there is no mass transportation crisis yet. “Ang nakikita ko lang traffic, hindi ‘yung (What I see is traffic, not a) [mass] transportation [crisis]. May transportation naman, nakakasakay naman tayong lahat (There is transportation, we are all able to find a ride),” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo said at a briefing in Malacañang when asked to comment on claims that there is mass transportation crisis in the capital. He said the train systems no longer suffer from regular glitches. He also advised commuters that “if they want to arrive early in their destinations, they have to go earlier.” According to the latest Numbeo Quality-of-life-index, published in Deutsche Bank’s annual “Mapping the world’s prices” report, Manila is ranked 54th out of 56 countries in terms of quality of life. The ranking is based on traffic congestion and commute times, purchasing power, regional crime and safety, overall quality of health care, general cost of consumer goods, and housing affordability, among others. — Arjay L. Balinbin
MEMBERS OF the US, Japanese and Philippine military will hold the third KAMANDAG exercises on Oct. 9–18 in various training venues in Luzon and Palawan. In a statement on Monday, the US Embassy in the Philippines said this year’s activities would include for the first time assault amphibious vehicle training involving forces from the three countries as well as a low-altitude air defense and threat reaction training for US and Philippine forces. “Together, these activities represent an increase in military capability and a commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region and demonstrate the ability to forward deploy forces in the event of a crisis or natural disaster,” the embassy said. KAMANDAG 3 will also hold humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions. KAMANDAG is an acronym for the Filipino phrase “Kaagapay Ng Mga Mandirigma Ng Dagat,” which means “Cooperation of Warriors of the Sea.”
A REPRESENTATIVE of the Makati City government serves a closure order against Maxx Hotel on Oct. 8 for violating the country’s anti-trafficking in persons law. The Makati Police conducted an entrapment operation last Monday night after receiving a report that the hotel was being used as a prostitution den. Authorities rescued 35 alleged sex workers who are mostly Chinese women and arrested 21 Chinese men.
A PROVINCIAL board member of Bukidnon has published a proposed resolution stating opposition to the liberalization of sugar importation. “As it is hereby resolved, appealing to President Rodrigo R. Duterte to disallow the planned liberalization of the importation of sugar by the Department of Finance,” Board Member Nemesio B. Beltran said in the Proposed Resolution No. 89-2019. He noted that the province’s milling districts have a total of 11,395 sugarcane farmers, 72.40% of whom are farming less than five hectares each. “Any disruption in sugar farming or cessation in mill operations will severely and negatively affect the livelihood of farmers and workers,” Mr. Beltran said. “More than 100,000 people in Bukidnon will be directly affected if the unregulated sugar importation will be allowed,” he added. Government data show that in the second quarter of the year, sugarcane production decreased 59.6% to 2.61 million metric tons (MMT), year-on-year. The largest producer was Western Visayas with 1.44 MMT or 55% of total production, followed by Northern Mindanao, where Bukidnon is located, which contributed 14.9%, and the Central Visayas with 13.4%. The Department of Finance on Sept. 27 formally proposed import liberalization for the sugar industry, which is similar on the opening up of the rice industry. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang
ABOUT 500 families affected by the 2017 siege in Marawi City will benefit from the permanent housing project of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM).
UN-Habitat, in a statement Monday, said the project is part of its Japan-funded Rebuilding Marawi through Community-Driven Shelter and Livelihood Project.
Among the identified beneficiaries are families who cannot rebuild their homes at the six-meter easement along the Agus River and the reclaimed area in front of Lake Lanao.
The housing units will be put up on a 39-hectare land that the National Housing Authority (NHA) acquired and developed.
Each 46-square meter, one-storey house will be built on a 90-square-meter lot. It will include a toilet and a kitchen as well as electrical and plumbing systems.
Bernhard Barth, UN-Habitat- Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific human settlements officer, said the project, which broke ground Monday, “marks a very important phase in our contribution to achieving durable solutions for Marawi’s displaced population. We are grateful to NHA for granting this patch of land, where in a few months, we will see a new community breathe with life.”
Among those tapped to work for the project are internally displaced people with skills, who will be paid under the livelihood component of the UN-Habitat program.
Last month, UN-Habitat also launched a P44.2 million livelihood project, which will help about 4,000 families, with priority given to women, elderly, and households headed by women.
Of the total fund, P14.2 million serve as start-up capital that will be divided among 30 cooperatives. The P30 million balance is allocated for the implementation of the Citywide Sustainable Livelihood tract, designed to provide skills training and capability-building activities to beneficiaries.
Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Chairperson Eduardo D. Del Rosario, also chair of the TFBM composed of 56 agencies, said the December 2021 target to complete the Marawi rehabilitation remains on track. — Carmelito Q. Francisco
MILITARY FORCES killed an Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) member and captured another following a gunfight in Sulu on Sunday. Joint Task Force Sulu Commander Major General Corleto S. Vinluan, Jr. said the troops launched a tactical offensive upon encountering a group of 30 ASGs in Sitio Kan Pataw, Barangay Upper Sinuman. Soldiers from the 2nd Special Forces Battalion retrieved the body of a still unidentified ASG, a group known for kidnap-for-ransom activities and has pledged alliance with the Islamic State. Authorities identified the captured terrorist as Nursaina Jarad Sahi, a militant’s wife. She sustained shrapnel wounds and was immediately treated at Camp Bautista Station Hospital. “I feel sorry for her that she was abandoned, wounded and helpless during the firefight,” Mr. Vinluan said. He attributed the operational gains to the cooperation and support of the Tausug community who reported the presence of militants in the locality. Recovered from the battle site were several firearms including an M16 rifle and a Galil rifle both equipped with an M204 grenade launcher. — Marc Wyxzel C. Dela Paz
‘Explosive’ evidence to be presented at Senate hearing on jail system
PHILSTAR
THE COMMITTEE on Justice and Human Rights will be presenting new evidence and witnesses in Wednesday’s continuing hearing on anomalies in the state penitentiary system, Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III said.
Mr. Sotto said on Monday evening that he signed over five subpoenas for the investigation, which he described as “explosive.”
“Something explosive, palagay ko (I think) new evidence, baka (maybe) one or two new witnesses,” Mr. Sotto told reporters in a briefing at the Manila Hotel, Tuesday.
He noted this will further uncover truth on the alleged corruption within the New Bilibid Prison as well as the operation of rogue cops.
These issues surfaced during the committee’s probe on the implementation of the good conduct time allowance.
In its last two hearings, the panel looked into the involvement of Philippine National Police Chief Oscar D. Albayalde in the alleged 2013 reselling of drugs seized during a police buy-bust operation.
This was in relation to statements of former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director Benjamin B. Magalong, now Baguio City mayor, on an alleged cover up.
Mr. Magalong recounted that in Nov. 29, 2013 thirteen Pampanga cops seized more or less 200 kilograms (kgs) of drugs, but declared only 38 kgs.
Investigations, initiated by Mr. Magalong, led to a dismissal order issued against the 13 cops.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Aaron N. Aquino said Mr. Albayalde had asked him to halt implementation of the order when he was central Luzon regional director.
“The best way for the chief PNP to show that he does not have anything to do with that is to complete the proposal of dismissal at tsaka (and to) i-file ang necessary cases,” Mr. Sotto also said. — Charmaine A. Tadalan
Amendments to Human Security Act seen passing Senate by November
THE PROPOSED amendments to the Human Security Act to strengthen the government’s efforts in counter-terrorism is seen hurdling the Senate by November, Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III said on Tuesday.
“Right now we are on the verge of passing the anti-terrorist act,” Mr. Sotto told reporters in a briefing at the Manila Hotel.
“We might be able to pass it in the first week of November. At the latest, second week of November, just before we start deliberation of the budget.”
Congress is currently on an Oct. 5–Nov. 3 break.
He was referring to Senate Bill No. 1083, or the “Anti-Terrorism Act of 2019,” which is now pending second reading approval in the chamber.
The Senator has been pushing for the measure since the 17th Congress, where it only went as far as hurdling the Senate committees on public order and dangerous drugs, and justice and human rights.
The counterpart measure, meanwhile, remains pending at the committee level in the House of Representatives.
The measure proposes the following acts as punishable by life imprisonment: any person traveling to a state for the purpose of planning or participating in terrorist acts; organizing travel of individuals with the same purpose; or any person residing abroad who comes to the Philippines to participate in terror acts. — Charmaine A. Tadalan
Over 4M new voters register
OVER FOUR million new voters registered this year, higher than the 2.6 million expected by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Based on data released Tuesday, Comelec said 4,097,003 voter applications were processed during the registration period from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30.
Of the total, 1,014,607 were voters aged 15 to 17 years old for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), and the rest were regular applicants aged 18 and above.
This is beyond the target noted by who said around 2.6 million Filipinos are expected to register for 2019, with mostly first time young voters making up the majority.
“A turnout this high far exceeds the projected number of new registered voters for the year 2020. This is true for the 16 regions in the country. For regular applicants, the nationwide average is 152% more than what was statistically expected,” Comelec Spokesperson James B. Jimenez said.
The next scheduled elections will be for the baranggay and SK elections on May 22 next year, although there is a pending proposal in Congress for a postponement.
“Once a bill postponing the polls is signed into law by the President, we will announce a new period of voter registration,” Mr. Jimenez said. — Gillian M. Cortez
THE University of the East Red Warriors are out to sustain their fighting form of late when they take on the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers in UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball action today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Opened their campaign in the ongoing University Athletic Association of the Philippines season with three straight losses, the Warriors (3-5) have picked things up since, winning three of five games, including their last two, something they hope to extend in their 12:30 p.m. matchup with UST.
UE recently defeated the Adamson Soaring Falcons, 80-74, in a game that saw it raise its game in the second half to outlast its opponent.
Foreign player Alex Diakhite and one-and-done Rey Suerte formed a potent 1-2 punch for the Warriors in the victory.
Diakhite unloaded a career-high 29 points to go along with 13 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.
Suerte, meanwhile, tallied 26 points, seven boards, and three assists for his team, which incidentally tied Adamson (3-5) at sixth place in the race with the victory.
“We got lucky today. We got breaks and the players refused to lose. We know that Adamson has a good team with a legendary coach. We beat them with effort,” said UE active consultant Lawrence Chongson after the game as he talked about their performance.
Looking to halt UE’s surge are the Tigers who have slowed down after a fiery start to their campaign.
UST has lost back to back, the most recent at the hands of the defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles, 66-52, on Oct. 5.
The Tigers were kept at bay by the Eagles throughout the contest, a contrast from their first encounter in the opening round where they made the reigning champions sweat and on their toes from start to finish.
Rookie Mark Nonoy top-scored for UST with 18 points but after him no other Tiger scored in double digits, including leading most valuable player candidate Soulemane Chabi Yo, who was held to just six points on two-of-11 shooting.
Also playing today are the Far Eastern University Tamaraws (4-4) against the National University Bulldogs (1-7) at 10:30 a.m. and Ateneo (8-0) versus Adamson at 4 p.m.
20-20 GUY BALTAZAR IS POW
Meanwhile, De La Salle University big man Justine Baltazar was hands down voted as the UAAP player of the week after dropping the first 20-20 game in the league in more than a decade.
The veteran Baltazar had 25 points and 25 rebounds in their dominant win over NU on Oct. 6.
The last player to achieve such feat was Jervy Cruz of UST who had 28 points and 20 rebounds in August 2008.
In winning the weekly award handed out by media covering the league, Baltazar topped Ken Tuffin of FEU, UE’s Diakhite and Thirdy Ravena of Ateneo.
