SUPERGA has collaborated with Disney since in 2009, when the iconic cartoon characters appeared for the first time on the uppers of the 2750. This time, to celebrate Mickey Mouse’s 90th anniversary, Superga presents a collection inspired to the Roaring Twenties. These include the Minnie mules with satin uppers, eco-fur insole and satin Minnie ears decoration. Another fancy piece of the collection is the 2750 decorated with an openwork Mickey pattern. The models are available in selected Superga stores in the world and on www.superga.com/. In the Philippines, Superga is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc., with stores located at Greenbelt 5, SM Mall of Asia, Robinsons Magnolia, Central Square, Estancia Mall, Rustan’s Alabang Town Center, Rustan’s Ayala Cebu, Rustan’s Glorietta 3, and Rustan’s Shangri-La Plaza.
By Charmaine A. Tadalan
THE HOUSE committee on justice plans to act next week on the impeachment complaints filed by opposition congressmen against seven Supreme Court Justices who granted the quo warranto petition that ousted Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno as chief justice.
“Ang target natin siguro mga Sept. 4 [at] the earliest,” Oriental Mindoro Rep. Doy C. Leachon, committee chair, said in an interview with DzBB on Sunday. (Our target perhaps is Sept. 4 at the latest).
Mr. Leachon cited House rules which give the committee three days to notify respondents and reproduce copies of the complaints for the committee members.
Last Friday, Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sought to expedite the impeachment complaints filed by the Magnificent 7 opposition bloc.
The opposition lawmakers, led by Albay Representative Edcel C. Lagman, filed individual complaints against Justices Diosdado M. Peralta, Lucas P. Bersamin, Andres B. Reyes, Francis H. Jardeleza, Noel G. Tijam, Alexander G. Gesmundo, and newly appointed Chief Justice Teresita L. de Castro. They were charged with culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust.
Mr. Leachon said the committee will tackle the complaints jointly. “Well, considering that the complaints are with the same subject matter, similar concern, that will be jointly heard by the committee on justice,” he said.
“Kailangan tapusin nang mabilis [We have to finish this immediately] because we have so many business or things to do, rather than this, but then actually, kung meron naman talagang pagkakamali…ay dapat maresolba rin nang mas maaga [if there’s really a liability on their part,…that also needs to be resolved soonest],” he added.
Sought for comment, committee vice-chairperson Vicente S.E. Veloso said in a phone interview: “Bare in mind that these justices who testified during the impeachment proceedings did not come on their own accord. They were subpoenaed by the justice committee which was an impeachment body.”
“Bottom line is when they were already there as resource persons, they were sworn to tell the truth and nothing but the truth….Can you be impeached for testifying under oath [for] telling the impeachment body about the truth of what they knew….I don’t think so,” he added.
By Gillian M. Cortez
LAWMAKERS AND other officials responded differently to the appointment over the weekend of Teresita Leonardo-De Castro as Chief Justice.
Ms. De Castro, whose judiciary career has spanned over four decades, will have a brief tenure as she is due to retire in October.
Representative Edcel C. Lagman said in a statement that Ms. De Castro’s length of service “should never supplant the high standards of proven independence and adherence to ethical values required of justices and judges.” Mr. Lagman is one of several opposition lawmakers who have sought the impeachment of Ms. De Castro and six other associate justices who ousted former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno via quo warranto.
“The emerging public backlash repudiating the choice of De Castro must impel the JBC (Judicial and Bar Council) and the President to reconsider her nomination and appointment,” the opposition lawmaker also said.
Senator Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel said in part, “Ang ginawa ni Presidente, tinahak niya ang shortest and surest path para mapunta sa kanya ang control sa Korte Suprema.” (What the President did was ensure the shortest and surest path for him to control the Supreme Court).
Ilocos Norte Representative Rodolfo C. Fariñas said, “It’s sad that a few people are denigrating such hallowed tradition by ridiculing the short tenure of CJ De Castro.”
Senator Aquilino Martin L. Pimentel III, in an interview with reporters, said, “Bahala na si Presidente kung ano ang motivation niya du’n. Puwede kasi pinagbigyan niya kasi abogado si Presidente. Alam niya na lifelong dream ng isang abogado na maging CJ.” (It’s up to the President whatever his motivation in appointing her. It could be [in due consideration since] the President is also a lawyer. He knows it’s a lifelong dream of a lawyer to be CJ [Chief Justice]).
In a tweet on Saturday, Solicitor-General Jose C. Calida welcomed Ms. De Castro’s appointment, saying her “legal brilliance, competence, fairness and integrity ensure that justice will be well-served during her tenure.”
Ombudsman and Former SC Associate Justice Samuel R. Martires said in a text message to reporters, “She deserves it. She was my Presiding Justice at the Sandiganbayan and I’m pretty sure that the Sandiganbayan justices and employees are happy for her appointment as CJ.”
For his part, Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said on Sunday that Mr. Duterte “upheld judicial professionalism by appointing [the] most senior of aspirants.”
“She’s (Ms. De Castro) had infinitely more experience than the ex-CJ (Chief Justice),” Mr. Roque also said in an earlier text message to reporters last Saturday.
In a statement, Magdalo Party-List Rep. Gary C. Alejano said Ms. De Castro’s appointment is “definitely a picture of a cheap plot to take the Chief Justice post. This also shows how Duterte views government posts, the Chief Justice position, no less, as cheap doleouts to reward his followers.”
“Wala pong saysay ‘yan (That [allegation] is nonsense),” Mr. Roque said in response. —withArjay L. Balinbin
MALACAÑANG ON Sunday slammed Magdalo Rep. Gary C. Alejano’s “misinformation” on the health of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.In a press conference last Saturday, Mr. Alejano told reporters that Mr. Duterte is “old and unhealthy.”
“What will happen to our country if the President has a problem — that he is no longer capable of leading our country?” he added.
In a press statement on Sunday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said: “The President has no serious illness. Just this week, we have seen the Chief Executive in his usual fiery self addressing the Conference of the League of Municipalities (LMP) Visayas Island Cluster in Cebu and the 12th Anniversary of the Eastern Mindanao Command in Davao.”
He also said: “The President has always been forthright about his condition. What he is experiencing is typical of people of his age.”
“Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano’s misinformation is certainly in aid of election. We hope the people will judge him accordingly,” Mr. Roque added.
On Aug. 14, Mr. Duterte said he was “thinking of stepping down because [he’s] tired.”
“This is not the first time we heard from the President that he wants to resign. More often, we would also hear from his speeches rants over being tired and experiencing illnesses due to old age. In this regard, I believe the public has the right to know the health status of the President especially now that he is once again insinuating stepping down from office,” Mr. Alejano said in a press statement on Aug. 19. — Arjay L. Balinbin
Villar reiterates call for more farm schools, cites agri-tourism spots
A VEGETABLE farm in Davao City. — LEAN S. DAVAL JR
SENATOR CYNTHIA A. Villar has again stressed the need to establish more farm schools, including in agri-tourism sites, to boost the country’s agriculture sector.
Speaking last Friday at the 17th National Vegetable Congress in Davao City, she said there is an increasing pressure to produce more food and Filipino farmers and their families have an important role to play in sustainable production.
“There are now many farm tourist sites all over the county and the establishment of more farm schools will allow more Filipinos to have access to agri-related training courses,” said Ms. Villar, chair of the Senate committee on agriculture and food.
“The vegetable industry is of course very important to an agricultural country such as the Philippines. More than fifty percent of the country’s agriculture sector is comprised of crops, of which vegetables and other root crops are a major component. Thus, the industry’s further growth and development is our collective goal,” she added.
The senator also said that her initiative, the Villar SIPAG Farm School, which has two sites located in Bulacan and in Cavite, is planning to set up more branches around the country. — Carmencita A. Carillo
Duterte warns of closing door on surrendering NPAs
PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte on Saturday, Aug. 26, threatened to close the door on members of the New People’s Army (NPA), the communist armed fighters, who plan to surrender.
Speaking before troops at the Camp Teodulfo Bautista Headquarter in Jolo, Sulu, Mr. Duterte said, “[N]ext time around, we will raise the bar higher… wala nang (there will be no more) surrender-surrender. P***** i**,” adding that some of those who have surrendered sometimes go back to the armed struggle.
The Presidential News Desk (PND) said the President visited the “21 wounded-in-action soldiers at Camp Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital” before his speech.
“With your bravery, selflessness, and patriotism, I am optimistic that we will one day defeat all threats to our democratic institutions and secure a brighter future for our beloved country,” Mr. Duterte said.
“All I can say with pride: You are not alone in this fight. The Filipino people stand beside you, and I stand with you every step of the way as we advance the common good and promote the safety and security of our nation,” he added.
Mr. Duterte awarded the wounded military officers the Order of Lapu-Lapu with the Rank of Kampilan in honor of their courage, bravery, and sacrifices in the service of the country, according to the PND. — Arjay L. Balinbin
OFFICIALS OF Mountain Province, expressing full support for the passage of the bill creating the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera (ARC), said autonomy would strengthen infrastructure development in the region given its distinctive terrain. Provincial Administrator Amador P. Batay-an, in a statement released by the Regional Development Council, cited that standards set by the national government through the national line agencies’ central offices for national roads and school buildings are not suitable for the kind of topography the Cordillera has. “The main reason why the province cannot or could hardly avail of certain assistance is that existing road systems cannot meet the width criteria set by some road programs or projects. In cases also of school buildings, the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) is having problems with lack of bidders as the projects’ costs are for infrastructures meant to be built in the lowlands and not for the kind of terrain Mountain Province has,” said Mr. Batay-an, who is also chair of the Provincial Taskforce on Autonomy and Federalism. Under the proposed ARC, contained in House Bill 5343, the region would have more independence in terms of drafting guidelines and implementing policies on infrastructure development. “We fervently wish that autonomy be established first in the Cordillera because whether we will be federated or not, as long as we have become the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera, it will still be very good for our region,” Mr. Batay-an said.
START OF construction for the bridge linking the island province of Guimaras to Iloilo, which will be part of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge network, is targeted by the end of this year or early 2019, according to Guimaras Gov. Samuel T. Gumarin. Citing the latest update from Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar, the governor said completion period is seen within four to five years. Mr. Gumarin said the bridge would boost the island’s economy by providing continued access even during heavy rains, when boat trips are usually suspended. “Ever since, it is a dream of Guimaras province because we are suffering whenever there is a storm signal. So we pray that it will be pushed through,” he said. The link will be via the towns of Leganes in Iloilo and Buenavista in Guimaras. The P27.156-million bridge, a part of the Build, Build, Build program, will be funded through a Chinese government grant, according to Mr. Gumarin. — Louine Hope U. Conserva
A 96-meter embankment, built at a cost of P10 million, has been completed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as part of the rehabilitation and improvement of the flood control structure to protect the low-lying barangay of Bantian in Calbayog City. “During heavy rainfall, the overflowing of water from the creek submerges Barangay Bantian in flood, including the elevated houses and barangay hall,” DPWH-Samar First District Engineer Alvin A. Ignacio said. The improved flood control structure has a widened catchment to contain a higher volume of water.
VARIOUS REAL estate and a couple of motor vehicles in the Northern Mindanao and Caraga regions are up for bidding by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) on Sept. 26 at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas — Cagayan De Oro Branch. A total of 3,326 closed banks’ and corporate assets with an aggregate minimum disposal price of PhP117.2 million are up for disposal. These include 3,307 memorial lots located at the Ma. Christina Gardens in Iligan City, and at the Cagayan de Oro Gardens, which will be sold by block. The others are nine residential lots, five residential lots with improvement, two industrial lots, one commercial lot with improvement, and two motor vehicles located in Agusan del Norte, Bukidnon, and Surigao del Norte.
FORTY MULTI-sector representatives gathered last week for the “writeshop aimed at producing the program document for the Normalization Program in the Bangsamoro,” the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) announced. “Crafting this program document will hopefully set the modalities and parameters in executing the programs, thus providing us with uniformity, consistency, and timeliness in our actions,” Nabil A. Tan, head of the government implementing panel, said in a statement. The event was attended by both government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) representatives to the peace talks, government functionaries, donor agencies and Bangsamoro non-government organizations. “We appreciate the enthusiasm and the assistance of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary, Development Academy of the Philippines, World Bank, and the United Nations Development Programme for their assistance,” Mr. Tan said. Also last week, Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus G. Dureza joined the President in various meetings to muster stronger support for the Bangsamoro Organic Law. Among these meetings were with Indonesian Ambassador Sinyo Harry Sarundajang. “The ambassador also expressed support to the new Bangsamoro government that will be formed and the work being done by Task Force Bangon Marawi,” said Mr. Dureza. Other issues that were discussed included “joint cooperation in the areas of border security, maritime, trade, and development.” — Carmelito Q. Francisco
