Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube
Home Blog Page 1269

Courts asked to let Quiboloy, cohorts attend Senate probe

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

A SENATE committee on Monday asked a Pasig City trial court and Quezon City trial court to allow televangelist Apollo C. Quiboloy and his cohorts to attend a Senate hearing looking into allegations of child abuse and human trafficking against him and his church.

In separate letters to Pasig City Presiding Judge Elma Mendoza Rafallo-Lingan and Quezon City Presiding Judge Noel L. Parel, the Senate committee on women, children, family relations said the religious leader should be allowed to attend the Oct. 23 hearing.

“The committee respectfully and formally requests your honor to allow the above mentioned individuals to appear before the committee,” according to the letters signed by Committee Secretary Gemma G. Tanpiengco.

In April, the Pasig court ordered the arrest of Mr. Quiboloy for qualified human trafficking, while a Davao City court issued an arrest warrant for child sexual abuse. The Supreme Court in May ordered the transfer of the Davao child sexual abuse cases to the Quezon City trial court.

Mr. Quiboloy, who claims to be an “appointed son of God,” was arrested after weeks of police search. He is wanted for child sexual abuse and human trafficking in the Philippines.

He was indicted in a California district court on Nov. 10, 2021, and a federal warrant had been issued for his arrest.

The church leader is also wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the US on charges of sex trafficking and bulk cash smuggling.

The Senate committee in March ordered his arrest for failing to attend hearings looking into the crimes.

Last week, Mr. Quiboloy filed his certificate of candidacy for senator in next year’s midterm elections.

The celebrity evangelist, who has denied the charges, is followed by millions of people in the Philippines, where the church has political influence. He is also the spiritual adviser of ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” N. Hontiveros-Baraquel, who heads the Senate committee, earlier noted that for someone facing multiple charges, Mr. Quiboloy had the audacity to run for senator. “Let us not elect lawbreakers as lawmakers.” — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Tulfos are top senatorial bets for 2025 polls

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporter

BROTHERS Erwin and Bienvenido “Ben” T. Tulfo are the top senatorial bets of Filipinos for the 2025 midterm elections, an October survey, conducted after the filing of certificate of candidacy (CoC), found.

Market research firm Acquisition Apps, Inc. reported that ACT-CIS Rep. Tulfo maintained his lead with 62.33% of respondents saying they would vote for him, up from 58% in September.

His brother, Ben, who is a broadcaster and media executive, tailed Rep. Tulfo in the overall ranking with 49% voter preference after he filed his CoC, up from 42.96%.

“The Tulfo brothers have this image that they will fight for you,” President and Chief Executive Officer Martin Xavier D. Peñaflor told BusinessWorld on the sidelines of the survey launch in Makati City.

He noted the brothers have a strongman personality close to former President Rodrigo R. Duterte, which makes them appealing to voters. Filipino voters, he said, still look for such personality in potential leaders.

The Tulfo brothers are also “relatable” and “pro-people,” as exemplified by their social media presence, Mr. Peñaflor said, which added to their appeal.

Former Senate President Vicente “Tito” C. Sotto III ranked third with 46.50% this month, a slight increase from 44% last month; while reealectionist senators Pilar Juliana S. Cayetano and Christopher Lawrence “Bong” T. Go ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, with 46.08% and 45.50%.

Mr. Peñaflor said the former Duterte aide Mr. Go has detached himself from the shadow of the former president and is now known for his Malasakit Centers. This allowed him to boost his popularity among voters despite his former boss facing scrutiny over his deadly drug war.

Boxing icon turned lawmaker Emmanuel “Manny” D. Pacquiao placed sixth with 42.21%, followed by former Senator Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson with 38.92%. Both politicians ran in the 2022 national elections as presidents but lost.

Also among the Top 12 were Makati Mayor Mar-len Abigail “Abby” S. Binay (36.17%), former Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr. (33.42%), SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante D. Marcoleta (31.88%), reelectionists Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid (31.67%), and Senator Francis N. Tolentino (31.46%).

DARK HORSE
Mr. Peñaflor said there are three possible “dark horses” in the tight senate race, particularly former senator Francis Pancratius “Kiko” N. Pangilinan (28.29%), Las Piñas Rep. Camille A. Villar (24.92%), and former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit” C. Singson (14.67%).

He said Mr. Pangilinan, who is leveraging TikTok, shows a strong social media standing. The survey also showed that Ms. Villar is among the biggest gainers after climbing 8-points to 24.92% from only 16% in September.   

Mr. Singson, meanwhile, is considered an “outlier,” Mr. Peñaflor said.

On Senator Maria Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos’ ranking, Mr. Peñaflor said her supporters, especially from her bailiwick in Northern Philippines felt betrayed when she exited from her brother, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s senatorial slate.

“They feel betrayed by her aligning with the Vice President…That’s the reason why she went independent and that’s the reason why she’s number 18,” he told BusinessWorld.

“When we started monitoring this, Senator Imee Marcos was in the top 8…So, we were really surprised that she came down, and it’s related to our current events.”

The survey was administered between Oct. 10-12 via a mobile-based respondent application with a sample size of 2,400 registered voters.

Napolcom commissioner resigns

THE Marcos administration has accepted the resignation of National Police Commission (Napolcom) Commissioner Edilberto D.C. Leonardo, who was linked to the murder of a former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) official.

In a letter addressed to Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Catibayan Remulla, Jr., Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin said the resignation of Mr. Leonardo, who is tagged in the murder of ex-PCSO Board Secretary Wesley A. Barayuga, has been accepted “effective immediately.”

Lawmakers including House dangerous drugs panel chair and Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace S. Barbers earlier recommended the filing of murder charges against Mr. Leonardo and retired Police Colonel Royina Garma in connection with Mr. Barayuga’s murder.

Ms. Garma was the PCSO general manager while Leonardo was a commissioner of the Napolcom when Mr. Barayuga was killed. The two have already denied involvement in the alleged murder plot.

Mr. Leonardo is also accused of having involvement in former president Rodrigo R. Duterte’s drug war, which is now a subject of an International Criminal Court (ICC) probe.

In House hearings, Ms. Garma has accused Mr. Duterte of offering cash rewards for every drug suspect killed in his drug war.

The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) recently urged President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to submit the findings of the House quad committee probing the drug war to the ICC.

Asked to comment on the proposal, Mr. Bersamin told reporters via Viber: “The Philippines will not return to [the] ICC.”

“Based on this, the [P]resident is not expected to change his mind and now refer the quadcomm matter to the ICC,” he added.

Mr. Bersamin also said in a separate Viber message to reporters that “the Palace will support the filing (of charges) but will leave the decision to file entirely to the Department of Justice or Ombudsman.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

DoJ clarifies 20% PWD discount

PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

THE 20% discount and value-added tax (VAT) exemption for persons with disability (PWD) apply to the total cost of a group meal if it can be proven that the food is exclusively for their consumption, according to the Department of Justice (DoJ).

“In the purchase of a group meal which is ideally for food sharing, if it can be clearly determined that it was for the exclusive use, enjoyment or availment of only one person who is a PWD, i.e., dine-in transactions, then the 20% discount and VAT exemption should apply to the total amount of the food purchased,” it said in a legal opinion written by Assistant Secretary Randolph A. Pascasio.

Under the rules that enforce the Magna Carta for PWDs, the discounts are limited to the consumption of the person with disability. The DoJ noted that when the law is clear, it must be given its literal meaning and applied without interpretation.

The clarification came after Glenda D. Relova, executive director of the National Council on Disability Affairs, sought guidance from the DoJ regarding the application of the discount in group settings. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

SC rules on PAGCOR workers

WIKIMEDIA/PATRICKROQUE01

THE Supreme Court (SC) said contract of service workers employed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) are not government employees under the Civil Service Commission’s (CSC) jurisdiction.

The top court’s First Division said employees working for PAGCOR in its hotel and restaurant business under a contract of services and job order setup are not covered by the CSC’s law, rules, and regulations.

The case stemmed from a petition filed by job order workers of PAGCOR seeking recognition as regular government employees to enjoy benefits, such as the security of tenure, retirement benefits, and other privileges given to civil servants.

The tribunal ruled that PAGCOR’s job order workers are outside the purview of government employment as defined by existing labor laws and civil service regulations.

It added that there is no employer-employee relationship between the government and job order workers whose services are not considered government services. 

The agency hired the petitioners as cooks, waiters, purchasers, pantry aides, and other positions. They signed a contract with PAGCOR for a fixed term but were occasionally renewed. They worked for the agency for a total period ranging from one to 17 years.

When PAGCOR closed its hotel operations at the Goldenfield Complex and relocated to L’Fisher Hotel, both in Bacolod City, it did not renew the individual contracts of the petitioners.

They filed an illegal dismissal complaint before the CSC Regional Office, saying they were regular employees entitled to security of tenure, but the agency junked their complaint for lack of jurisdiction and found that they were job order workers and not government employees based on their contracts. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

BoC seizes P50-M illegal drugs

THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) said it has seized around P50.47 million worth of illegal drugs in separate busts recently.

At the Manila airport last Oct. 12, a passenger was found carrying 6.2 kilograms of crystal meth (shabu) valued at P42.16 million, Customs said.

“A South African passenger arriving from Addis Ababa was apprehended for bringing in 6.2 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride, commonly known as shabu,” the BoC said in a statement.

In a separate statement, the bureau said it found 4,891 ecstasy tablets, also known as “party tablets,” worth P8.31 million at the Port of Clark. The shipment came from the Netherlands. 

“A physical examination of the shipment revealed one box of espresso capsules and three boxes of coffee beans,” it said, noting that the tablets were concealed among the coffee beans.

Both instances violated the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, in relation to the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, BoC said.

The BoC said it will remain “vigilant against the importation of illegal drugs and hazardous substances into the country,” Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio said.

Intercepted drugs in the January-June period amounted to P2.28 billion in total, the BoC said in its midyear report. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

FDI influx to spur more jobs 

Workers are seen inside a manufacturing facility in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, March 1, 2023. — PHILIPPINE STAR/KJ ROSALES

THE INFLUX of foreign investments into the Philippines would create more jobs for Filipinos, a congressman said on Monday, following the wake of a five-month high net inflow of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in July.

“The surge of FDIs (Foreign Direct Investments)… particularly in manufacturing, which is one of the most important drivers of economic transformation, will help us scale up our output and create higher-value products, meaning there will be more and better jobs for Filipinos,” Rizal Rep. Juan Fidel Felipe F. Nograles, who heads the House of Representatives labor committee, said in a statement.

The central bank last week reported that FDI net inflows increased by 5.5% to $820 million in July from $778 million in the same month last year. This was the highest FDI inflow in five months or since the $1.366 billion FDI recorded in February.

FDI inflow indicates the value of direct investments made by nonresidents into the country. It is a key source of capital for the economy, which could trickle down to the creation of jobs.

The July 2024 FDI figure mainly coursed through the manufacturing and real estate industries, accounting for 71% and 17% of the total inflows, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Mr. Nograles urged the government to strengthen efforts in addressing barriers that could discourage foreign investments in the country, including taxes, power rates and bureaucratic processes. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Youth participation in climate policies urged

YOUNG Filipinos urged the Philippine government to involve the youth in crafting climate policies, ahead of a regional gathering on disaster risk reduction.

They also urged the government to prioritize putting up schools and other social infrastructure that can withstand the impacts of the changing climate.

In a collective statement sent by UNICEF Philippines in an e-mail, over 50 children and youth aged 10 to 24 said the government should allow the youth to participate in policy-making processes at the local and national levels, through various platforms, such as local councils and schools.

The government should “deliberately and programmatically involve the youth in policy development,” they said.

They called for the creation of child- and youth-led disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM), and climate resilient programming, which can “meaningfully engage adults and key stakeholders.”

Authorities should ensure that disaster preparedness activities in communities are “informed by a child and youth lens.”

They urged the government to invest in DRRM and climate education mainstreaming into the curriculum “and develop materials in local languages that integrate environmental protection into disaster risk understanding.”

The government should also increase investment in resilient and inclusive infrastructure for safe schools, hospitals, and evacuation centers, they said.

The youngsters also called for the passage of climate justice legislation to hold industries accountable, citing the Climate Accountability Act (CLIMA) Bill, which seeks to create mechanisms for accountability and reparations from climate polluters.

In the latest World Risk Index, the Philippines, which faces an average of 20 typhoons, remained the most disaster-prone country for a 16th straight year.

The Philippines is currently hosting the five-day Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction which started on Oct. 14.

The conference, which is convened by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and was expected to draw over 4,000 delegates from 69 countries, seeks to enhance cooperation for the implementation of the goals under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, an international blueprint for the reduction of disaster risks.  — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Heightened cybersecurity pushed ahead of 2025 poll

FLATART-FREEPIK

GLOBAL CYBERSECURITY company Kaspersky urged Filipinos to step up cybersecurity measures and digital privacy ahead of the 2025 midterm elections amid expected increase in cyberattacks.

“Elections are not only a concern for candidates and their campaign teams. Ordinary citizens are also at risk of falling victim to cyberattacks, as cybercriminals often exploit personal information to spread disinformation, influence public opinion, and propagate fake news,” Kaspersky Managing Director for Asia-Pacific Adrian Hia said in a media release on Monday.

According to Kaspersky, risks of cyberattacks such as phishing, misinformation campaigns, and hacking attempts usually increase during campaign periods, noting cyber attackers will attempt to send fraudulent e-mails or messages disguised as campaign materials to try and infiltrate devices, and install malware.

“Malicious actors can spread false information, including altered election results, fabricated candidate statements, or misleading narratives aimed at swaying voter decisions,” Kaspersky said.

Attackers are also seen taking advantage of social media platforms to collect personal data that can be later used and exploited for targeted breaches.

Kaspersky also recommended that individuals and organizations keep their softwares up to date to prevent attackers from exploiting vulnerabilities.

Kaspersky said that data must always be backed up regularly and access activities must always be monitored.

“While the risk of cyberattacks are happening all year round, we may also see a spike of these incidents during campaign period as candidates usually employ text blast machines, which cybercriminals can exploit,” Digital Pinoys National Campaigner Ronald B. Gustilo said in a Viber message.

National Telecommunications Commission Deputy Commissioner Jon Paulo V. Salvahan said the agency continuously monitors and enforces prohibition to ensure scammers will not exploit text scams and blasts during the campaign period.

“Social media platforms and the government should put up measures to ensure that the exploitation of digital technology to unfairly gain advantage or create a disadvantage against a political opponent will not be allowed,” Digital Pinoys’ Mr. Gustilo said. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Congressman faces ethics complaint 

PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

A CONGRESSMAN on Monday was slapped with an ethics complaint by his fellow lawmakers after attempting to sidetrack the House of Representatives’ plenary discussion on the Health department’s proposed budget for next year.

Marikina Rep. Stella Luz A. Quimbo and Party-list Rep. Angelica Natasha Co filed a joint ethics complaint against Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee for alleged threats and unparliamentary behavior.

Mr. Lee said it was never his intention to “hurt or bully” anyone over what happened, adding he respects their right to file an ethics complaint against him, according to a statement sent to reporters via Viber.

“During the second deliberation of the DoH budget, at approximately 6:30 PM, while Senior Deputy Minority Floor Leader Paul Daza was conducting his interpellation, [Ms. Co] and I were subjected to acts of aggression by Rep. Wilbert Lee,” Ms. Quimbo said in a statement.

“His actions were a clear form of intimidation, and this behavior is unacceptable,” she added. “This is also about unparliamentary behavior.”

Mr. Lee, who is eyeing a Senate seat in 2025, attempted to prevent the chamber from ending debates on the Department of Health’s (DoH) proposed 2025 budget in September, resulting in a mic scuffle with another congressman. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Ambush kills MILF commander

COTABATO CITY — A commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), popular for his extensive support to the government’s anti-narcotics campaign, was killed in an ambush in a secluded stretch of a highway in east of this city on Sunday.

MILF official Norodin Alipulo Mama died on the spot from multiple bullet wounds sustained in the attack that left his companion, Esmael Zainodin Balabagan, also a member of the front, wounded.

The Cotabato City Police Office and the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region stated in separate reports on Monday that the two were riding a red multicab when they were attacked by gunmen.

They were on their way to the MILF’s main headquarters in Barangay Darapanan in nearby Sultan Kudarat, also in the same province, when they were attacked by ambushers who immediately escaped using getaway motorcycles.

Police investigators and intelligence agents of the 5th Marine Battalion and the Army’s 6th Infantry Division are cooperating in trying to identify the gunmen behind the atrocity. — John Felix M. Unson

More Cotabato City residents surrender combat weapons

COTABATO CITY — Residents surrendered two more assault rifles and a 60-millimeter mortar to the 5th Marine Battalion on Sunday, Oct. 13, in support of a military-led disarmament campaign in barangays here and in other central Mindanao cities and provinces.

Major Gen. Antonio G. Nafarrete, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, told reporters on Monday that the two 7.62 M14 assault rifles and 60-MM mortar were turned over by owners to Lt. Col. Mark C. Baky, commanding officer of the Navy’s 5th Marine Battalion.

Mr. Nafarrete said the owners are residents of Barangay Tamontaka 1 in Cotabato City.

More than 30 rifles, pistols, 40-millimeter grenade launchers, B40 rocket launchers and mortars had been turned over by Cotabato City residents to Baky and officials of 6th ID’s 6th Civil Military Operations Battalion in separate surrender rites in the past four weeks in compliance with the division’s Small Arms and Light Weapons Management Program. — John Felix M. Unson

1...1,2681,2691,270...12,964Page 1,269 of 12,964
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube