PHL-Indonesia still in talks on conditions for Pinay drug convict’s transfer

November 21, 2024 | 8:57 pm

Filipino death row inmate Mary Jane Veloso shows her handicraft during a workshop at Wirogunan prison in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, April 12, 2016. — REUTERS FILE PHOTO

CONDITIONS for the transfer of Mary Jane F. Veloso, who has been incarcerated in Indonesia for over a decade, were still under discussions with the Indonesian government, Philippine authorities said on Thursday.

This, after President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. claimed earlier in the day that the death sentence for Ms. Veloso, the only overseas Filipino worker (OFW) on death row in Indonesia, has been commuted to life imprisonment.

“We are bound to honor the conditions that would be set for the transfer, particularly the service of sentence by Mary Jane in the Philippines, save the death penalty which is prohibited under our laws,” the Justice and Foreign Affairs departments said in a statement.

“The conditions for the transfer of Ms. Mary Jane Veloso are still being discussed with Indonesia,” they added.

Mr. Marcos on Thursday morning claimed that government efforts have led to the commutation of Ms. Veloso’s death sentence to life imprisonment.

“We will have to decide what will happen next,” he added, noting that Ms. Veloso is set to return to the Philippines.

Mr. Marcos first announced the impending comeback of Ms. Veloso to the Philippines on Wednesday, citing over a decade of diplomatic talks between the two nations.

But Ms. Veloso “will not be immediately released” when she arrives in the Philippines until the two Southeast Asian neighbors reach a mutual agreement for clemency, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said earlier.

Asked on Thursday whether the government will grant clemency to Ms. Veloso, Mr. Marcos said: “We will see.”

“This is the first time this has happened. So, everything is on the table,” he added.

Domestic groups have welcomed the expected return of Ms. Veloso but said the government should do more by granting her clemency.

The National Union of People’s Lawyers — whose members lawyer for Ms. Veloso — said the clemency should be granted to her on “humanitarian grounds” and “as a matter of justice.”

Philippine migrant group Migrante, which has been calling for Ms. Veloso’s release since 2010, said it will organize protest actions, petition drives, and letter barrages to put pressure on the government for Ms. Veloso’s clemency.

“In the event that Mary Jane were to be transferred to the Philippines, President Marcos, Jr. will now have the power to grant Mary Jane clemency based on her being a victim of human trafficking, on humanitarian grounds, and the absence of death penalty in the Philippines,” it said in a statement.

The Filipino overseas worker was sentenced to death in October 2010 and was granted a stay of execution in April 2015. Ms. Veloso, who was caught smuggling 2.6 kilograms of heroin hidden in the lining of a suitcase, was a victim of human trafficking, according to her lawyers.

Mr. Marcos said the Philippines’ good relations with Indonesia under its past and current presidents have enabled the transfer of Ms. Veloso.

The drug trafficking case of Ms. Veloso has long been decided, but the Indonesian government in 2015 agreed to delay her execution amid the still-ongoing case against her recruiters at a trial court in the province of Nueva Ecija north of the capital Manila.

And it helped so much that the late President Benigno S.C. Aquino III asked Indonesia at the last minute to make Ms. Veloso a state witness.

His foreign secretary, the late Albert F. del Rosario, had said Indonesia gave Ms. Veloso a reprieve to allow her to testify against her recruiters, in a move that the Aquino government said would target a drug trafficking syndicate that has been linked to the victim’s recruiters.

Meanwhile, senators urged the government to double its efforts to go after the human trafficking and drug syndicates in the Philippines.

“Authorities should give particular focus on ensuring that Mary Jane Veloso is protected and if we spared her from the death penalty abroad, then we need to also make sure she is safe since she had been a victim of human trafficking,” Senator Ana Theresia N. Hontiveros-Baraquel told a news briefing in Filipino.

“The government needs to strive to eradicate and punish these syndicates behind human trafficking, these drug syndicates.”

Senate President Francis G. Escudero said the President is likely to grant clemency to the overseas Filipino worker but noted it would need to go through legal and diplomatic channels.

“In the meantime, what’s important is that she has been spared from the death penalty and the process is underway for her to be free ultimately,” he told reporters in a Viber message.

Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Legal Human Rights, Immigration, and Correction (Kemenko Kumham Imipas) earlier said Ms. Veloso would serve her remaining sentence in the Philippines, subject to conditions laid out by an Indonesian court. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza and John Victor D. Ordoñez

House to fight for inclusion of low-income earners’ cash assistance in next year’s national budget

November 21, 2024 | 8:56 pm

By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter

THE House of Representatives will “fight” to retain funding for a Social Welfare department’s indigent aid program next year, Speaker and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said on Thursday following the Senate’s decision to cut the program under its version of the proposed 2025 national budget.

The Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) is a program under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that provides financial assistance to workers whose income falls below the poverty threshold. It provides one-time cash assistance between P3,000 to P5,000 to eligible beneficiaries.

“We will fight for AKAP,” Mr. Romualdez said in a statement, objecting to the Senate’s move to remove the program from their version of the budget bill.

The Senate deleted AKAP as a line item in their proposed budget, opting instead to merge it with another DSWD aid program, according to Senator Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos.

“In my opinion, it would be better if we combine the AICS (Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations) and the AKAP. This way, we can provide greater aid to our fellow citizens who are truly in need,” she said in a Thursday statement in Filipino.

The financial aid program drew criticism from the Senate during a controversial campaign to amend the Constitution through a People’s Initiative in early 2024, with Ms. Marcos linking the dole-outs to the signature drive.

Mr. Romualdez and Party-list Rep. Elizaldy S. Co, who heads the House appropriations panel, formulated AKAP in 2023 to provide a stop-gap measure for working Filipinos with limited income.

Social Welfare Secretary Rexlon T. Gatchalian bucked the Senate’s move to cut AKAP, telling senators that “millions could fall back into poverty” if they decide to remove it. “We most respectfully urge our senators to keep AKAP funded in 2025,” he said in a separate statement on Thursday.

The aid program has already helped about four million indigent Filipinos, according to Mr. Gatchalian, with the DSWD already disbursing about P20.7 billion of the total P26.7 allotted under the 2024 General Appropriations Act.

“We stand with Secretary Gatchalian in urging our colleagues in the Senate to uphold the AKAP budget,” Mr. Romualdez said. “This is about ensuring that no Filipino family falls back into poverty because of insufficient support.”

The House has allotted P39 billion to AKAP for 2025, according to its version of the budget bill.

Lawmakers should consider the potential effects of combining AKAP and AICS together, Hansley A. Juliano, who teaches politics at the Ateneo de Manila University, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

“This can potentially make beneficiaries resentful of this loss of policy.”

While both provide social aid to indigent Filipinos, AICS is primarily concerned with giving support services, including medical, burial, education, and food assistance to Filipinos in crisis. AKAP is constrained to low-income earners.

“Realignment is understandable, but eligibility needs to be expanded to account for people who were relying on AKAP,” he said.

CA upholds NLRC ruling on employee benefits

November 21, 2024 | 8:55 pm

Toy factory workers — WORKERS make customized pet plushies at a factory in Angeles City, Pampanga, March 10, 2023. — REUTERS

THE PHILIPPINES’ Court of Appeals (CA) has dismissed a petition against the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) for the alleged grave abuse of its discretion when it ruled in favor of employees, directing their employer to reinstate previously discontinued benefits.

In a 21-page decision, the appellate court’s first division dismissed for lack of merit a petition filed by a construction material company against the NLRC’s ruling, which also ordered the company to reimburse transportation expenses when its shuttle service became unavailable and cover illegitimate children as beneficiaries under the company’s group life insurance.

“NLRC did not commit grave abuse of discretion,” a part of Presiding Justice Fernanda Lampas-Peralta’s ruling stated in the Nov. 18 decision.

The petition specifically alleged that “the NLRC gravely abused its discretion when it ruled that the ‘transportation reimbursement’ had ripened into a demandable company benefit” and that the labor arbiter “acted without jurisdiction when it ordered the designation of a beneficiary in an insurance policy taken out by [the company].”

During the arbitration proceedings, the company admitted covering the transportation expenses for its employees, resulting in the appellate court finding that the NLRC did not abuse its authority by ordering reimbursement.

“The giving of the ‘transportation reimbursement’ was shown to have been done over a long period of time, and was consistent and deliberate, that is, whenever the shuttle service was not available,” a part of the decision stated.

“Hence, its unilateral withdrawal constituted a violation of the rule on non-dimunition of benefits.”

The CA also said the NLRC did not act out of its jurisdiction regarding the insurance policy issue as “labor arbiters have the authority to hear and decide cases” involving claims arising from an employee-employer relationships. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Explain CIF spending, VP Sara told

November 21, 2024 | 8:54 pm

VICE-PRESIDENT Sara Duterte-Carpio should face head-on a House of Representatives investigation into her alleged misuse of secret funds instead of dodging it, House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said on Thursday.

“Well, she should show up, take the oath, speak, and explain because of all her officials… she seems to be the only one who knows what happened to those funds,” he told reporters, according to a statement released by his office.

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) did not immediately reply to an e-mail seeking comment.

The House good government and public accountability has been holding hearings into Ms. Carpio’s alleged misuse of P612.5 million worth of confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) under the OVP’s budget in 2022 and the Education department in 2023, when she sat as its secretary.

It has already held six hearings on the issue, but lawmakers are becoming frustrated as the House good government panel has been stonewalled by officials attending it.

Several officials part of Ms. Carpio’s “inner circle” at the OVP have failed to show up to the House investigation, resulting in them receiving contempt citations and arrest orders.

“She shouldn’t pass it on to her officials at the OVP and DepEd (Department of Education). I just hope she speaks up,” Mr. Romualdez said. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Subic is 6^th cheapest destination

November 21, 2024 | 8:54 pm

DIGITAL travel platform Agoda cited Subic as the 6^th cheapest destination in Asia for the upcoming holiday season due to its low room rates, it said.

“Travelers seeking budget-friendly accommodation options for Christmas and New Year’s Eve have many destinations in Asia to choose from, with Subic being the most affordable destination in the Philippines with an average room rate of P5,046.69 per night,” Agoda said in a statement.

According to Agoda’s “Cheapest Christmas Destinations” list released on Wednesday, Hat Yai, Thailand is the cheapest destination in Asia with an average room rate of P2,699.39 per night. This was followed by Surakarta Indonesia with a rate of P2,758.08, and Varanasi, India at P2,875.44.

Ranking fourth in the list is Dalat, Vietnam, which has an average room rate of P3,638.31 per night, while Miri, Malaysia came in fifth with an average room rate of P3,814.36.

Other cheap destinations cited include Taitung, Taiwan (P5,868.25 average room rate), Nagoya, Japan (P6,396.39), and Yeosu-si, South Korea (P7,511.36).

“The holiday season brings joy, cherished moments with friends and family, and the spirit of exploration. It’s also a time when expenses can quickly accumulate, making budget considerations crucial for travelers,” Michael Hwang, country director, the Philippines at Agoda, was quoted as saying.

Agoda’s “Cheap Destinations” ranking was based on an analysis of the average room rates of the top ten destinations per market. The room rates, which were for accommodation bookings, were quoted on average, and are subject to changes.

The bookings analyzed covered the period of September to October 2024, with check-in dates between Dec. 24 to 31, 2024. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Cebu ex-treasurer cleared of graft

November 21, 2024 | 8:53 pm

THE PHILIPPINES’ anti-graft court has acquitted a public official of a municipality in Cebu province of graft in connection to the alleged procurement of overpriced fertilizers in 2005, citing failure to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

In a 28-page decision, the Sandiganbayan Special Fifth Division cleared former Consolacion municipality treasurer Lecelie J. Placibe of graft over the procurement of 166 bottles of fertilizers, which state auditors found to be overpriced by eight-fold.

“The prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt, with moral certainty, that the crime charged was committed by accused Placibe,” Associate Justice Rafael R. Lagos stated in the Nov. 19 ruling.

State prosecutors failed to establish “with certainty” that the purchased fertilizer bottles were overpriced, neither did they make the case that Ms. Placibe acted with “corrupt intent” during the procurement, the court said. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

28 mayors back 2026 BARMM polls

November 21, 2024 | 8:53 pm

ballot-box-election-voters — PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

COTABATO CITY — A bloc of mayors in Lanao del Sur are supporting the effort of their governor and three other provincial chief executives to have next year’s supposed first ever Bangsamoro parliamentary elections reset to 2026.

A total of 28 mayors out of the 39 in Lanao del Sur, who belong to the regional political party Serbisyong Inklusibo, Alyansang Progresibo (SIAP), backed Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal A. Adiong, Jr.

Mr. Adiong, along with three other governors, Abdulrauf A. Macacua of Maguindanao del Norte, Hadjiman H. Salliman of Basilan and Ysmael I. Sali of Tawi-Tawi, clearly pointed out, in a written statement released on Wednesday, bearing their signatures, that they want the first ever 2025 parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) held in 2026 instead.

Radio reports in Central Mindanao cities on Thursday stated that all of the 28 mayors in Lanao del Sur belonging to the SIAP party are behind Mr. Adiong in his bid for the resetting of the BARMM parliamentary polls.

Mayors in Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte and in Basilan had earlier signed manifestos expressing favor for the Senate Bill No. 2864 and House Bill No. 11034, introduced by Senate President Francis G. Escudero and House Speaker Martin G. Romualdez, respectively, as enabling measures for the postponement.

Mr. Adiong, who is a senior SIAP official, said he is grateful to the party’s 28 mayors in Lanao del Sur for manifesting favor for the postponement of the regional election — John Felix M. Unson

CAR intensifies fight vs violence against women, children

November 21, 2024 | 8:52 pm

BAGUIO CITY — The Interior department in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) is actively pushing local government units (LGUs) to strengthen their programs to minimize and finally end violence against women and children.

The Department of Interior and Local Government Cordillera Regional Director Araceli A. San Jose profusely urged LGUs to enhance their campaign as the country is observing the National Children’s Month this November.

Data from the Cordillera police showed 281 cases of violence against children in the first 10 months of 2024. In 2023, there were 354 cases logged.

This includes victims of rape, exploitation, discrimination, and acts of lasciviousness.

Though Ms. San Jose noted a decrease in the number of cases of violence against children, the number is still alarming, prompting her to push for appropriate measures and interventions at the local levels.

She reiterated calls to enhance of the Local Communities on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children and the Local Council for the Protection of Children in all villages in the Cordillera by arming them with ample knowledge and knowing their responsibilities in the implementation of laws on children-protection and welfare. — Artemio A. Dumlao

Lady Spikers battle Lady Bulldogs at Shakey’s Super League finals

November 21, 2024 | 7:44 pm

Bela-belen-NU-over-DLSU-Shane-Reterta-over-Amie-Provido_ — BELLA BELEN of National University against De La Salle’s Shane Reterta and Amie Provido.

Game on Friday
(Rizal Memorial Coliseum)
6:30 p.m. – La Salle vs NU

BACK-TO-BACK champion National University (NU) and De La Salle University bring their UAAP rivalry to the Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-Season Championship in the much-awaited Game 1 of the finale Friday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Hostilities fire off at 6:30 p.m. with the Lady Bulldogs looking to move closer to a coveted three-peat albeit against a strong resistance from their UAAP archrivals Lady Spikers, who went unbeaten until the finals.

NU and La Salle met twice in the UAAP finals, exchanging crowns in Seasons 84 and 85 but the Lady Bulldogs have been the undisputed queens in the Shakey’s tilt with perfect runs in two seasons.

La Salle though gained some measure of vengeance in the elimination rounds as it snapped NU’s 28-game, two-year run with a 32-30, 14-25, 25-22, 25-21 win.But the finale is an entirely different arena, looming to be a toss-up for the unarguably the country’s two best collegiate volleyball programs today with UAAP MVPs Bella Belen of NU and La Salle’s Angel Canino at the center stage.

Aside from Ms. Belen, Mr. Meneses will have back-to-back SSL MVP Alyssa Solomon to bank on along with the seasoned spikers in Vange Alinsug, Erin Pangilinan, Sheena Toring, Lams Lamina and rising star Arah Ella Panique from Alas Pilipinas.

La Salle, for its part, stands ready to whatever retaliation NU has in a fiery rematch since their titular showdown in 2022.

Spearheading the way for the Lady Spikers are Ms. Canino, SSL National Invitationals MVP Shevana Laput, Julia Coronel, Amie Provido and Baby Jyne Soreño. — John Bryan Ulanday

Biñan blasts Bacoor in Game 2 to earn a finals berth against Quezon at MPVA

November 21, 2024 | 7:44 pm

Cyrill-Alemania-of-bacoor-over-Zen-Perolino-and-Erika-Deloria — BIÑAN VS BACOOR

Games on Monday
(Alonte Sports Arena)
4 p.m. – Rizal vs Bacoor (bronze medal match)
6 p.m. – Quezon vs Biñan (Game 1 of finals)

BIÑAN Tatak Gel 1-Pacman Partylist knocked off the favorite Bacoor side armed with a twice-to-beat advantage following a dominant 25-21, 26-24, 25-21 win in the deciding Game 2 of the 2024 Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) semifinals on Wednesday night at the Alonte Sports Arena in Laguna.

Erika Jin Deloria led the way once again with 16 points on 15 hits and an ace as the No. 3 Volley Angels beat the second-seeded Strikers twice to gatecrash the finals of the MPVA founded by former Senator and MPBL chairman Manny Pacquiao.

Ms. Deloria fired the same output in Biñan’s 25-18, 25-18, 25-16 win on the road in Bacoor in Game 1 of the semifinals to force a do-or-die Game 2 at home.

This time around, she drew ample contributions from Shane Carmona and May Ann Nuique with 12 points each as the Volley Angels arranged a best-of-three championship showdown against No. 1 Quezon, which made short work of No. 4 Rizal in the other pairing.

Game 1 of the quick race-to-two series is on Monday with Biñan enjoying a homecourt advantage at the Alonte Sports Arena. The Tangerines then host Game 1 at the Quezon Convention Center on Wednesday and Game 2 at the South Quezon Convention Center in Gumaca on Saturday.

Biñan failed to win against Bacoor in two encounters in the elims but completed a reversal of roles when it mattered the most with convincing victories in two games without a single set surrendered.

For the second straight game, Bacoor spikers fired blanks as Cyrille Joie Alemeniana was the lone bright spot with 15 points in a surprised semis exit after ruling the inaugural but shorter edition.

Bacoor, however, sports a chance to not come home empty handed when it battles Rizal for the bronze medal. — John Bryan Ulanday

Several stars set to play at Unrivaled league, but not Caitlin Clark

November 21, 2024 | 7:43 pm

THOUGH Caitlin Clark has reportedly not signed to play, there is no lack of star power among the rosters unveiled by Unrivaled, a new 3-on-3 winter women’s basketball league, on Wednesday.

Unrivaled, co-founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, revealed the rosters as it prepares for its inaugural opening day on Jan. 17.

In addition to Collier and Stewart, reigning rebounding leader Angel Reese, second-leading scorer Arike Ogunbowale and several other WNBA All-Stars are set to play. Others include Aliyah Boston, Jewell Loyd, Dearica Hamby, Kahleah Copper, Alyssa Thomas and Brittney Griner.

ESPN reported on Wednesday that Clark will not play in the upstart league.

The league will feature six teams and 34 players, though a pair of teams will have each have a wild-card roster spot to fill. Players were put into six pods, with bigs, wings and guards in each pod. Unrivaled’s six coaches selected one player from each pod and assigned the player to one of the six teams. None of the coaches knew which team they would be assigned.

Aiming to supplement players’ income between WNBA seasons, the league promises the highest average salary in the history of women’s professional sports. Among the investors are Megan Rapinoe, Carmelo Anthony, Steve Nash and Alex Morgan.

A’ja Wilson and Sabrina Ionescu are among the WNBA stars who have yet to join Unrivaled. UConn star Paige Buecker signed an NIL deal with the league but will not participate in games this season. She’s the first NCAA athlete to have a stake in the ownership equity of a league.

Collier and Stewart’s teams will face off in the league’s opener on Jan. 17. The season will last eight weeks and culminate in the championship on March 17.

TNT will handle broadcasting duties, with games also appearing on TruTV and streamed on Max. TNT will air games on Monday and Friday nights, with Saturday night games airing on TruTV. — Reuters

Alonzo, CSB beat San Beda at NCAA men’s badminton final

November 21, 2024 | 7:42 pm

badminton-racket — JOSHUA HOEHNE-UNSPLASH

ALRON ALONZO rediscovered his groove late as he repulsed Krenz Valena in an epic 21-11, 12-21, 21-14 win that sealed College of St. Benilde (CSB) a 2-1 win over San Beda University and the NCAA Season 100 men’s seniors badminton title at the Centro Atletico in Cubao on Thursday.

CSB’s other win came in the first singles where Michael Garcia routed Mel de Vera, 21-17, 21-14, while San Beda equalized following a 21-14, 21-10 triumph by Arjay Lazareto and Joaquin Pollentes over Ronnie Mullet and Troy Oliveros in the doubles.

It was the Blazers second men’s seniors crown in the sport with the first coming nine years ago.

Earlier, San Sebastian College-Recoletos claimed its second straight juniors crown by blanking San Beda on wins by eventual MVP Seth Quiambao over Ron Ezekial Zakarias, 21-17, 21-8, in the singles and Giet Linaban and JV Lanuza over Adrien Villegas and Allen Lopina, 21-9, 21-12, in the doubles.

Meanwhile, in chess at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay, San Beda and Lyceum of the Philippines University arranged a title showdown after pulling off nail-biting victories in the Final Four Wednesday night.

The Lions fought the Jose Rizal University Bombers to a 2-2 standoff but took the win and the finals berth after finishing with a better tiebreak of having the higher board victory courtesy of Johann Cedrickl Gaddi on board three.

The Pirates, for their part, relied on the board four win of Jorge Delgado, Jr. to dethrone last year’s titlist University of Perpetual Help, 2.5-1.5, and advance to the finals where they hope to reclaim the title they last won four years ago.

San Beda is eyeing its first crown since winning 32 years ago. — Joey Villar