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Gov’t tags 29 people terrorists; council accused of abuse

Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison — PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE GOVERNMENT has labeled 19 members of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing terrorists, according to an order published in newspapers on Thursday.

The Anti-Terrorism Council also issued a separate order labeling 10 members of Mindanao-based militant groups terrorists.

The Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) has released on Thursday two separate resolutions wherein a total of 29 central committee members of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army (CPP/NPA) and of local terrorist groups were listed as terrorists.

The council said it had found probable cause based on “verified and validated information” that the 19 Maoist rebels were involved in “planning, preparing, facilitating, conspiring and inciting the commission of terrorism.”

They were also said to have recruited people to their group, which the country’s Anti-Terrorism law prohibits.

These people face criminal charges, apart from existing ones that have been filed in court against many of the suspects, Justice Undersecretary Adrian Ferdinand S. Sugay told reporters on Thursday.

The state may also seize their assets, he added.

Jose Maria “Joma” C. Sison, chief political consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and one of those tagged, said he and his wife were not bothered by the label.

“The list of names in the designation appears to be arbitrary, dubious and even contradictory or inconsistent” with statements made by “evil minions” the council’s task force.

Both resolutions were signed by council Chairman Salvador C. Medialdea and National Security Adviser and council Vice Chairman Hermogenes C. Esperon, Jr.

Some congressmen slammed the terror lists, which they said was “arbitrary and devoid of due process.”

In a statement, Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite said the list showed how the council could “easily abuse its power.”

Gabriela Rep. Arlene D. Brosas compared the label to a “naughty or nice list.” “While extremely ridiculous, it is deadly and dangerous not just to individuals and well meaning critics but also to whatever democratic space we have left.” — Bianca Angelica D. Anago and Gillian M. Cortez

Duterte calls for peace, healing as the country observes Eid’l Ftr

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte called for peace and healing on Thursday as the country observed Eid’l Ftr, the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

“Let us welcome a new hope that this Eid brings — for peace, prosperity, healing and strength as we build a progressive and brighter future for our people,” Mr. Duterte said in his message for the Feast of Breaking the Fast, a national holiday in the largely Catholic Philippines.   

The President said he hoped that the end of Muslims’ holy month of fasting would inspire Filipinos to “continue promoting peace, unity and goodwill among our fellow Filipinos.”

Vice President Maria Leonor G. Robredo, in her message, said the celebration “is a continued reminder that we are a single community.”

Meanwhile, One Bangsamoro Movement (1Bangsa) asked the President to certify as urgent the proposed measures seeking to extend the term of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) by another three years from 2022.

“Various sectors have spoken loud and clear in endorsing the BTA extension,” 1Bangsa President Alan Balangi-Amer said in a press release.

Mr. Balangi-Amer said a large number of Filipino Muslims favor the extension of the transition period “to sustain the gains of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.”

He said Congress should “act with dispatch” with only nine remaining session days before it adjourns sine die on June 4. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

ARTA eyes lifestyle check on FDA execs, staff under probe

THE ANTI-RED Tape Authority (ARTA) could soon request for lifestyle checks on Food and Drug Administration (FDA) employees and officials under investigation.

The request will be made to the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) with whom ARTA has a partnership to align work on corruption-related complaints sent to either agency.

The red tape watchdog in a statement on Thursday said it has gathered leads on individuals who could be recommended to PACC for lifestyle checks.

“We also have some leads that we are discussing already with our investigation team,” ARTA Director General Jeremiah B. Belgica told One News on Thursday, adding that he cannot offer more details.

“All of the employees or government officials that ARTA would now be filing a case (against) or investigating would immediately be referred to the PACC for lifestyle checks. Automatic na ‘yan,” he said.

ARTA recently issued a show-cause order to the FDA for alleged delays in processing 600 drug certification applications. The order directs FDA Center for Drug Regulation and Research Director IV Jesusa N. Cirunay to “explain why no administrative or criminal case should be filed” against her.

Ms. Cirunay has seven business days to conduct an inventory of all pending permits, release delayed permits, and submit a compliance report to ARTA. Formal charges may be filed against her if she fails to comply.

Several pharmaceutical firms signed affidavits detailing delays on applications submitted as far back as 2014.

Mr. Belgica said that businesses may have lost hundreds of millions of pesos for products not sold to the public because of FDA delays.

“In the time of pandemic, we have these kinds of problems with our regulatory agency of drugs. They should be more compassionate,” he said.

He added that ARTA is not for or against the approval of specific drugs but instead aims to speed up processing. — Jenina P. Ibañez

Philreca denies receiving electric co-op contributions for 2019 campaign

THE PHILIPPINE Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (Philreca) Party-list has denied accusations from the anti-corruption commission head that it received contributions from electric cooperatives during the 2019 election campaign.

Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) Chairman Greco B. Belgica, in a Palace online briefing on Wednesday, alleged that electric cooperatives released board resolutions allowing for contributions to help the party-list’s campaign. He added that National Electric Administration (NEA) head Edgardo R. Masongsong did not oppose the resolutions.

“The law does not allow public utilities to contribute funds to campaigns of a candidate or a party-list, or use government funds to do so,” Mr. Belgica said in Filipino.

Philreca Party-list Representative Presley C. De Jesus denied the accusation in a statement on Thursday.

“We categorically deny the allegations and condemn any attempt to tarnish the name and reputation of the Party-list…The Party-list did not receive any political contributions from any electric cooperative during the 2019 elections,” he said.

At the same time, Mr. De Jesus pointed out that electric cooperatives are not public utilities.

“Had PACC been more thorough in their research, they would have known that electric cooperatives are not public entities. They are non-stock, non-profit membership organizations supervised by the NEA,” he said.

Mr. De Jesus said the issue arose from a complaint filed by political opponents before the PACC. He added that the party-list has committed itself to transparency and supports any investigation into the matter.

Mr. Masongsong, in a separate statement released by NEA on Thursday, said the PACC head’s allegations are “baseless and malicious.”

“My alleged ‘condoning of the use of public funds to fund the political campaign of PHILRECA Party-list’ is baseless, malicious and a reckless presumption considering that no public funds were ever manipulated for the said purpose,” he said.

Mr. Masongsong said he has yet to receive a copy of the complaint. — Angelica Y. Yang

Philippine gov’t prepares to evacuate Filipinos in Israel 

DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS — FACEBOOK/DFAPHIL

THE PHILIPPINE government is now preparing for the possible repatriation of Filipinos in Israel amid the conflict between Palestinian armed groups and Israeli military, Malacañang Palace said on Thursday.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is now planning for the possible return of Filipinos and has reminded them to remain safe amid the tension between the two forces.

“Ang naging posisyon din ng DFA, sana po malutas sa mapayapang paraan itong tensiyon na nangyayari po diyan sa Gitnang Silangan (The DFA’s position is that it hopes to see a peaceful resolution to that conflict in the Middle East),” Presidential Spokesman Herminio “Harry” L. Roque, Jr. said.

Palestinian nationalist group Hamas and Israeli armed forces had been in a deadly exchange of fires as Palestinians continue to be evicted from East Jerusalem.

There are more than 30,000 Filipinos in Israel, composed mostly of workers, some students, and diplomats.

The Israeli Embassy in Manila, in a media statement sent via Viber on Thursday, said, “The responsibility for the violence unfolding in Jerusalem, Gaza, and the rest of Israel falls entirely on the terrorist organization Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Johad and other terror supporters.”

“Israel has, had and will take any actions necessary to protect its citizens and noncitizens and will not allow terrorist organizations to attack civilians in Israel without a response,” it said.

The Ben Gurion Airport, the main international airport in Israel, has temporarily stopped all inbound and outbound flights.

“We call on all Overseas Filipino Workers who are in Israel to listen to the safety instructions and strictly follow the directives of IDF Home Front Command,” the embassy said.

Israeli police earlier arrested and evicted Palestinians from the neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah.

Israeli security forces have used “repeated, unwarranted and excessive force against Palestinian protesters in occupied East Jerusalem following four days of violence in which 840 Palestinians were injured,” Amnesty International said in a statement on May 10.

“The latest violence brings into sharp focus Israel’s sustained campaign to expand illegal Israeli settlements and step up forced evictions of Palestinian residents — such as those in Sheikh Jarrah — to make way for Israeli settlers,” it said. “These forced evictions are part of a continuing pattern in Sheikh Jarrah, they flagrantly violate international law and would amount to war crimes.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Solon calls for house-to-house vaccination for PWDs

PHILSTAR

A LAWMAKER called on the national government to implement a policy of house-to-house coronavirus vaccination for persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Quezon City Rep. Alfred D. Vargas, in a statement on Thursday, said he filed House Resolution 1727 after seeing Quezon City and some other local governments doing this for those who cannot go to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination centers, particularly the elderly.

“Dapat itong suportahan at palawakin pa ng national government para mas marami nating kababayan ang makinabang (This should be supported further and expanded by the national government so more Filipinos will benefit from this),” he said.

Apart from PWDs, other people with limited mobility access are the target beneficiaries of the proposal.

“It is the duty of the government to ensure with urgency that our services for the people are made accessible especially for the marginalized and underprivileged,” he said. — Gillian M. Cortez

Storm Crising expected to make landfall over Davao Oriental-Surigao del Sur area

TROPICAL storm Crising, the 3rd typhoon to enter the Philippines this year, is crossing Mindanao and is expected to make landfall Thursday night or early Friday over the Davao Oriental-Surigao del Sur area, according to state weather agency PAGASA.

As of Thursday afternoon, tropical wind signals 1 and 2 in a 5-level warning system were up in various parts of the southern islands as well as the southeastern portion of Negros Oriental in the Visayas.

“Slight intensification is likely and is forecast to remain (a) tropical storm prior to landfall,” PAGASA said in its 5 p.m. Tuesday bulletin.

Crising is forecast to weaken into a tropical depression by Friday “as it traverses the rugged landmass of Mindanao and will emerge over the Sulu Sea on Saturday early morning,” the weather bureau said.

Local disaster management teams have been placed on high alert for possible floodings and landslides with the expected heavy rainfall in some areas.   

As of Thursday afternoon, Crising was packing winds of 65 kilometers per hour (km/h) and gustiness of up to 80 km/h. — MSJ

DAR starts releasing undistributed land titles in Cebu 

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has started the distribution of 2,034 land certificates in Cebu, including the 2,007 that were recently discovered in two sacks gathering dust at the agency’s local office. DAR, in a statement on Thursday, said around 1,709 of the titles equivalent to 1,320 hectares of land can be immediately released, while 325 have been excluded as the beneficiaries could not be located. About 200 have so far been distributed. “We are doubling our efforts to finish this task and as much as we can, we would distribute them on a daily basis because the agrarian reform beneficiaries land titles should have been distributed a long time ago,” DAR Central Visayas Regional Director Resty C. Osias said. Some of the certificates of land ownership date as far back as 1987. DAR is preparing to file administrative and criminal charges against 13 officials in DAR-Cebu liable for the failure to distribute the titles. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave 

Red tide warning up in three more Western Samar bays

THE BUREAU of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) warned consumers from eating shellfish harvested in three bays in Western Samar after these areas tested positive for paralytic shellfish poison or red tide.  BFAR said in its 15th shellfish bulletin that warnings are up in Irong-irong Bay, Maqueda Bay, and San Pedro Bay. Meanwhile, red tide contamination continues in Western Samar’s Daram Island, Zumarraga, Cambatutay Bay, and Villareal Bay; Puerto Princesa Bay, Palawan; Dauis and Tagbilaran CIty, Bohol; Tambobo Bay, Negros Oriental; the town of Leyte, Calubian, Carigara Bay, Ormoc Bay, and Cancabato Bay, Leyte. Red tide warnings are also still in effect at Biliran Islands; Balite Bay, Davao Oriental; Murcielagos Bay, Zamboanga del Norte; and Lianga Bay, Bislig Bay, and Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. All types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamang harvested in red tide areas are unsafe for human consumption. However, other marine species from the contaminated waters can still be eaten with proper handling. Red tide happens due to a result of high concentrations of algae in the water. Human consumption of contaminated shellfish may result in paralytic shellfish poisoning, which affects the nervous system. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

DoTr’s Tugade calls for law setting 30-year transport plan

DEPARTMENT of Transportation (DoTr) Secretary Arthur P. Tugade — PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) said it will seek legislation establishing a 30-year transportation sector roadmap to minimize the impact of changing priorities set by new administrations.

“I have designed and formulated a 30-year roadmap purely on transportation, a roadmap to cover five presidents,” Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said at an online forum on May 11 organized by the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP).

He added: “Itong roadmap na ito will be legislated. The funding source will be legislated… kaya lang dapat tinutulak ko na this year ‘yan, pero nagkaroon ng pandemya (The plan needs to be legislated and its funding set in law… I had been planning to push for it this year but the pandemic got in the way).”

President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed Executive Order (EO) No. 05 in October 2016 approving and adopting a 25-year long-term plan known as “Ambisyon Natin 2040.”

Mr. Tugade said he is willing to work with the private sector on the matter.

“I am willing to sit down with you, na kung hindi man umusad sa Kongreso ‘to, iiwan ko sa inyo ang hard papers (If Congress does not act, I will leave the plan to you),” Mr. Tugade told the MAP executives.

“I wanted that to be my legacy, the 30-year transportation roadmap,” he added.

Mr. Duterte’s EO set out an objective of “tripl(ing) real capita incomes and eradicat(ing) hunger and poverty by 2040, if not sooner.”

The EO also called for “all plans of government departments, offices and instrumentalities, including government-owned or -controlled corporations and local government units, (to be) consistent with Ambisyon Natin 2040.” — Arjay L. Balinbin

Senate lists priority amendments when session resumes

PHILSTAR

THE SENATE will prioritize the priority measures such as the amendments to the Public Service Act, Retail Trade Liberal Act and the formation of the Department of Overseas Filipinos, among other measures, when it resumes session Monday, Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III said.

“Priorities will be Public Service Act, Retail Trade Act, Dep’t of OFW and a few others,” he told reporters in a phone message on Thursday.

The measures were among the those identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council as priority measures in March.

The amendments to the Public Service Act and to the Retail Trade Liberalization Act were targeted by the LEDAC for passage by June, while the creation of a Department of Overseas Filipinos is expected to pass by December.

Mr. Sotto also said in the statement that he proposes to conduct sessions on Thursdays.

“I will propose to have sessions on Thursdays which we had in the Old Congress so we can have 12 days instead of 9,” he said in the statement, adding that he will caucus on Monday.

Senate Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto supported Mr. Sotto’s proposal.

“There is a need for everyone to try to be more productive. Extending session days will definitely help,” he said in a text message.

Congress sessions, held from Monday to Wednesday, will resume on May 17 after an almost two-month break.

The second regular session will adjourn from June 5 to July 25.

The bills to amend the Retail Trade Liberalization Act and the Public Service Act were pending at second reading in the Senate, while the bill for the creation of the Department of Overseas Filipinos is pending at the committee level. The three measures were approved by the House of Representatives in third and final reading.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte in April certified as urgent the bills amending the Public Service Act, Retail Trade Liberalization Act, and Foreign Investments Act. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

BPO workers call for higher place in vaccine priority list

BW FILE PHOTO

A BUSINESS process outsourcing (BPO) workers group said the industry’s workers need to be bumped up the vaccine priority list, noting that its workers remain excluded from the A4 category, which is entitled to inoculation starting next month.

The BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN) said that workers in the outsourcing sector remain at risk for contracting the virus because many works on site. Essential workers in the A4 vaccination priority group could have access to vaccines by June, the Health department said.

“BPO workers do not work face to face with our clients but it doesn’t mean we are immune from the virus especially those who are working onsite. Not all clients and accounts (allow) work at home arrangements,” BIEN Vice-President for Externals Sarah Prestoza said in a statement Thursday.

BIEN has been asking the government to include outsourcing workers in the A4 category, noting that the sector continued some on site operations during the strictest phase of the lockdown.

“The government must speed up its distribution and inoculation so vaccines don’t go to waste. There are sectors like us that are waiting in vain to be vaccinated while BPO workers and the industry strive to keep the economy afloat,” Ms. Prestoza added.

“Seemingly, there are sufficient doses of vaccines to inoculate the 1.3 million BPO workers in the whole country. It’s just a matter of formulating the right policy and then executing the vaccination and distribution plan with a sense of urgency.”

The group noted COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) outbreaks in various outsourcing hubs, including 255 cases in Baguio and 105 cases in Iloilo, since January.

BIEN has written to the Health department to appeal for inclusion in the A4 list but has not yet received a response.

A hundred outsourcing firms are expecting COVID-19 vaccine deliveries for employees starting this quarter after signing agreements involving the National Government and private sector groups, the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) said last week.

IBPAP partnered with the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. Foundation to procure a million doses of the Moderna vaccine for employees and their dependents.

The government cut its inoculation target to 50 million individuals by the end of this year from the previous goal of up to 70 million due to global supply constraints. — Jenina P. Ibañez

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