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Office of the Ombudsman orders dismissal of three prison officials for grave misconduct

THE Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of three prison officials for grave misconduct after they were accused of allowing the release of inmates for a fee.

Ordered fired were the Bureau of Corrections Officer-in-Charge Ramoncito D. Roque, Section Chief Maria Belinda Tudor Bansil and Senior Inspector Veronica Bustamante Buño, the ombudsman said in a statement on Wednesday.

The three were also accused of direct bribery and graft after they allegedly demanded and received P50,000 from the wife of a convict in exchange for her husband’s release.

The prison officials will forfeit their retirement benefits and will be perpetually disqualified from holding public office, the Ombudsman said.

If any of them had been separated from the service, they will be fined “the amount equivalent to their respective last salaries for one year, payable to the Office of the Ombudsman,” according to the statement.

The amount may be deducted from their retirement benefits or leave credits.

Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said he “fully agrees” with the decision.

“I fully agree with the decision of the ombudsman,” he said in a group message. “I was present during the Senate hearings and personally heard the testimony of the witnesses and observed the demeanor of the respondents”, he added.

The Justice chief said he had ordered the prison administration to enforce the judgment “without prejudice to the resolution of any appeal that the respondents may take.”

“May this decision of the ombudsman serve as a stern warning to all personnel of the BuCor who are minded to undermine the integrity of their own agency,” Mr. Guevarra said.

The ombudsman last year suspended dozens of prison officials for allegedly allowing the illegal release of felons convicted of heinous crimes.

The Senate had investigated the early release of thousands of inmates for good conduct, and found that unscrupulous officials had benefited from the scheme.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte had fired Nicanor E. Faeldon, head of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), after he allowed the illegal release of about 2,000 felons convicted of heinous crimes for good conduct.

Mr. Faeldon headed the Bureau of Customs but was forced to resign at the height of a controversy involving the shipment of billions of pesos worth of crystal meth from China. He was reappointed to the Office of Civil Defense before heading the BuCor in 2018.

The Justice and Local Government departments later changed the rules implementing the law on early releases to plug loopholes.

Opposition Senator Franklin M. Drilon had said Mr. Faeldon was not only incompetent but also lied under oath to evade accountability for the planned early release of ex-Calauan Mayor Antonio L. Sanchez.

The release of the former politician, who was sentenced to seven life terms in 1995 for the rape and murder of two University of the Philippines students in 1993, was suspended after a public outcry and a Senate investigation of the plan. — Genshen L. Espedido

Congressman bucks plan to end military deal with US

A CONGRESSMAN on Wednesday filed a resolution opposing a plan to end an agreement with the US on the deployment of troops and equipment for war games.

Magdalo Rep. Manuel DG. Cabochan III said ending the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) would “compromise the longstanding and cordial diplomatic relations” with the US.

The lawmaker also said the VFA had helped the Philippines in addressing “vulnerabilities of our national security.”

President Rodrigo R. Duterte has ordered government lawyers to expand their study of a plan to end the VFA.

Mr. Duterte last week asked the US government to reverse its decision to cancel Senator Ronald M. de la Rosa’s US visa, giving it a month-long ultimatum.

Mr. De la Rosa, a political ally, last week said the US embassy had canceled his visa. Mr. Duterte’s former police chief led the government’s deadly war on drugs that has killed thousands before he became a senator.

He was also considered to be among those responsible for the detention of Senator Leila M. de Lima, a staunch critic of Mr. Duterte’s anti-illegal drug campaign.

Also yesterday, senators belonging to the foreign relations committee agreed to assess the enforcement of the military agreement.

Committee members agreed to hold a hearing “on the visiting forces agreement or matters related to it” on Thursday next week, Senator Aquilino L. Pimentel III said at a briefing.

Mr. Pimentel said at least two members of the committee would file resolutions seeking to review the VFA, enhanced defense cooperation agreement and Mutual Defense Treaty,” he said.

The Senate body will issue recommendations to the presidential palace, Mr. Pimentel said.

The VFA allows the US government to retain jurisdiction over American soldiers accused of committing crimes in the Philippines, unless the crimes are “of particular importance” to the Southeast Asian nation.

Mr. Duterte’s Senate allies earlier said his threat to end the VFA goes beyond the cancelation of Mr. De la Rosa’s US visa.

The US Senate last year passed a resolution asking the Philippine government to release Ms. De Lima. It also sought to block the entry and freeze the US assets of officials behind drug-related killings and Ms. de Lima’s “wrongful detention.”

US President Donald Trump also signed into law last year the nation’s 2020 budget, which includes a clause allowing the US secretary of state to ban the entry of Philippine officials behind Ms. De Lima’s detention.

Ms. De Lima, a staunch critic of Mr. Duterte’s war on drugs, has been in jail since February 2017 for drug trafficking. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Mactan-Cebu airport operator sets sights on more Davao connecting passengers

GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC), operator of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), is stepping up its promotional campaign to attract more passengers from the Davao City airport, which is already its second biggest domestic connection after Manila. Aines T. Librodo, GMCAC’s Airline Marketing and Tourism Development head, said they recorded about 800,000 passengers from Davao last year, up 7.3% from the previous year. Half of these travelers have connecting flights to either international or domestic destinations within the Visayas. “People from Davao who are going to other destinations in Visayas and going abroad are passing through Cebu,” she said in an interview Tuesday on the sidelines of a promotional event in Davao City. She noted that Cebu is a shorter trip from Davao compared with Manila, making it a more convenient stop. Ms. Librodo also said the growing number of connecting passengers is due to the increase in international destinations from the Mactan-Cebu airport. “More and more flights that go to Cebu would mean connectivity also to Davao,” she said. The MCIA is connected to 28 domestic destinations and 21 international destinations. — Maya M. Padillo

Renovated PHL-Japan museum opens

THE Philippine-Japan Historical Museum in Davao City, which was closed for about a year for renovation, has been reopened with enhanced materials, including educational digital devices. The inauguration of the refurbished 25-year-old museum was held Jan. 23, led by Ambassador Haneda Koji and Consul General Miwa Yoshiaki, the Japanese Embassy in Manila announced on Wednesday. The Japanese government, through its Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects, provided a P4.7-million fund for the project to the Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai, Inc. (PNJK), which manages the museum. The PNJK, a Davao-based non-government organization, initiated the construction of the museum in 1994 as a tribute to the cultural and economic ties between Japan and Davao, which started in the early 1900s with the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the city.

Mindanao business sector to tackle proposed review of Cabotage Law, shipping costs

MORE THAN four years since the passage of the amended Cabotage Law, its impact on improving logistics and lowering shipping costs in Mindanao has yet to be felt. “I am not saying that the amended Cabotage Law is a failure, but we have to look at it why there is not much impact,” Antonio S. Peralta, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP)-Southern Mindanao Business Council chairman told media in a forum earlier this month. Republic Act 10668, which amended the Cabotage Law of the Philippines, was signed into law by then President Benigno S.C. Aquino III on July 21, 2015, and the implementing rules and regulation were completed in May 2016. The amendments were intended to lower logistics cost and ease restrictions by allowing foreign ships to transport cargo directly to and from any local port. “A serious review of the Cabotage Law must be made to make our businesses much more efficient, competitive not only locally but for the rest of the world… The cost of shipping from the point of origin is very low pero dito sa atin (but here it) is very high, do you think we have a chance of really competing? I don’t think so,” Mr. Peralta said.

SHIPPING
He added that the business sector and government should be more proactive in inviting foreign shipping companies to serve ports outside the capital Manila. Meanwhile, representatives of local shipping companies are among those invited to the ECCP’s Business Conference on Logistics in the Visayas and Mindanao on Jan. 31 in Davao City. “I would also like to hear out from their side. What seems to be the problem, bakit hindi pa rin tayo efficient pagdating sa (Why haven’t we improved efficiency in) shipping. The purpose of the summit is to determine how far we have really gone,” Peralta said. The ECCP will compile the meeting’s output together with other information and present this to concerned government agencies for consideration. — Maya M. Padillo

Nationwide round-up

Creation of disease control center, health emergency council proposed

PHILSTAR

ALBAY REPRESENTATIVE Jose Maria Clemente S. Salceda filed on Wednesday a bill seeking to create the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which will have “broader policy making, implementation, surveillance, disease and control and prevention powers” over communicable and infectious diseases. The proposed CDC will be a separate agency under the Department of Health (DoH). “My bill essentially lifts our communicable disease control and prevention units out of the depths of the DoH bureaucracy and into the more visible levels of decision-making and policy making,” Mr. Salceda said in a press statement. House Bill 6096 , among other provisions, also provides necessary “institutional and policy reforms to expand the country’s health emergency response mechanism.” He added, “(T)he current approach, the way we organize ourselves to confront outbreaks will no longer suffice, will not make us safer, will not convince our people to trust public institutions.”

COUNCIL
Meanwhile, Muntinlupa Rep. Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon has refiled his proposal to create a Public Health Emergency Council, which will manage and respond to public health emergencies. “In my proposed bill, the Public Health Emergency Council will convene once a public health emergency is declared, to implement a Public Health Emergency Plan (PHEP) that should be formulated within six months after the passage of the law,” Mr. Biazon said in a press statement. House Bill 6081 was previously filed in the 12th, 13th and 14th Congress “but was unable to get enough attention to become a law,” Mr. Biazon said. — Genshen L. Espedido

Less than half of Filipinos feel their lives improved in 2019

FOUR in 10 Filipinos consider that their lives improved in 2019, based on the fourth quarter survey by Social Weather Stations (SWS). The results released on Wednesday show 39% of adult Filipinos said their lives got better while 21% said their lives worsened. The last quarter’s 18+ net gainers score is seven points higher than the third quarter. Net gainers among the self rated-poor “has been historically lower,” according to SWS, than those among the non-poor with eight and 30 points, respectively. Meanwhile, net personal optimism also increased by three points to 44 from 41 between the two quarters. The survey indicated 48% of respondents expect their quality of life to improve in the next 12 months while 4% expect theirs to worsen. Net economic optimism, or expectations on the Philippine economy, for 2020 increased by 10 points to 38 from 28 in September, with 47% anticipating an improvement while 9% see it worsening. The survey was conducted Dec. 13-16, 2019 with 1,200 respondents. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

0ver 100,000 voter applications processed in 1st week of registration

MORE THAN 100,000 voters, including new applicants and those updating their information, were processed during the opening week of the registration period, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported Wednesday. In a statement, the poll body said it attended to 105,676 applications nationwide from Jan. 20 to 25. These applications included those for “registration, transfer of registration records, change/correction of entries in the registration record, reactivation of registration record, and reinstatement of name in the list of voters.” The biggest number was in Metro Manila with 19,438. The registration period will be until Sept. 30, 2021. — Gillian M. Cortez

Nation at a Glance — (01/30/20)

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

Nation at a Glance — (01/30/20)

OWNDAYS hands over proceeds of its ‘Cases for Change’ campaign to beneficiaries

Eyewear retailer supports partners that cater to the more vulnerable parts of the society.

In line with its belief that change can make the world look more beautiful, OWNDAYS Philippines has culminated the pilot year of its ‘Cases for Change’ campaign by handing over the full proceeds from the two-month promo to its three chosen partner-organizations.

The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), World Vision, and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) were the beneficiaries the eyewear retailer chose to collaborate with for the specialized cases. ‘Cases for Change’ was rolled out in all OWNDAYS stores nationwide from April 1 to May 31 this year. These collaboration cases were sold for PHP250 each for every purchase of any prescription glasses and PHP500 for just the case. The goal was to generate funds for the non-profit organizations’ causes and to create awareness about those groups’ advocacy.

“We are a brand that gives back,” said OWNDAYS Philippines Managing Director Vohne Yao. “I reiterate that through the company has contributed as well to this campaign, we are merely a channel. Our customers who actually purchased the specially-designed cases have supported the organization of their choice.”

World Vision Philippines

For World Vision Philippines, the proceeds from the campaign came just in time for the humanitarian development and advocacy organization’s ongoing relief response for affected families in a recent major earthquake that hit Mindanao.

“World Vision Philippines is currently setting up child-friendly places and temporary learning facilities where thousands of children in earthquake-hit areas can undergo psychological support and still attend classes,” said World Vision Philippines Executive Director Rommel Fuerte. “We are very happy and grateful to OWNDAYS and its customers for believing in our cause. We commit ourselves to be accountable to every centavo given to us,” he added.

The Philippine Animal Welfare Society

PAWS Executive Director Anna Hashim-Cabrera thinks the overwhelming support from OWNDAYS Philippines and the customers who bought the PAWS cases is an affirmation that a lot of Filipinos now recognize that their pets give so much to them, thus the need to give back.

Proceeds from ‘Cases for Change’ will help PAWS fund its core initiatives: operating its animal assisted program in its headquarters in Quezon City, rolling out low-cost spay and neuter efforts to curtail pet overpopulation, educating communities about animal welfare, filing legal cases against animal offenders, and lobbying for legislations that will protect animals.

World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines

KabangKalikasanngPilipinas Foundation or World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF-Philippines) is allocating the fund it received from ‘Cases for Change’ for environmental education across the country. The non-profit environmental organization serves up to 20,000 public schools, where it trains students and teachers of ways to preserve Mother Nature.

“We are happy as this campaign somehow shows that there is an increased consciousness, trigger, and mindset among local consumers to help the environment in their own little ways,” said WWF-Philippines President and CEO Jose Angelito Palma. “WWF aims to change behaviors. First, we impart knowledge, then we provide skills, leading to an eventual change in behavior.”

After the overwhelming success of the first ‘Cases for Change’ campaign, OWNDAYS is considering the possibility of launching a second edition of the program, with a different set of beneficiaries, soon.

Lawyer, driver killed in Pampanga shooting

A LAWYER and his driver were killed by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Sta. Rita, Pampanga on Tuesday, the police reported. Witnesses said three men armed with handguns opened fire at lawyer Anselmo Carlos and his driver, Marcial Mendoza, as their vehicle stopped in front of the San Vicente Parish Church at around 9:30 in the morning. Col. Jean S. Fajardo, Pampanga police provincial director, said the victims sustained multiple gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital. Police have launched manhunt operations against the suspects while investigation is ongoing to establish the motive behind the shooting. Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said he will wait for the police’s investigation report to determine if the case falls under his department’s jurisdiction. “We will initially let the PNP (Philippine National Police) take the lead in investigating this latest incident, but if there are any indications that the case falls under Administrative Order 35 (on extra-judicial killings arising from certain advocacies), the DoJ (Department of Justice) will create a special investigating team,” he said in a mobile phone message. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas and Emmanuel Tupas, PHILSTAR

Nation at a Glance — (01/29/20)

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

Nation at a Glance — (01/29/20)

Gov’t raises P134B from RTB sale

THE government raised P134 billion from its 23rd offer of retail Treasury bonds (RTBs), which was met with firm demand amid strong liquidity in the market.

The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) awarded P134 billion worth of three-year RTBs at the rate-setting auction for the papers out of total bids worth P149.827 billion. This was almost five times the initial offer of P30 billion, prompting the government to upsize the acceptance.

The papers were quoted at a coupon of 4.375%, higher compared to the 4.25% coupon fetched for the three-year RTBs issued last April 2017 or RTB 3-08 as well as the 4.274% quoted for the tenor at the close of the secondary market yesterday.

Proceeds from the issue will be used for general budgetary purposes including the state’s critical infrastructure projects and social services.

The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Land Bank of the Philippines are the joint lead managers for the 23rd RTB offering.

The two state-run banks are also part of the joint issue managers, which are BDO Capital & Investment Corp., BPI Capital Corp., China Bank Capital Corp., First Metro Investment Corp., PNB Capital and Investment Corp., RCBC Capital Corp. and SB Capital Investment Corp.

The three-year RTBs are now being offered to the general investing public for minimum denominations of P5,000.

Interested investors should have a peso account with selling agent banks accredited by the BTr, as they will receive quarterly interest payments and the principal amount on maturity via this account, the Treasury said.

To invest, one can approach their bank branch of choice or visit the BTr website and buy via its online ordering facility.

The public offer period is set to run until Feb. 6, unless the Treasury closes it earlier.

Following the rate-setting auction, National Treasurer Rosalia V. de Leon said yield on the RTBs is a “fair value,” given the volume of tenders and considering that the offer was to provide some incentive for them (individual and retail investors) to participate.”

“We’ll have to see first how much will be tendered, particularly for individuals because our preference is to be able to allocate to individuals and the retail (investors) which is precisely the rationale for this RTB issuance,” she told reporters.

For Carlyn Therese X. Dulay, first vice-president and head of institutional sales at Security Bank Corp., the rate set was within the market expectations while the huge amount of tenders was “indicative of how well the market supports” the issuance.

“I think 4.25%-4.375% was the range that was really given for this bond so the 4.375% is a very attractive rate but it’s still within expectations, so I think it’s positive for the market,” Ms. Dulay said in an interview after the auction.

SWITCH PROGRAM
At the same time, the BTr is also holding an exchange offer program for this issue.

Under the program, bondholders of the RTB 3-08 issued in 2017 which will mature this April can exchange these papers for this latest RTB issue for a “convenient reinvestment option for their current holdings at no cost.”

“In terms of the switch, merong cap sa (there will be a cap for the) switch, P15 billion per [working] day. [However,] we’ll just have to see first how much will be the demand for the switch but we anticipate na there will be a lot for those holding the (RTB) 3-08 in exchange for the (RTB) 23 recognizing that the coupon for this one is higher than the RTB 3-08,” Ms. De Leon said.

She, however, said the P15-billion daily cap for the switch can still be adjusted. The volume accepted per day for the switch will be determined at the end of the day.

According to Ms. De Leon, there are P180 billion worth of three-year papers maturing this April that are eligible for the exchange offer.

“P180 billion is the outstanding right now and that will mature in April so all the volume will be eligible for the switch, but per day, we cap the amount at P15 billion. But we reserve the right [to decide] how much we will accept. So we can also upsize in the same manner that we upsized in our auction today,” the Treasury official said on Tuesday.

Interested holders need to go to their broker or dealer to facilitate the submission of their offers.

“For the first time, the National Registry of Scripless Securities, through its Switch Module, will serve as the electronic platform whereby offers to exchange will be submitted, allocated and settled,” the Treasury said.

The BTr on Tuesday held a roadshow for the RTBs in Makati City and will hold additional ones in Cebu City, Davao City, Baguio City, Pampanga, South Cotabato, Bacolod City, Misamis Oriental and Iloilo City. — Beatrice M. Laforga

Gov’t eyes P37B in sin taxes this year for health care

THE Department of Finance (DoF) expects to collect P37.2 billion in so-called sin taxes this year after a measure was enacted raising the tax on alcohol products and cigarettes.

The government would probably collect a total of P263.1 billion in the five years through 2024 “to help ensure that universal health care is better funded,” Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said at a briefing on Tuesday.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte has signed into law the bill raising the tax on alcohol products, electronic cigarettes and other vapor products. Regular tobacco products were also slapped with higher excise tax under a Juy 2019 law.

Finance officials had projected a P62-billion funding gap for universal health care this year without higher sin taxes, and a P426-billion total gap through 2024.

Albay Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente S. Salceda dismissed concerns about the remaining funding gap, noting that the Universal Health Care Law is still in the initial stage of implementation.

He said there are pending revenue-generating measures worth almost P120 billion that may be allotted to close the gap.

“There is no funding gap,” Mr. Salceda said at the same briefing, adding that out of 81 provinces, only 55 have complied with the requirement to set up universal health care integration sites.

Mr. Salceda, who heads the House ways and means committee, said the House of Representatives is “fully committed” to finance universal health care.

Prices of distilled spirits such as GSM Gin Bilog, Emperador Light and Johnny Walker Black Label will now range from P52-P1,029 from P45-P999 in 2019.

Prices of fermented liquor such as San Miguel products, Red Horse and Heineken will cost P37-P100 from P34-P90. Still wine prices will range from P275-P475 from P265-P465.

Mr. Salceda said the price increases are sufficient to affect the volume of alcohol consumption, but not enough to reduce alcohol drinkers. Congress would have to adjust the rates after three years, he added.

The National Sin Tax Coalition expects a 19% drop in tobacco users, equivalent to a million smokers by 2022, co-convener Anthony C. Leachon said.

Senator Pia S. Cayetano, ways and means committee chairwoman, said she would coordinate with the Senate health committee on ways to beef up the regulation of sin products.

She cited the need to “strengthen our existing regulations and, to the extent necessary, create new laws for the protection of our youth against these harmful products.”

RA 11467 and 11346, which raised the excise tax on regular tobacco products to P45 a pack in 2020 from P35 last year, forms part of the government’s comprehensive tax reform program.

The government has also enacted a measure cutting personal income taxes and increased the levies on several goods and services.

Another law grants estate tax amnesty and amnesty on delinquent accounts left unpaid even after being given final assessment.

Other tax reform packages still pending in Congress are measures that seek to cut corporate income tax and overhaul fiscal incentives, provide a uniform framework for real property valuation and assessment, and simplify the tax on financial investments. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

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