2 vessels from France commissioned for anti-smuggling
THE GOVERNMENT has commissioned two fast patrol vessels from France on Monday, intended for anti-smuggling operations.
Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III and French Ambassador to the Philippines Nicolas Galey signed a memorandum of agreement yesterday at the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) headquarters in Manila indicating that the vessels would be used “in the enforcement of laws pertaining to border control, prevention of the entry of smuggled goods, prevention and suppression of smuggling and other customs fraud.”
Messers. Dominguez and Galey commissioned yesterday Fast Patrol Boat 2401 (BRP Boracay) and 2402 (BRP Panglao), which were delivered to the Philippines in August.
Commissioning is a tradition which grants the vessel an authority to belong to a service and authorize it to perform the mandated mission of the agency.
The government acquired four vessels through official development assistance of France in 2014.
The third vessel is set to arrive by the end of the year, while the fourth is expected early next year.
“The BoC shall coordinate closely with PCG, in the operation of the Fast Patrol Vessel that will be used in customs maritime operations. Both agencies shall work collaboratively in the suppression and prevention of smuggling and other fraud under the jurisdiction of the Philippines,” the agreement read.
The vessels from France will add to the 10 patrol vessels from the Japanese government delivered earlier this year, with two more arriving.
“Being an archipelago with twice the coastline of the United States, we have long been vulnerable to smuggling activities. There is no way to accurately estimate the cumulative amount of revenues denied government coffers. But we are sure that the amount is immense, far more than whatever we might be investing today in improving our enforcement capabilities,” Mr. Dominguez said in a speech during the ceremony.
“The cumulative amount of lost revenues from smuggling could have enabled the government to ramp up spending on infrastructure and social services much sooner than we had planned. Our economic development might have taken a much preferable course. Our people might be more prosperous than they are now,” he added.
“Those who bring drugs to our coasts are prepared to fight for their evil cargoes. I trust our trained crews are prepared for the inevitable conflict that could break out when the vilest of these rascals are confronted at sea. I trust the professionals of the Bureau of Customs will use these assets intensively and well. We did not invest in these new vessels for them to be used sparingly. The war against smuggling should be unrelenting,” said Mr. Dominguez. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan
Guevarra warns Trillanes supporters for possible contempt
JUSTICE Menardo I. Guevarra said the people who left flowers outside the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 148 could be held in contempt of court as the act tends towards influencing the decision of the judge.
“That’s exactly the kind of pressure that has been exerted upon Judge (Andres B.) Soriano. Some people have made it appear that any ruling against Sen. (Antonio F.) Trillanes (IV) will be a deathblow to democracy and the rule of law,” he said in a text message to reporters when sought for comment.
“Even a first-year law student will tell you that such acts tending to influence the decision of the judge ARE a clear and punishable case of contempt of court,” he added.
Mr. Soriano of Makati RTC Branch 148 is set to release the resolution on the motion filed by the Department of Justice seeking the issuance of an arrest warrant and hold departure order against Mr. Trillanes for his non-bailable coup d’etat case.
Flowers with printed notes bearing the words such as “legacy,” “truth,” and “fortitude,” among others, were left outside the office of the court on Monday.
Mr. Guevarra on Oct. 14 also hit the allegation of Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary C. Alejano that they have information that Mr. Soriano is being pressured to rule against the Senator.
“The DOJ does not interact with the Judge except through the pleadings filed and arguments raised in open court. Rep. Alejano’s allegations tend to impede the orderly administration of justice, unfairly cast aspersion on the integrity and professionalism of the Department of Justice and its state prosecutors, and contumaciously influence Judge Soriano’s decision-making process,” he said. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas
Garin, others ordered to counter Dengvaxia complaints by Oct. 29
THE DEPARTMENT of Justice has asked former Health secretary Janette P. Loreto-Garin and other respondents in the Dengvaxia case to file their counter affidavits by Oct. 29.
This is in relation to the second batch of eight cases filed by the families of the alleged victims of the dengue vaccine, which is now up for preliminary investigation.
Ms. Garin and 37 others, including other government officials, Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur, Inc., and distributor Zeullig Pharma Corporation, are facing 17 complaints of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, and violations of the Anti-Torture Act and Consumer Act in connection with deaths linked to the vaccination program.
They are also facing charges for defective product and mislabeled product in violation of Consumer Act of the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Chief Persida V. Rueda-Acosta said in an interview after the hearing that the forensic team has autopsied 96 bodies of alleged Dengvaxia victims.
Ms. Acosta also called on other government agencies to take action to help those who were inoculated with Dengvaxia, singling out the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Health.
The first batch of nine complaints is set to conclude preliminary investigation on Oct. 30.
PAO also is set to file 10 more cases on Oct. 30. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas
Sister Fox replies to BI comment on deportation case
AUSTRALIAN MISSIONARY nun Patricia Fox on Monday submitted her reply to the comment of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) on her deportation case pending at the Department of Justice (DOJ).
In her reply, Ms. Fox, who is seeking the reversal of the deportation order against her, reiterated that the BI has “long prejudged her case and firmly believes that the BI had never been objective in resolving the deportation case.”
“This subjectivity is even clearly spelled out in its decision to deport the Petitioner dated July 19, 2018 which is now under review before this Honorable Office, when the BI stated that since the President has already spoken, the Board of Commissioners, under the doctrine of qualified political agency or alter ego principle, has to abide by the statement of the President,” her reply read.
Ms. Fox also urged the DOJ “to breathe life to constitutional guarantees on the promotion and protection of human rights,” noting that right to free expression and assemble could only be curtailed if there is a “grave and imminent danger” to the public.
She also stated that due process must be observed and the BI cannot revoke her missionary visa arbitrarily.
She also slammed the intelligence report cited in the BI’s comment, claiming that the report failed to provide proper context of the activities she engaged into as well as meet the required proofs.
“The report is also based on hearsay information, sloppy intelligence report by mere social media stalking. Hence, there is no substantial evidence to support the decision in this case because hearsay information is not evidence,” she stated.
The BI has recently denied the extension of her missionary visa, which expired last Sept. 5, and required her to apply for temporary visitor’s visa. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas
