Immigration bureau allowed to use fees for wages
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has allowed the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to use express-lane fees and other charges to augment the salaries of its employees.
There is a need for a temporary measure to increase the salaries of Immigration employees, in recognition of the “indispensability of their functions, the apparent disparity between the basic pay of BI employees and those of agencies performing comparable functions, and to promote the continuous and unhampered delivery of basic government services,” according to the memo signed by Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea.
In January 2017, Mr. Duterte disallowed the BI to use such fees for the overtime pay and salaries of Immigration employees.
The guidelines, based on the Memorandum Order No. 24, state that express lane fees and charges collected by the BI “shall be deposited in a special trust fund with the government.” The collections will comprise the Express Lane Fund (ELF).
About 64% of express-lane fees will be used to increase the salaries and for overtime pay of regular workers, 25% will be used for the salaries of contractual personnel, and the remaining 11% will go to the National Treasury. — Arjay L. Balinbin
DoJ asked to junk perjury complaint
PETER Joemel Advincula, the man who had linked the family of President Rodrigo R. Duterte to illegal drugs, has denied a perjury complaint against him in connection with his testimony in the sedition complaint against Vice President Maria Leonor G. Robredo and 35 others.
In his counter-affidavit, Mr. Advincula said that all matters in his affidavit were supported by evidence.
“The present complaint is a vain attempt to mislead or confuse the authorities in the investigation of the case referred to the Department of Justice by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Philippine National Police,” he said.
Police in July filed sedition, cyberlibel, libel, estafa, harboring a criminal and obstruction of justice against Ms. Robredo and 35 others, including three lawyers whom it accused of circulating a video linking Duterte to the illegal drug trade.
Mr. Advincula was sued but was also named as a witness in the complaint. Government prosecutors are about to decide on the case.
MMDA cited for violating safety standards
A LABOR group on Tuesday criticized the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for leading a declogging operation that allegedly violates Occupational Safety and Health standards.
MMDA workers were not wearing protective equipment, Defend Job Philippines said in a social media post. The operation in Ermita, Manila was documented in a social media post.
“MMDA workers were seen wearing only their casual attire and some were wearing only slippers during the operations,” the group said. It asked the Labor and Public Works departments to investigate the MMDA. — Gillian M. Cortez
Senate to fast-track coco levy bill
THE Senate yesterday vowed to hasten the approval of a bill that will release coconut levy funds for the benefit of farmers.
Senator Cynthia A. Villar told reporters that despite the veto of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, the bill is likely to be enacted by year-end. Senators will prioritize the bill after they approve the national budget for next year, she said.
Ms. Villar said they have corrected the bill to ensure Mr. Duterte doesn’t veto it again.
The bill seeks to distribute coco levy funds, which came from taxes imposed by the late Dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos from 1973 to 1982.
The Supreme Court in 2014 said the funds should be returned to coconut farmers. — Gillian M. Cortez
13 magistrates shortlisted for SC
THE Judicial and Bar Council has shortlisted 13 magistrates for the replacement of retired Justice Francis H. Jardeleza.
The shortlisted applicants include 11 justices from the Court of Appeals: Apolinario D. Bruselas, Jr., Ramon A. Cruz , Edgardo L. Delos Santos, Japar B. Dimaampao, Samuel H. Gaerlan, Ramon D. Garcia, Jhosep Y. Lopez, Mario V. Lopez, Maria Filomena D. Singh, Edwin D. Sorongon and Elihu A. Ybañez.
Also included are Sandiganbayan Judge Amparo M. Cabotaje-Tang and Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez.
Mr. Jardeleza, who was appointed on Aug. 20, 2014, retired on Sept. 26 after reaching the age of 70.
The JBC, mandated by the Constitution to screen applicants for the judiciary, is set to interview on Wednesday four applicants for the chief justice position.
The applicants are Justices Diosdado M. Peralta, Estela M. Perlas-Bernabo, Andres B. Reyes, Jr. and Jose C. Reyes, Jr. Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin is retiring on Oct. 18. — VMMV
