Honasan may be summoned for Senate inquiry on DICT fund
FORMER SENATOR Gregorio B. Honasan II, who now heads the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), may be summoned for the proposed Senate inquiry over alleged irregularities in the agency’s confidential funds. Recently resigned undersecretary Eliseo M. Rio, Jr., who was acting DICT chief before Mr. Honasan, left his post over the disbursement of confidential funds for purposes undisclosed to him. Mr. Rio also asserted that DICT appropriations do not include confidential or intelligence funding, considering intelligence operation is not within its mandate. “Once the resolution that Senate President Sotto and I filed early this week is adopted and the oversight committee is reconstituted, we will meet to decide on the way forward,” Senator Panfilo M. Lacson said in a statement on Wednesday. “We both think Sec. Honasan deserves the opportunity to give his side amid all the insinuations aired by his close friend, Usec. Rio,” Mr. Lacson said. The DICT, meanwhile, said its use of the P300-million confidential fund was “legitimate.” In a statement on Wednesday, the department said, “The Confidential Expense allocated in the 2019 GAA was legitimately used for cybersecurity and the protection of our national security, with the safety of our government’s information facilities and institutions, and the welfare of our people, being the Department’s utmost priority. Rest assured that proper procedures were followed, and the disbursements were regular in accordance with applicable accounting and auditing laws, rules, and regulations.” — Charmaine A. Tadalan and Arjay L. Balinbin
SC allows online legal education
THE SUPREME Court is allowing the conduct of the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) online, it announced Wednesday. The court has also approved the rules and regulations for the online MCLE. “The onset of computer technology made it necessary to adopt current trends of learning and it is relevant with the changing times that an alternative mode of delivery of the MCLE be made available to members of the Bar through online and on demand MCLE,” the high court said. Under Rule 1, Section 1 of Bar Matter No. 850, all members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines are required to take continuing education to “keep abreast with the law and jurisprudence, maintain the ethics of the profession and enhance the standards of the practice of law.” The online MCLE, which has long been practiced in other jurisdictions, would particularly cater to the needs of those in the provinces and far-flung areas as well Filipino lawyers based abroad. The approved rules contain the requirements and responsibilities of accredited MCLE providers and those taking the program. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas
De Lima appeals case vs Duterte
DETAINED SENATOR Leila M. de Lima has asked the Supreme Court to reconsider the dismissal of her petition to stop President Rodrigo R. Duterte from violating her rights, saying it twisted the doctrine of “presidential immunity.” In a 20-page motion for reconsideration, Ms. De Lima noted that previous decisions of the court distinguished presidential acts “done in performance of official duties and those that did not” regarding the application of presidential immunity. The senator also said that the resolution gives Mr. Duterte “a blanket license to slut-shame, discriminate, insult, offend, and bad mouth petitioner’s womanhood” for as long as he sits as the chief executive. Her petition for writ of habeas corpus, asking to enjoin the President to stop collecting information on her private life and delete the information about her, among others, was dismissed on grounds of presidential immunity. Ms. De Lima has been detained since February 2017 over charges of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading in prison when she was the Justice secretary. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas
