DPWH BICOL CHIEF HOLDS DIALOGUE WITH BICOL MEDIA

LEGAZPI CITY — Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bicol Regional Director Danilo Dequito’s dialogue with the media at the Kapihan sa Embarcadero here Tuesday (December 7) has proved very fruitful as he welcome the interfacing further laying down future projects of the agency in the region.

Dequito, in the same conference, said that P3.9 billion is budgeted for infrastructures for 2011, further assuring Bicolanos that all programs and projects would spur the progress and development of the region.

Meanwhile, Joshua Martinez, station manager of Magik FM has commented, “News can really be misleading, as I was made to believe that the present regional director of DPWH Bicol is rude to media people.

“It’s the exact opposite, RD Dequito welcomes all avenues to promote their agency’s plans, programs and projects,” Martinez added.

The ‘Kapihan’ was initiated by Martinez some five months ago to encourage media, government agencies both local and national as well as private enterprises to have a venue for information dissemination, for free.

More than 30 media practitioners were able to interact with RDC Dequito.
“As I told my staff and personnel, I am here to serve not to be served,” he explained.

“Yes, I devoted the first few days of my assignment here in Bicol doing rounds of field inspections and meetings with the district engineers and key officials of the regional office so that I will have ready answers to questions that would likely be asked during interviews,” the director said. (LVCastañeda, DPWH/PIA/mal)

OWWA BICOL HOSTS THE 2010 OFW FAMILY DAY CELEBRATION

LEGAZPI CITY — The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Bicol will host the 2010 OFW Family Day celebration at SM City Naga, Camarines Sur on Sunday (December 12).

OWWA Bicol Regional Director Jocelyn Hapal said that this year’s Family Day celebration will feature “The Amazing OFW Family Race”.

Patterned after the famous TV reality show, teams of OFW families will race around SM Naga to compete with other teams in a trail of “fun pitstops” to win exciting prizes.

Aside from the family race, the event will also include the traditional Christmas lantern contest, kids’ art workshop, poster making contest, games and raffles. Accordingly, December 12 would be a day of fun and entertainment.

OWWA Bicol will expect about a thousand of participants coming from Region-wide OFW Family Circles (OFCs) composed of active OFWs, families and even former OFWs. This year’s event is in partnership with major sponsors SM City and Camalig Bank.

OFW Family Day is an annual celebration sponsored by OWWA aimed at providing avenue for OFWs and their families to get together and spend quality time, strengthen family ties and values, and develop camaraderie among OFW communities. (KTRamirez-Villamor, OWWA Bicol/PIA/mal)

WOUNDED RED REBELS TREATED BY ARMY SOLDIERS IN SORSOGON

BARCELONA, Sorsogon — Two wounded NPA rebels were rushed to a local hospital by government troops following a clash in a hinterland village in Sorsogon, a military official said Tuesday, December 7, 2010.

LtCol Santiago Enginco, commanding ffficer of the 49th Infantry Battalion based in Sorsogon, said that the two rebels were injured in an encounter with more or less 10 rebels in San Isidro village in Barcelona town at around 5:30am on the same dated. He said that one of the wounded rebels is a ranking NPA leader.

1st Lieutenant Sandy Sereno, commanding officer of the Bravo Company of the said battalion who led the operating troops, said that the encounter was a result of a tip-off from a resident in the village.

“I received a text message from a concerned resident of San Isidro village that they were forced out of their homes by heavily armed rebels at around 7:00pm last night. This prompted me to meet him to pinpoint the location of the house where the rebels have encamped for the night,” said Sereno.

Sereno and fourteen of his men, guided by the civilian tipster, proceeded to the area to arrest the rebels. They arrived in the vicinity of the house at around 5:00 am.

“I awakened the rebels and persuaded them to surrender because we had practically surrounded them. We received no reply but gunfires from inside the house, prompting us to return fire,” said Sereno in a phone call to Major Harold Cabunoc.

Two rebels lay dead while two others were wounded after the 10-minute clash. The two dead rebels were identified as a certain Ka Roma and Ka Joshua. They were brought to a local police station in Barcelon town for autopsy.

The two wounded rebels include Jason Brual a.k.a. Ka Butch, the new Commander of the Front Committee 79, and a certain Ka Alvin. Brual is in critical condition and was brought to a hospital in Sorsogon City.

Nelson Punilas aka Ka Juvy was not hurt in the said encounter. He is now detained in the police station in Barcelona town as a criminal case is filed against him.

Enginco said that his troops are now pursuing the fleeing bandits following the trail of blood along their escape route. The soldiers recovered a Norinco Cal .45 pistol, a Dan Wesson Cal .38 Revolver, 3 MK2 Hand Grenades, a laptop computer and subversive documents from the rebels.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division has directed the 49th Infantry Battalion to ensure the proper treatment of the captured rebels in line with the Army’s advocacy of human rights protection.

“Once again, we are showing that our soldiers are not after for more body counts. We believe that we can give peace a chance by allowing the rebels to peacefully surrender; however, they have initiated the exchange of gunfire resulting to the death of some of their comrades,” said Pabustan. (HMCabunoc, DPAO 9ID/PIA/mal)

CHIZ CAUTIONS PALACE LEGAL TEAM AGAINST
SWEEPING STATEMENTS ON SC VOTE AGAINST E.O. NO. 1

MANILA — Senator Chiz Escudero today cautioned President Noynoy Aquino’s legal team to refrain from issuing sweeping statements against the Supreme Court for striking down the creation of the Truth Commission.

Escudero reacted following the statements separately issued by Solicitor General Jose Anselmo Cadiz and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima after the High Tribunal ruled unconstitutional the creation of the Truth Commission.

Cadiz had told a press conference that the High Court’s decision was a payment of gratitude to former President and now Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who appointed 14 of 15 sitting justices.

De Lima, on the other hand, said the High Tribunal’s ruling on Executive Order No. 1 creating the Truth Commission showed characteristics of a political decision.

“While I also personally disagree with the decision of the court in striking down the creation of the Truth Commission, I don’t think it is right to brand the decision as political in a sweeping manner because statements such as these affect the vote of each justice, disregarding their individual opinion,” Escudero said.

Escudero, the Senate representative to the Judicial and Bar Council, said statement branding the Supreme Court’s ruling as politically-motivated was uncalled for especially coming from the highest legal officials of the Palace.

“As officers of the court and members of the official legal team, more respect should be accorded to the High Tribunal whether the decision penned is favorable or not to any party. I hope the President’s legal team will be more circumspect when issuing statements or personal opinions that may undermine some entities who actually did their job right, like in the case of this EO No. 1 decision,” he added.

The senator said the decision to declare the Truth Commission as unconstitutional may be a political function for some, but to say that the entire deliberation was political may not be semantically accurate.

“When said in that context, it unfairly reflects the votes of those who dissented against the decision. Our legal officials should conduct themselves in a more diplomatic way when faced with odds in the exercise of their duties,” Escudero said.

Escudero also said that should Malacanang decide to amend the executive order based on the opinion of the Supreme Court, the legal team could just add the letter “s” to the phrase “past administration” in order to widen the scope of the investigation by the Truth Commission and not be misconstrued as a class legislation.

“Since the SC majority upheld the power of the President to create such commission, the legal team can even explain in their motion for reconsideration that the intent of the commission is indeed not only focused on the Arroyo administration but it includes other past administrations before it as well,” he said. (Office of Sen. Francis Escudero/PIA/mal)

CHIZ WANTS TO PUT CAP ON OFW PLACEMENT FEE

MANILA — Senator Chiz Escudero wants a jail term and a fine of up to P500,000 against recruitment agencies that will collect excessive placement fees from prospective overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as a way of protecting applicants seeking jobs abroad.

In Senate Bill No. 2601, Escudero said recruiters continue to bleed job seekers by asking fees way above the ceiling set by the government, as determined by the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA).

To cover the cost of processing the application, placement agencies are only allowed to collect fees equivalent to one-month salary of the applicant.

Very few agencies, however, comply with the prescribed standard for placement fees, and Escudero wanted to cap the fees collected from applicants.

“Some collect as much as four times the monthly salary of an applicant which could go as high as P100,000 or even more. Most get mired in debts even before getting hired. Sometimes, applicants back out from the recruitment process altogether because they cannot produce the steep fee,” Escudero said.

He said that since the country is heavily dependent on OFW remittances to keep the economy afloat, a pro-active policy should be in place to protect the labor export.

In 2009 alone, an estimated 1.5 million OFWs were deployed for jobs abroad, or about 4,000 Filipinos per day.

“Our OFWs keep our economy stable, and there is no bilateral agreement whatsoever between us and the receiving countries to protect them in those foreign lands. If we can’t give them some kind of protection outside the country, we must accord them the service and benefit due them in their own land,” Escudero said.

Aside from disallowing collection of excessive fees, the bill also bars advance collection of placement fee before job availability, non-issuance of receipts for any fees collected from the worker, non-return of placement fee collected when deployment does not materialize, forced issuance of post-dated checks to guarantee payment of placement fee and forcing an applicant to borrow money only from designated lending institutions to cover placement fee.

Under Escudero’s bill, recruiters who commit these acts will face a prison term of six years or a fine of P100,000 to P500,000, or both, depending the court decision.

The senator said passage of the bill is important to prove that the government is the driving force in promoting migrant workers’ rights. (Office of Sen. Francis Escudero/PIA/mal)

PRESIDENT CLEARS WAY FOR RELEASE OF 'MORONG 43';
ORDERS WITHDRAWAL OF CHARGES

MANILA — Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said on Friday (December 10) that the Department of Justice had been ordered to immediately withdraw all the charges filed against 43 health workers who were arrested in Morong, Rizal early this year, for humanitarian reasons.

The health workers, collectively called the “Morong 43,” have been under military detention since their arrest on February 6 on suspicion that they were members of the New People’s Army. Charges of illegal possession of explosives and firearms and ammunition were later filed against them with the Regional Trial Court and the Metropolitan Trial Court of Rizal.

Ochoa said a memorandum had been issued to the Department of Justice to carry out the order of President Benigno Aquino III for the “immediate withdrawal of informations against the Morong 43.”

The President’s instruction paves the way for the release of the health workers from the 10-month detention in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. The dismissal of the cases against the Morong 43 is expected with the prosecution withdrawing the informations.

“This represents the President’s commitment to respect human rights and to uphold the rule of law, a commitment that will be consistent regardless of the parties’ political affiliations,” Ochoa said.

“The quick resolution of this case is a priority of this Administration, as no one should be deprived of their liberty without sufficient basis.”

According to the Executive Secretary, Malacañang is optimistic that detainees could rejoin their loved ones in time for Christmas. (PIA V)

PCOO SPEARHEADS FORUM ON MEDIA'S ROLE
ON CASES INVOLVING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

MANILA — In commemoration of the annual 18-day Campaign to End Violence Against Women, which runs from November 25 to December 12, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), in cooperation with the Movie and Television Ratings and Classification Board (MTRCB), Gender Equality Committee and Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), held a forum on the role of media in promoting non-discriminatory and non-derogatory portrayal of women in media, film and advertisement on Wednesday, December 8, at the Mabini Hall of Malacanang.

Following the theme Magna Carta ni PiNay Gawing Tunay: Karahasan sa Kababaihan, Wakasan! the goal of the forum is “to raise the awareness of media practitioners on how to tackle gender issues and violence against women cases in media,” Secretary Herminio B. Coloma of PCOO said.

Coloma added that “media influence has grown exponentially with the advancement of technology. It is alarming to note that negative portrayal of women and other gender issues have abounded the local media for a long time.”

PCW Executive Director Emmeline Versoza noted that “of all the media distribution channels, broadcast is the most powerful in shaping the country’s cultural, social and economic growth and development. We are saddened that reports of sexist and violence provoking remarks are aplenty.”

MTRCB Chairman Mary Grace Llamanzares vows to be one with the efforts of government, media and the women and gender advocates in ending violence against women. “Though we might not even see the full impact or effect of our projects today, but I am certain that all of us are doing our own share in this advocacy knowing and hoping that ten to twenty years from now, our children will no longer have to worry about being discriminated and portrayed negatively by media nor deal with violence against women and gender-related issues on TV, radio, film and advertisement,” Llamanzares said.

With a target end result of providing a healthy forum where media practitioners and the public can align on how media should tackle gender and violence on women issues, the panel of resource speakers included reputable personalities like TV and Radio Broadcaster Karen Davila, Directors Laurice Guillen & Joyce Bernal, Film Distributor Selina Gecolea and TV host and Artist Manager Boy Abunda.

RA 9710 or the Magna Carta of women is a comprehensive women’s human rights law that seeks to eliminate discrimination against women by recognizing, protecting, fulfilling and promoting the rights of Filipino women, especially those in the marginalized sectors.

With the passage of RA 9710 – the Magna Carta of Women, the government agencies and local government units are considered as the primary implementing sectors of the law, thus faced with the greater challenge of ensuring that the rights and opportunities of Filipino women are carried out.

Under the law, the PCOO is mandated to be the lead agency in the implementation of gender and development programs in government with respect to media. It is also required to convene the gender equality committee of all the agencies under PCOO for the implementation of gender and development programs and projects. (PIA V)

AQUINO ORDERS WITHDRAWAL OF RAPS VS MORONG 43

MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III directed today (December 10) the Department of Justice (DOJ) to withdraw the charges filed against the 43 medical personnel who were arrested on suspicion of aiding the Communist rebels in Morong, Rizal last February.

The President issued his directive to DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima during the celebration of the International Human Rights Day in Malacañang on Friday morning.

Called the “Morong 43,” the medical workers have been under military detention since their arrest last Feb. 6. Charges of illegal possession of explosives and firearms and violation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban were filed against them with the Regional Trial Court of Rizal.

“These are valid concerns. Nevertheless, we recognize that their right to due process was denied them. As a government that is committed to the rule of law and the rights of man, this cannot stand. Therefore, I have ordered the DOJ to withdraw the informations filed before the courts,” the President said.

He pointed out however that his directive is subject to court approval and if there are no other standing warrants against the accused.

“This will in effect be subject to court approval. Free those among them who have no other standing warrants in other courts,” the President declared.

De Lima said she already received a memorandum from Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. for the implementation of the President’s directive.

She said the motions to withdraw the informations are now being prepared and the DOJ is just awaiting the results of the verification and validation by government prosecutors on the six individuals who are part of the Morong 43 allegedly with outstanding warrants of arrest.

“Based on the information supplied to us by the AFP, there are six members with warrants of arrest in other cases,” she said.

De Lima said they will file the motion to withdraw information likely on Monday and comply with the three-day notice rule in the hope that the medical workers will be freed in time to spend Christmas with their respective families.

“So hopefully on the end of next week there will be a hearing to be set by the court,” De Lima said.

During his speech, the President said the DOJ will also create a task force which will review and recommend measures for the effective and expeditious investigation and prosecution of cases of human rights violation.

“Today Justice Secretary Leila de Lima will sign a Department Order, creating the DOJ Task Force which will review all reported and unresolved cases of extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances,” he said.

The President stressed that his administration is serious in its commitment to protect the rights of all Filipino citizens.

To further protect human rights, the President said the Philippine National Police (PNP) has crafted a Human Rights Desk operations manual, while the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) established a Human Rights Office under General Domingo Tutaan which is set to publish a handbook. (PIA V)

AQUINO WITNESSES SIGNING OF IRR FOR ANTI-TORTURE LAW

MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III witnessed today (December 10) the signing of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 9745 otherwise known as the Anti-Torture Law in manifestation of his administration's resolve to uphold human rights.

The President witnessed the signing of the IRR by (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales during the celebration of the International Human Rights Day and the 62nd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Malacanang on Friday.

Among those present were Cabinet officials and members of Congress and the diplomatic corps.

The IRR signing provided for the effective implementation of the Anti-torture Law which criminalizes "torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment."

The Philippines is a signatory to the UN Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, an international human rights instrument that aims to prevent torture around the world.

In his speech, the President said human rights protection has become universal since the signing of the UDHR in Paris in 1948.

“The Philippines as a signatory to most of the major international human rights treaties and instruments must live up to its commitment in contrast to the dark era that once engulfed us. We are now making certain that our commitments to those treaties do not remain paper promises because for the first time in nearly a decade we a have a government that is indeed serious about human rights,” he said.

The President stressed that his administration is serious in its commitment to protect the rights of Filipino citizens and violators held accountable for their actions.

To further protect human rights, the President said the Philippine National Police (PNP) has crafted a Human Rights Desk operations manual, while the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) established a Human Rights Office under General Domingo Tutaan and is set to publish a handbook.

The President said the PNP manual and the AFP handbook will both provide information and operational procedures to orient troops and policemen on human rights and international humanitarian law.

Dr. Jacqueline Badcock, Resident Coordinator of the UN in the Philippines who read the UN message for the 62nd anniversary of the UDHR, commended the human rights initiatives of the Philippines in partnership with the community, civil society and other human rights defenders in the country.

“I wish to congratulate the Philippine government for being the first and perhaps the only country in the world, to disembark on the pioneering endeavor to mainstream human rights in development planning,” Badcock said.

In partnership with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the CHR, Badcock said the UN system in the Philippines has been assisting in the capacity development of NEDA in the national and regional levels and government line agencies on how to mainstream human rights in the planning processes.

Badcock said this was recently concluded in time for the formulation of the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP).

“This is very relevant given the value and need for reintegration of the human rights perspective in the MTPDP if the country is to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015. MDG is our basic human rights entitlements to preserve and protect human dignity,” Badcock said.

Badcock cited the National Human Rights Action Plan recently drafted out of a series of consultations participated by various sectors in the country.

If adopted by the government, Badcock said this action plan will be a very good problem solving mechanism to successfully overcome human rights issues and challenges through the joint efforts of the government agencies, human rights defenders and the people as the human rights claim holders.

“I am very encouraged to see that today the IRR for the Anti-Torture Law will be signed which is a very great significance,” Badcock said.

Badcock acknowledged the efforts of the Office of the President, CHR, DOJ, civil society, and the national and local government agencies which continue to work hard to make human rights protection a reality here in the Philippines. (PIA V)

AQUINO EXHORTS YOUTHS TO PURSUE PRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENTAL PROJECT

MANILA — President Benigno Simeon Aquino III called on the Filipino youth from various organizations to continuously pursue productive and developmental projects that will not only benefit themselves but the whole country as well.

In addressing the winners of the 8th Search for the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) at the Heroes’ Hall in Malacañan Palace, the chief Executive exhorted the younger generation to maximize their potentials and bright ideas to help the government in pursuing total change and development.

The President assured the youth of his continuous support by pushing various initiatives that will benefit their sector.

One of these programs include the creation of a Local Youth Development Council that will guide and hone them to pursue their dreams become productive citizens of the country.

Also, Social Welfare and Development’s umbrella project dubbed as ‘Unlad Kabataan Program,’ for the underprivileged children, which seeks to assist and equip the Out of School Youth (OSY) to help their families and the community.

The President noted that he will coordinate with various agencies such as the United Nations Children’s Fund and United Nations Population Fund to generate programs that will actively involve the youth in every community.

“The future of the country depends on our unified moves,” said the President, adding that we need to help each other, particularly the youth who eventually will inherit and continue the pursuit for a brighter tomorrow.

During the event, the President recognized the ten winners of the TAYO Awards who have come up with innovative approaches to projects that promote education for all, solving gang wars, widespread computer literacy, food security and self sufficiency, poverty alleviation and community empowerment.

Each of the winning groups received fifty thousand pesos cash grants from Coca Cola Foundation Philippines and custom-made trophies specially crafted by artist Toym de Leon Imao.

Assisting the President during the awarding ceremonies were Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, TAYO Awards Foundation president Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, National Youth Commission Chairman Christopher Arnuco and Guillermo Aponte, president and general manager of the Coca Cola Export Corporation.

This years TAYO Awardees are Pro Drop-out Reduction Program (Pro-Dorp Team) of Surigao del Sur; Mandaya Tribal Youth Organization from Mabetas, Upper Ulip, Monkayo, Compostela Valley; Pag-Asa Youth Organization Talisay City Chapter from Cebu; Pagaypay 4-H Club of Barangay Pagaypay, Passi City, Iloilo; Link.Exe-West Visayas State University of Iloilo City; Brotherhood for Peace, Baguio City; Education Revolution Movement (EdRev), Sta. Maria, Bulacan; Pochon Maanichar Centennial Batch Association, Inc., Ifugao Province; Alay ni Ignacio (ANI)-Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City and the Philippine Stagers Foundation from Balic-Balic in Manila. (PIA V)