Maniolas

Extrajudicial killings, accountability, and health care are key issues President Rodrigo R. Duterte holds a meeting with local officials at the 104th Brigade Camp in Isabela City, Basilan on July 21. (MNS photo) (New York ) – The Philippines’ new president, Rodrigo Duterte, should focus efforts on tackling the country’s persistent human rights problems, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to the president. Human Rights Watch makes specific recommendations concerning extrajudicial and summary killings, the lack of accountability for abuses by the security forces, the protection of indigenous peoples and ethnic and religious minorities, internal displacement, reproductive health, children’s rights, and the worsening HIV epidemic. “President Duterte has an opportunity to reverse the failings of previous administrations by giving priority to the human rights problems that have persisted in the country,” said Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Duterte needs to act decisively to signal that his government will protect the rights of all Filipinos and roll back the country’s culture of impunity.” During his presidential campaign and his first weeks in office, Duterte has encouraged the use of lethal force against drug dealers and users – and there has been an alarming increase in killings of suspected drug dealers and users by unidentified gunmen and police. Duterte should publicly disavow vigilante violence and excessive or unnecessary use of force by police, urge respect for human rights and due legal process, and launch an immediate and impartial investigation into the upsurge in killings since he took office. Widespread impunity for members of the Read More …

Photo courtesy of CalCPA Facebook page Many people are aware of the dangers of identity theft but may not realize how quickly it is growing or the numerous areas in which it can occur. Did you know, for example, that identity theft reports to the Federal Trade Commission jumped by nearly 50 percent in 2015, to almost half a million claims? Here’s another surprising statistic: Tax refund fraud is considered the biggest and fastest-growing kind of identity theft. If you’re not sure how to respond to or protect against tax identity theft, the California Society of CPAs (CalCPA.org) offers some timely answers. Be on Notice When You Get an IRS Notice One example of tax identity theft involves a scammer using your Social Security number to file a false return and collect a tax refund they don’t deserve. For that reason, you may find out that you’re a victim of tax identity theft when you receive a notice from the Internal Revenue Service stating that more than one tax return was filed with your information. Your best response is to respond immediately by following the instructions in the notice. If you believe you are at risk of identity theft due to lost or stolen personal information, you should contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490 immediately so the agency can take action to secure your tax account. Don’t Fall for Phishing Be wary if you get a call, email, text or other message from the IRS asking you to supply Read More …

Human rights advocates hold a protest rally commemorating the 43rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law at the Mendiola Peace Arch on Monday. The protesters urged the government to uphold human rights and immediately address extra-judicial killings in the country. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — “His bullheadedness is epic,” Senator Panfilo Lacson said of President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday. “By now, we should already be familiar with his antics especially when making spontaneous statements or announcements to media,” Lacson said in a text message. “Of course, we should know that the martial law threat is just that and nothing more,” he added. Asked if his statement meant that Duterte was not serious about his martial law threat, Lacson said: “Whether he’s serious or not in that regard, defying the SC is always an individual responsibility of any person who will ultimately accept the burden of a possible contempt citation.” The senator issued the statements when sought for comment on Duterte’s scathing remarks against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. Duterte raised the possibility of declaring martial law while rebuking Sereno for cautioning judges not to follow his order to report to authorities and explain their alleged involvement in illegal drugs. The President had named several judges in a long list of personalities allegedly involved in illegal drugs. “I’m giving you a warning. Don’t create a crisis because I will order everybody in the executive department not to honor you,” Duterte said. “Please do not, you say, create a constitutional issue. Read More …

The Senate, led by Senate President Koko Pimentel, welcomed Top Rank founder and CEO Bob Arum to the session today. Arum is the promoter of Senator Manny Pacquiao’s boxing fights. Also in the photos to welcome him are Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon, Majority Leader Tito Sotto, Senators Manny Pacquiao, Dick Gordon, Sonny Angara, Joel Villanueva, Loren Legarda and Migz Zubiri. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Sen. Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday said opening up private roads inside gated subdivisions would do little to ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila. Instead, he proposed for the Department of Transportation to go against illegally parked vehicles on city streets so traffic could be diverted there. “Remove illegally parked vehicles in the entire Metro Manila and you’ll practically solve 50 percent of the traffic problems,” he said, interpellating Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade during a Senate committee hearing on giving emergency powers to President Rodrigo Duterte to solve Metro Manila’s traffic woes. In his speech at the hearing, Tugade bared plans to convince homeowners associations to allow traffic to be diverted to their roads with assurance that their subdivisions’ security would not be compromised. Sotto, however, was apprehensive over the idea. “Siguro mas maigi pag-aralan niyo muna ang pagbukas ng city streets,” he told Tugade. Sotto mentioned community-based traffic and navigation mobile application Waze to demonstrate how viable city streets could be to help ease traffic congestion. “Waze will not tell you to pass by EDSA. He will give you city streets. It’s Read More …

By Jelly F. Musico Senator Leila de Lima (right) views replicas of Central Bank’s pre-Hispanic gold collection during the opening of exhibit: Ginto a Golden Heritage from Our Filipino Ancestor on Monday (Aug. 1, 2016) at the 2nd floor Senate Hallway in Pasay City. From left are Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa C. Guinigundo, National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Chairman Felipe De Leon, Jr., and Senator Loren Legarda. The exhibit features ancient ornaments crafted by our Filipino ancestors from 700 to 1,200 years ago. These form part of the BSP Pre-Hispanic Gold Collection. (MNS photo) MANILA, Aug. 3 (PNA) – The senators adopted Wednesday four Senate resolutions recognizing and commending the Filipino athletes, including 12 Olympians, who will compete in the 2016 Rio Olympics slated from Aug. 5 to 21 this year. Senator Juan Edgardo ‘Sonny’ Angara, former chairman of the Senate committee on youth and sports, introduced Senate Resolution (SR) No. 75 to extend well-wishes to the 12 Filipino athletes who will try to win the Philippines’ first ever Olympic gold medal in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. The 12 Filipino athletes include swimmers Jasmine Alkhaldi and Jessie Lacuna; table tennis paddler Ian Lariba; golfer Miguel Luis Tabuena; long jumper Maristella Torres-Sunan; hurdler Eric Cray; marathoner Mary Joy Tabal; weighlifters Hidilyn Diaz and Nestor Colonia; boxers Rogen Ladon and Charly Suarez, and taekwondo jin Kristie Alora. Angara encouraged the Filipinos to give the same supports they gave to Filipino boxing super star and now Senator Read More …