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Taiwan students, teachers to camp at Spratlys

News

Feb 042013

Taiwan students, teachers to camp at Spratlys

Some 40 students and teachers from Taiwan will go on a camping trip to the disputed Spratly Islands, Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported Monday night. The CNA report quoted the Ministry of National Defense as saying the 40 will include 10-member teams from four universities. It also said the students will send postcards upon arriving on the island to “assert Taiwan’s sovereignty over the Spratlys.” Each team will have one professor and nine graduate and doctoral students below 40 years old. However, the CNA report said the ministry declined to say when the camping will be held, due to “security concerns.” The CNA report said this will be the third year the defense ministry is organizing such a camp, with this year’s program focusing on the “history of the South China Sea, maritime law and marine ecology.” Taiwan is one of six claimants to the Spratlys, the others being the Philippines, Brunei, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam. —KG, GMA News

CBCP: Commemorative San Pedro Calungsod P50 bills, medals to be issued this year

News

Feb 042013

CBCP: Commemorative San Pedro Calungsod P50 bills, medals to be issued this year

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will issue later this year commemorative P50 bills featuring the image of San Pedro Calungsod, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said over the weekend. An article posted on the CBCP news site said the limited-edition bills will commemorate the canonization of the second Filipino saint last October. “Because of the many signatures needed, certainly I think these will be released not later than the feast day of Calungsod on April 2,” said former Ambassador to the Vatican Henrietta de Villa, secretary general of the National Commission on the Canonization of Calungsod. De Villa said the Monetary Board has also approved to issue commemorative medals to honor the sainthood of Calungsod. Calungsod was a teenage Catholic missionary who died a martyr in Guam on April 2, 1672. He was canonized at the Vatican on October 21 last year. – VVP, GMA News

Cops secure Supreme Court for anti-cybercrime law protests

News

Feb 042013

Cops secure Supreme Court for anti-cybercrime law protests

The police on Tuesday tightened security anew at the Supreme Court in Manila for the resumption of arguments on the Anti-Cybercrime Act of 2012. Radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo said some groups had scheduled a vigil and concert there from 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday up to 2:00 a.m. on Wednesday. Mateo said the police appealed to the organizers of the vigil and protest actions to keep their activities peaceful and orderly. Many of the protesters are marking not just the resumption of arguments but also the eve of Feb. 6, the day the high court’s temporary restraining order on the controversial law lapses. Among the activities lined up by various youth and blogger groups for the day are a concert and vigil protesting a supposed “electronic Martial Law.” Many groups had staged protests at the high court when arguments on the controversial law are held. They argued that the anti-cybercrime law may violate Filipinos’ constitutional right to freedom of expression. – VVP, GMA News

Belmonte gives up hope on FOI bill

News

Feb 042013

With only three session days left to pass the Freedom of Information (FOI), House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Monday said the proposed legislation is “technically” dead at the House of Representatives. When asked by reporters if there is no more hope for the House approval of the FOI bill within the week, Belmonte replied, “Yes. I think so.” He said three session days are not enough to debate on, amend and approve the measure, which seeks to promote transparency in government data and transactions. “We cannot just curtail interpellation. May mga gustong mag-interpellate,” Belmonte said. Belmonte, however, said there is still a “slim chance” to pass the FOI bill if President Benigno Aquino III will certify it as urgent. “If the President certifies it, we can meet beyond Wednesday and Thursday. In that sense, there’s still that slim chance. Hanggang alas-dose ng gabi, basta huwag lang mawala ang quorum,” he said. Malacañang, however, maintained that Aquino—who won the presidency on a platform of government transparency—is not keen on certifying the FOI bill as urgent without debates at the House. The Senate last December unanimously passed its version of the FOI. At the House, the measure has yet to end the period of sponsorship—the first step in the plenary discussions of a proposed legislation. Push for debates Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III, primary author of the FOI bill, admitted that while the FOI bill now needs a “miracle” to be passed, he Read More …

Pangilinan: House, Senate in deadlock over lowering age of criminal liability

News

Feb 042013

Pangilinan: House, Senate in deadlock over lowering age of criminal liability

The panels from the Senate and House of Representatives have yet to agree on what age should minors start having criminal liability. In a text message to GMA News Online on Monday, Senate social justice, welfare, and rural development committee chair Sen. Francis Pangilinan said the bicameral conference committee is in a “deadlock” regarding the issue. “Sa Senate kasi… 15 years old pa rin. We maintained 15 years old, although nilagyan natin ng mga mandatory involuntary confinement processes kapag serious ang offenses. Ang House gusto nila ibaba sa 12 at gusto nilang for all offenses. So ‘yun ang naging snag,” he said in an interview. Under Republic Act 9344 or Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, a child who is 15 years old or below at the time of the commission of the offense shall be exempted from criminal liability but will be subjected to an “intervention program.” With Senate Bill No. 3324, children 15 years old and below shall remain exempted from criminal liability but can face civil liabilities in accordance with existing laws. Pangilinan, who authored RA 9344, said this should be the case since less than 15 percent of offenses committed by minors are serious offenses based on data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). “Kung merong 15 percent na serious offenses, dapat hindi buong 100 ilalagay mo sa ganong klaseng katayuan. Dapat ihiwalay ‘yun,” he said. He also said that 90 percent of the offenders are first timers. “So dapat din siguro medyo Read More …

SC-PIO moves out of office, gives way to Justice Leonen

News

Feb 042013

SC-PIO moves out of office, gives way to Justice Leonen

The Supreme Court’s Public Information Office (SC-PIO) has been transferred to a new location to give space to Associate Justice Marvic Leonen’s new office. In a text message, the SC-PIO told GMA News Online that from the third floor of the Supreme Court Annex Building along Padre Faura in Manila, the SC-PIO has “temporarily relocated” to the building’s sixth floor. “We shall be holding office at the 6th floor Annex for about two weeks until renovation of our new office at SC-CA building is done,” the SC-PIO said. A highly placed SC source told GMA News Online that the transfer was meant to give way to Leonen and his staff. “Right after appointment, Leonen immediately inspected the SC-PIO as he was planning to transfer there,” the source said. This was confirmed in a letter by SC PIO chief and spokesperson Ma. Victoria Gleoresty Guerra to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. Sereno indicated that the relocation was a result of an “urgency for Justice Leonen’s chambers to have the privacy and space it requires.” The court source said Leonen ended up occupying the SC-PIO as a result of on-going building renovations at the SC. “Kapag may umaalis na justice, pasa-pasa lang iyang mga rooms ng justices. Eh kapag may inaayos pa na room, hindi kagad nakakalipat, kaya ang bagong pasok na justice will usually have to wait,” the source added. The most junior SC member, Leonen was appointed to the SC on November 21, shortly after the bilateral deal was signed, Read More …

Another US warship to visit PHL

News

Feb 042013

A United States Navy guided missile destroyer will arrive in Subic Bay in Zambales on Tuesday for a routine port visit, the American embassy said Monday. The USS Stockdale (DDG-106), the third US vessel to visit the Philippines since January, will replenish supplies as well as offer its crew an opportunity for rest and relaxation, the embassy said in a statement. The Stockdale’s routine port call and goodwill visit at Subic Bay — once one of the largest US military installations in the world outside of the American mainland — “is a great opportunity to continue the long-term relationship between the Philippines and the United States,” said ship commanding officer Cdr. Lex Walker. This will be the Stockdale’s first visit to the Philippines. The visit is part of the ship’s nine-month deployment to the Western Pacific that began in January 2013. During the visit, Stockdale sailors will also engage in a number of community relations projects including visits to local orphanages, the embassy said. The USS Stockdale was commissioned on April 18, 2009, and is homeported in San Diego, California. It is named for Vice Admiral James B. Stockdale, who was the highest ranking US naval officer to be held as a Prisoner of War in Vietnam. Walker also spoke about the diversity of his crew. “We have quite a few Filipino –American Sailors among our crew, and I hope that the citizens of the Philippines can look at our ship and see that their people and their culture are Read More …

Senate OKs bill declaring waling-waling a national flower

News

Feb 042013

Senate OKs bill declaring waling-waling a national flower

The Senate has approved on third and final reading a bill declaring the waling-waling a national flower of the Philippines. The Senate approved House Bill No. 5655, which declares the waling-waling a national flower, joining the sampaguita. The sampaguita was declared the national flower of the Philippines by Governor-General Frank Murphy through Proclamation No. 652 on February 1, 1934. “Orchid lovers all over the world consider the waling-waling as one of the most unique and beautiful native orchids in the world and that while some adore it, most Filipinos have forgotten its natural beauty,” said the measure’s sponsor Senator Edgardo Angara, chair of the Senate committee on education, arts, and culture. Senator Loren Legarda, who co-sponsored the measure, said the approval of the bill will mandate the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources to promulgate rules and regulations that will protect, conserve, and propagate the waling-waling orchid together with the sampaguita. Angara said the waling-waling is known as “the Queen of Philippine Orchids.” Unlike the sampaguita, he said, the waling-waling is native to the Philippines and endemic to Davao, Cotabato, and Zamboanga. — BM, GMA News

DOLE: Report employers who did not give 13th month pay

News

Feb 022013

DOLE: Report employers who did not give 13th month pay

If you did not get your 13th month pay from your employer last December, report it, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz issued this advice this week as she vowed her department will take action against employers who failed to give the one-month pay. “Although it is expected that every worker already received their 13th month pay for 2012, I strongly urge those workers who have not yet received theirs to report this violation at the nearest DOLE regional office in their areas. Rest assured that these erring employers shall be dealt with accordingly,” she said. Baldoz reminded employers as early as November last year that the 13th month pay is a statutory benefit and is expected as part of an employee’s yearend benefits. She added that the 13th month pay is a core labor standard and the department will see to it that this is strictly implemented. “Under Presidential Decree 851, all employers are required to pay all of their employees a 13th month pay not later than December 24 of every year,” the DOLE said. A 13th month pay is one-twelfth of the basic salary of an employee within a calendar year, though it does not include allowances and monetary benefits not considered as part of the basic salary. The DOLE noted employers are to make and submit a report of compliance to the nearest regional labor office not later than January 15. Meanwhile, Baldoz commended Internet service provider DOCOMO InterTouch and Read More …

PAGASA: PHL will have 'basically good weather' in next 24 hours

News

Feb 022013

PAGASA: PHL will have 'basically good weather' in next 24 hours

Except for isolated rain showers and thunderstorms, the whole country may expect “basically good weather” for the rest of this weekend, a state weather forecaster said Saturday afternoon. But PAGASA said rain may fall over parts of the country, including flood-affected areas in Mindanao such as Davao and Caraga. “Wala tayong inaasahang bagyo na aapekto sa ating bansa sa susunod na dalawa hanggang tatlong araw. Ang buong bansa [ay magkakaroon ng] basically good weather,” PAGASA forecaster Chris Perez said in an interview on dzBB radio. PAGASA’s 5 p.m. bulletin said the easterlies, or warm winds from the east, are affecting the eastern section of the country. It said the whole country will be partly cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, particularly over: – Cagayan Valley– Aurora and Quezon provinces– Bicol region– Eastern Visayas– Caraga and Davao regions. PAGASA also said moderate to strong winds blowing from the east to northeast will prevail over the country and the coastal waters will be moderate to rough. — LBG, GMA News

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