Malacañang on Saturday said there is no definite date yet for the signing of the newly ratified bill that will provide compensation to human rights violations victims during Martial Law. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that as of Saturday morning, the Palace has yet to receive the transmittal of the bill from Congress. “Wala pa… [itse-]check namin, hindi pa namin na-receive ang transmittal,” she said on government-run dzRB radio, when asked if the bill would be signed into law on Feb. 25. Feb. 25, 2013 is the 27th anniversary of the EDSA-1 People Power revolution, which ousted Marcos and installed President Benigno Aquino III’s late mother Corazon to the presidency in 1986. Some reports had said President Aquino might sign the bill into law on that date. Valte also said the Palace is still waiting for another measure, the bill for the K-to-12 basic education program, to be transmitted after its ratification. Earlier this week, both houses of Congress ratified the human rights violation victims’ compensation bill, a landmark measure that will finance claims by victims of Martial Law. Under the measure, a P10-billion fund plus interest is to be appropriated to the claimants. The fund will be sourced mainly from funds transferred to the government by the Swiss Federal Supreme Court and held in escrow. On the other hand, both houses of Congress also ratified the K-to-12 Basic Education Reform program. — LBG, GMA News
Barring a last-minute change in plans, President Benigno Aquino III is to attend the proclamation rally of the administration coalition’s senatorial bets in Manila on Feb. 12, a member of the ruling Liberal Party said Saturday. Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone on Saturday said Aquino will participate in the event, which he said is “historic” for the LP as it will be held at Plaza Miranda. “’Yan ang pagkakaalam ko, dadalo siya … Base sa ating discussion sa leaders ng LP, siya ay sasama at makikiisa sa proclamation rally,” Evardone said on government-run dzRB radio. Also, he said the Plaza Miranda venue is significant for the LP as it was where a deadly bombing occurred in 1971 – during a political campaign rally of the LP. Aquino has been taking part in the early campaign of the administration coalition’s senatorial bets – in the coalition’s television ads, he hinted some candidates claim to be supporting him but are merely posing. He then named the coalition’s senatorial bets – some of them from the Nacionalista Party and Nationalist People’s Coalition. — LBG, GMA News
Malacañang on Saturday said efforts are still being undertaken to bring home Manuel Amalilio, the suspected brains behind a P12-billion investment pyramiding scam, amid rumors that he was a nephew of a top official of Sabah. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Palace has yet to verify the supposed ties between Amalilio and the chief minister of Sabah’s Chief Minister Musa Aman. “We don’t have any verification to that effect, but only the assurance the Philippine side will continue to work with local police authorities for his deportation to the country,” she said on government-run dzRB radio. When asked what the government will do if Amalilio is indeed related to Aman, Valte said, “we don’t at this point want to speculate on that particular allegation.” She declined to comment further on the supposed ties of Amalilio to Aman, saying she would defer to the Justice, Foreign Affairs and Interior departments. The Philippines will continue working with local authorities “to do whatever we can to ensure his return,” she added. “As far as we are concerned, we submitted all the documentation required primarily to prove Amalilio is a Filipino citizen,” she added. On Saturday, a report on The Philippine Star had quoted Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim as saying Amalilio is a nephew of Aman. Anwar alleged that Amalilio’s mother is Musa’s first cousin, and that Amalilio’s real name is Kamal bin Said, born in Beaufort, Sabah. However, Anwar was also quoted as saying Amalilio is married to a Filipina, Read More …
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Friday told leaders of foreign parliaments that the Philippines is getting closer to enacting a law on better access to government records. De Lima made the pronouncement despite President Benigno Aquino III being lukewarm to the idea of certifying as urgent the current Freedom of Information (FOI) measure pending in Congress. Speaking at the 5th Global Organization of Parliaments Against Corruption (GOPAC) in Pasay City, De Lima emphasized the importance of having a law that guarantees the public of free access to government records. “Freedom of information is the most effective modality to prevent corruption… [and can] make government officials accountable to any wrongdoing,” De Lima said during the event held at the Philippine International Convention Center. “A freedom of information act is very much within our reach,” she added. This was in stark contrast to a pronouncement made by presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda on Thursday that Aquino has no plans on certifying as urgent the current FOI bill, a version of which has been passed in the Senate but remains on second reading at the House of Representatives. “We want a healthy debate [first]. Whether [it’s] this Congress, or the next Congress, we want a healthy debate to take place. That’s what we want and in fairness to all constituents, let’s have a healthy debate… and let’s take it from there,” Lacierda said. He also said that the public can be assured of government transparency even with the absence of a freedom of Read More …
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has decided to keep the shorter or aggregate time limit on the advertisement of candidates for the May elections, poll chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said Friday. “Pina-finalize na namin,” he said, referring to Resolution 9615. “We will retain the aggregate [time limit with some changes in right of reply,” Brillantes told reporters. Interviewed at the sideline of the retirement ceremony for Commissioners Rene Sarmiento and Armand Velasco, Brillantes said he expects to see the final copy of the resolution within the day so Sarmiento and Velasco, who will retire on February 2, will be able to sign it. He said the amended resolution may be released on Monday. GMA Network Inc. and Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas have earlier asked the Comelec to reconsider its resolution. — Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News
The diffused tail-end of a cold front may bring rain to parts of Northern and Central Luzon on Friday, state weather forecasters said. In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the diffused tail-end of a cold front is particularly affecting the Northern Luzon area. “Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and the regions of Ilocos and Cordillera will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms,” it said. Also, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms. Meanwhile, strong to gale force winds associated with easterly and northeasterly winds may affect the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Visayas. “Fishing boats and other small sea crafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” it said. — LBG, GMA News
Philippine-based hacktivists on Thursday hinted at a protest action against the Anti-Cybercrime Law on Feb. 6, the day the Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order on the measure lapses. In a post on its social networking accounts, Anonymous-affiliated Private X issued guidelines to participants but did not post details of where the protest will be held. “Asahan nyo kami sa mga darating na araw sa cyberspace, sana maasahan din namin kayo sa February 6, 2013 (Expect us in the coming days in cyberspace, but we also expect you to join us on Feb. 6, 2013),” it said. The group also said it does not need a permit for its physical protest. “Hindi natin kailangan ng permit dahil ang ANONYMOUS ay Free at di Grupo (We do not need a permit. Anonymous is free and is not a group),” it said. Feb. 6 is the day the high court’s TRO against the Anti-Cybercrime Law of 2012 lapses. Hacktivists had joined protests against the law for its provisions regarding e-libel, which they said violates the Constitution’s guarantee of freedom of expression. Last year, some hacktivists attacked government websites to protest the law but stopped when some of the sites attacked turned out to be providing critical weather data. The Private X post also gave guidelines to its participants: – No violence, No weapons, No graffiti, destruction, or vandalism, Anonymous is legion. – Never be alone. Know the dress code. – Cover your face (Use scarves, hats and sunglasses. Masks are not necessary). – Read More …
A lotto bettor ended January on a winning note by getting the exact combination of numbers to bag the P69.1 million Superlotto 6/49 jackpot, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office said Thursday night. The jackpot mix of numbers is 47-45-39-11-14-23 to win the Superlotto main prize of P69,103,170. As in the past, the PCSO is not likely to make public the winner’s identity for security reasons. Last Jan. 25, a lone winner bagged the P55,536,805.80 Megalotto 6/45 jackpot for the winning combination of 45-19-27-29-06-34. On Jan. 23, a lone winner bagged the Grand Lotto jackpot worth P40,940,528.40 after getting the winning combination of 23-16-24-54-21-08. On Jan. 5, a lone winner became P94.226 million richer through the Grand Lotto combination of 55-38-13-28-41-39. The biggest lotto prize in recent history was still in November 2010, when a lone bettor won some P741.176 million for getting the winning combination 11-16-42-47-31-37. — ELR, GMA News
An image of the Santo Niño (Christ Child) stolen from a church in Romblon 22 years ago was finally found—in Aklan province in the Visayas. According to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), the image of the Nuestra Señor Sto. Niño de Romblon, placed at the altar of the Saint Joseph Cathedral, went missing in 1991 but was found when an Aklan devotee happened to buy it from a local antique dealer. “I have a good friend who collects antique and one of his collections is the image of Sto. Niño. Every time he has a new image, he always asked me about it,” Fr. Joebert Villasis of Aklan Catholic College said in an interview on Church-run Radio Veritas. Excerpts of the interview were posted on the CBCP news site. Villasis said his friend was told by the dealer that it was the Sto. Niño De Romblon, prompting the would-be buyer to seek help from Aklan Catholic College Professor Jun Mijare to identify the image. It was only on Jan. 30 that they confirmed the image was indeed the one stolen 22 years ago. The owner immediately turned over the image to the church, the CBCP quoted Villasis as saying. With the development, the Romblon church will re-enthrone the image of Sto. Niño de Romblon at the St. Joseph Cathedral on Feb. 9. — KBK, GMA News
With the campaign period about to start and with the spate of gun-related crimes, Elections chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. wants to know if the implementation of the election gun ban has been effective. On Thursday, Brillantes said he plans to meet with National Police chief Alan Purisima to “get statistics before the start of the campaign period.” “Yun ang concern namin, kung nagkaroon ba ng effect yung checkpoints at gun ban. So before January 13 (when the gun ban was implemented), ano ba statistics dyan compared to now?” Brillantes told reporters. The poll chief said the meeting would most likely be this Saturday when Comelec holds a mock elections at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame in Quezon City. The campaign period for national candidates starts February 12. On the other hand, the campaign period for local candidates starts March 30. Growing crime rate During the same interview, Brillantes said a growing crime rate is everybody’s concern whether it is election period or not. “Kasi may nagsasabi na naha-highlight ito dahil may gun ban at may checkpoints. Pero sa akin, it does not matter what is highlighted or not,” he said. Asked if the poll body is planning to amend its gun ban resolution because of the recent incidents, Brillantes said there is no plan yet but they will definitely look into the statistics. “We will have to wait for actual statistics. Wala naman kaming empirical record dito to determine kung ano ang tama kaya lang naha-highlight dahil may gun ban Read More …