Maniolas

The 11 Chinese fishermen who were caught by Philippine authorities engaged in illegal fishing off Half Moon Shoal (Hasa-Hasa Shoal) near Palawan on Tuesday, are set to undergo inquest proceedings, a television report on Friday said. According to a report on GMA News TV’s “Balitanghali,” the Chinese fishermen face charges for violation of Philippine environmental laws. It added that authorities are waiting for the arrival of the fishermen’s vessel loaded with several hundred turtles, most of them dead, and believed to have been captured in Philippine territory. Several species of sea turtles are protected under Philippine laws. The 11 suspects are being detained at the Palawan Provincial Police compound, the report said, adding that the crew members are in good physical condition. Last Thursday evening, a Chinese consul visited the suspects to check their condition. Meanwhile, in a statement issued on Thursday, Chinese Embassy spokesman Zhang Hua protested the arrest of the fishermen, and called it a “provocative act” meant to raise tensions in the South China Sea, portions of which are being claimed by Manila  as part the West Philippine Sea. He insisted the fishermen were fishing in Chinese territory. “China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters, including the Banyue Reef,” he said, referring to China’s name for the Philippine-claimed Half Moon (Hasa-Hasa) Shoal. On the other hand, Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. stressed that the incident was not meant to provoke China. He said the seizure and arrest were “in accordance Read More …

Labor Day may have passed, but more job fairs are in store for jobseekers in May and June, the Department of Labor and Employment said this week. But DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz reminded jobseekers availing of the fairs to bring relevant documents and requirements, including: – resume or curriculum vitae– 2 x 2 ID pictures (bring extra copies for multiple job applications)– certificate of employment, for those formerly employed– diploma and/or transcript of records– authenticated birth certificate The job fair schedules and venues can also be accessed in the government’s job and skills matching portal,http://phil-jobnet.dole.gov.ph. The schedules are as follows: Cordillera Administrative Region:La Trinidad Jobs Fair, Benguet State University Gymnasium, 22 May; City Jobs Fair, Tabuk City, 19-20 June; Flora Jobs Fair, Poblacion, Flora, Apayao, 22 June; and, LGU-Conner, Caglayan, Conner, Apayao, 25 June. National Capital Region:Mega Job Fair, Ampitheater, Malabon City, 22 May; Philstar Daily, Inc., Trinoma Activity Center, Trinoma Mall, 27-28 May; Independence Day Job Fair, Luneta Park, Manila and SM Center Muntinlupa, 12 June; Mega Job Fair, Caloocan North City Hall, 13 June; Caloocan City South Job Fair, Maypajo Area, Caloocan City Hall South, 18 June; Mini Job Fair, Amphitheater, Malabon City Hall, 19 June; Mega Job Fair, Caloocan (Main) City Hall South, 19 June, and Caloocan City North Job Fair, Caloocan City Hall North, 26 June. Region 1:PESO Pangasinan Overseas Job Fair, Provincial Training Center, Lingayen, Pangasinan, 9 May; Anda Mini Job Fair, Municipal Gym, Anda, 16 May; Bayambang Job Fair, Bayambang, Pangasinan, 19 May, Mangaldan Read More …

Vhong Navarro mauling suspects Cedric Lee and Simeon “Zimmer” Raz avoided detention at the Taguig City Jail after posting bail Thursday of P120,000 each. The two will remain at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) detention facility for now. In an interview with GMA News’ “24 Oras” Thursday, Lee’s lawyer Connie Aquino clarified that the decision of Taguig City Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) Branch 74 junking Lee and Raz petition to extend their stay at the NBI only applies to the grave coercion case. The decision was issued on May 6. “The previous order of the judge is for the grave coercion case, but as we have already posted bail in that court, we’re no longer required to be transferred in the Taguig City Jail pending the decision of the judge in the serious illegal detention case,” Aquino said. Lee and Raz, who are also suspects in the serious illegal detention case filed by Navarro in connection with the January 22 mauling incident, also filed a petition to extend their stay at the NBI before the Taguig City Regional Trial Court Branch 271.  The court has yet to issue a ruling on the petition. Lee and Raz were supposed to be transferred on Thursday at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) detention facility in Taguig City had they not posted bail of P120, 000 each past 12 p.m.  Lee and Raz failed to attend the arraignment of the grave coercion case earlier in the day. Deniece Cornejo pleads Read More …

Even without the draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law to study, Congress will have its hands full fast-tracking the passage of 14 priority measures—including proposals to amend the Sandiganbayan Law and Omnibus Election Act—before it adjourns its first regular session on June 13. House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said in a statement Tuesday that the important bills that Congress leaders have agreed to expedite focus on the following areas: economic development and trade; national security, public order and safety; promotion of good governance; revitalizing education and human resource competitiveness; enhancing social protection; expanding access to health to achieve higher productivity; and climate change adaptation. “There are various legislative measures which really need to be given appropriate action, but we have to prioritize what could be listed as common concerns within a limited time frame,” the Speaker said. Belmonte and other House leaders met with their Senate counterparts Monday to identify vital pieces of legislation whose passage could possibly be rushed within the remaining session days of the first regular session. The 14 priority measures Congress plans to pass before June 13 are the following: Proposal to extend the corporate life of the Philippine National Railways (House Bill 4089) Mandating Telecommunications Service Providers to send free mobile alerts in the event of natural and man-made disasters and calamities (HB 353) Amendments to the Sandiganbayan Law Bill proposing reforms for the Sangguniang Kabataan Ladderized Education Program for post-secondary level (HB 3575) Act Providing for an Open High School System for out of Read More …

The proposed law against political dynasties has been tackled in the plenary for the first time Tuesday, after being stopped in its tracks at the committee level in previous Congresses. Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro, chair of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, commenced the delivery of a sponsorship speech on House Bill 3587, or “An Act Prohibiting the Establishment of Political Dynasties.” “[This measure] gives the best and brightest from disadvantaged families equal access to public services,” he said. The consolidated measure seeks to limit the political power exerted by political families by prohibiting relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity to hold or run for both national and local posts in successive, simultaneous, or overlapping terms. It was unanimously approved by the committee in November 2013. — Xianne Arcangel/BM, GMA News