Maniolas

The 20 convicts who were removed from the New Bilibid Prison after a raid by the Department of Justice will be detained in common holding areas together with other inmates upon their return to the national penitentiary, the new NBP superintendent said on Monday. In a report on GMA News’ “24 Oras,” NBP superintendent Richard Schwarzkopf Jr. said construction materials for wealthy inmates’ kubol or special holding areas would also no longer be allowed to enter the prison.  “Hindi muna natin pinapapasok ‘yung construction materials if it is intendend para doon sa ating personal inmates natin doon sa loob. May mga pinapasok tayo diyan, ito ‘yung mga project na ng Bureau of Corrections,” Schwarzkopf said.  He has also imposed stricter rules against cellphone and Internet use inside NBP.  The inmates were removed after the DOJ found out that they were staying in holding areas fitted with prohibited luxury amenities and that they were being accorded special privileges such as mobile phone and Internet services. Drug convicts were also found to be transacting drug deals from inside the penitentiary.   Schwarzkopf has already served as a NBP superintendent in 2012 before he was assigned as the chief of Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan.  Schwarzkopf said on Monday that he is going to reshuffle officials and jail guards at the penitentiary to avoid too much familiarity with the inmates.  “Magkakaroon tayo ng movement ng personnel sa rank and file to avoid familiarization of our personnel s ating mga inmates,” he explained Read More …

Pope Francis will be meeting ten leaders from other religions during his visit at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, officials said Monday. According to Rev. Fr. Carlos Reyes, executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission for Interreligious Dialogue of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines, the ten religious leaders will have an audience with the Pope that will last about 10 to 15 minutes. The encounter will be held at the sidelines of the Pope’s meeting with some 24,000 Filipino youth representatives. UST Public Affairs director Giovanna Fontanilla said it will happen “somewhere around” the Arch of the Centuries, the university’s ceremonial passage point. Reyes said there is “no program” for the interaction, and no details have been given as to what the Pope and other religious leaders will be talking about. He added, however, that “the Pope himself desired to meet with the religious leaders.” The religious leaders that the Pope will meet are: * His Eminence Nektarios Tsilis (Orthodox Church) * Venerable Master Hsing Yun (Buddhism) * Rabbi Eliyahu Azariah (Judaism) * His Eminence Ephraim S. Fajutagana (Christian) * Bishop Cesar Vicente Punzalan III (Evangelical Church) * Dean Julkipli M. Wadi (Islam), and  * Imam Ebra Moxsir (Islam). Also included are former UST Graduate School dean and interreligious dialogue advocate Lilian Sison (Catholic), as well as former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, who will represent the Philippine Bible Society. At an earlier press briefing,  Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle noted the Pope’s initiative to meet with Read More …

As the Christmas exodus continued to peak, the Land Transportation Office reminded bus operators against accommodating extra passengers who will be forced to stand during the long trip. In particular, the LTO warned against such a practice for long trips such as from Luzon to Visayas, radio dzBB’s James Agustin reported Monday afternoon. Filipinos are flocking to their home provinces to spend the Christmas and New Year holidays with their loved ones. In one instance, the LTO blocked a Leyte-bound bus from leaving after finding it was overloaded. While the bus was allowed to leave past 3 p.m., its license plates were removed. Meanwhile, security remained tight at the Araneta bus terminal in Quezon City as of Monday afternoon, with two K9 units patrolling to detect contraband. Some 300 to 350 buses from 33 bus firms are leaving the terminal daily. — Joel Locsin/RSJ, GMA News

A lawmaker has proposed granting additional allowances and financial incentives to barangay officials in recognition of their vital function in the enforcement of laws and implementation of government programs. House Bill 5245 filed by Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian seeks to provide barangay captains honoraria, allowances and such other emoluments not less than P5,000 monthly or as may be authorized by law or barangay, municipal or city ordinance in accordance with the provisions of the proposed legislation. The bill also provides that members of the sangguniang barangay, the Sangguniang Kabataan chairman, the barangay treasurer and the barangay secretary shall receive not less than P3,000 per month in honoraria and allowances, while the barangay tanod and the lupong tagapamayapa shall receive not less than P2,000 per month in benefits. The measure likewise entitles the members of the punong barangay, as well as the barangay treasurer, the barangay secretary, and the lupong tagapamayapa, to a Christmas bonus of at least P2,000 each, the funds for which shall be taken from the general fund of the barangays or from other such other funds appropriated by the national government for the purpose. The barangay officials shall also be entitled to hazard duty pay of P1,000 each during their incumbency; representation and transportation allowances of P1,000; productivity incentive bonus of P1,000 and clothing allowance of P1,000 once a year. Gatchalian said it is high time barangay officials receive additional perks since the benefits they have under the present law are not commensurate with their duties Read More …

Less than a month before Pope Francis is scheduled to visit the Philippines, Malacañang said preparations for the five-day papal visit in January next year are in full swing. “Lahat po ng nararapat ay ginagawa para maihanda ang mga pasilidad, kabilang na ang imprastruktura, para sa pagdating ng Kanyang Kabanalan, Santo Papa, Pope Francis,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said on Sunday in an interview aired at dzRB. Coloma said that infrastructure that will be used during Pope Francis’ visit in Tacloban City and Palo, Leyte are the “highest priority.” This includes the Tacloban airport, and the national highway from Tacloban to Palo.  Coloma assured that electricity during the Pope’s visit will be stable. The pope will be at 11 venues in Manila and Leyte during his visit to the Philippines from January 15 to January 19.  Click here for the details of the Pope’s itinerary  The Presidential Communications Operations Office chief reminded the public to be disciplined during the papal visit. In particular, Coloma called on motorists to help ease traffic in the metro while the pope is in Manila. “Hinggil diyan sa pagdalaw ng Santo Papa, ‘yon pong kanyang pananaw na kinakailangang magpakita po tayo ng disiplina sa pagsalubong sa mahal na Santo Papa. Ito ay maaari nating maipakita sa pamamagitan ng pagsunod sa ating mga road traffic enforcers na nagpapatupad ng mga patakaran para sa public safety and order,” he explained. Meanwhile, the Palace kept mum on the proposed five-day holiday during the papal visit. “Kinakailangan din kasi ‘yung Read More …