Maniolas

The House Committee on National Defense and Security has approved a measure prohibiting the appointment of a commissioned officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as Secretary of the Department of National Defense within three years after he has been separated from active duty. House Bill No. 2, authored by committee chair Muntinlupa City Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, amends Section 45 of Chapter 10 Book IV of Executive Order 292, otherwise known as the Administrative Code of 1987. The Administrative Code lists the general qualifications and limitations required of all Cabinet members, in addition to those prescribed in their respective charters. Biazon, a former AFP Chief of Staff, said the Administrative Code’s provision on the requirements for the appointment of the DND Secretary should be amended to “emphasize further the supremacy of civilian authority over the military. “By prohibiting a former military officer from being appointed within three years after relief from active duty, the position will be shielded from controversies arising from appointments, assignments, and other activities within the AFP,” he said in the bill’s explanatory note. The three-year ban on appointing  former military officers as DND Secretary will not only give them sufficient time to adapt to civilian life, but will also allow them to be “more objective and impartial in policy formulation and determination” as a result of not having prior personal and professional relationships with the [active] officers, Biazon added. Former AFP chiefs Last week, former AFP chief and retired Gen. Emmanuel Bautista was appointed as Read More …

Religious groups and Catholic school students may be among those taking part in Monday’s protest actions seeking the abolition of the pork barrel system on Monday. The Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) said its members will join protesters demanding an end to corruption in government. “Truly, a government that is committed to a ‘tuwid na daan’ cannot co-exist with a system that is based on patronage and corruption,” the AMRSP said in an article posted on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines news site. It noted the protest action will be held at the Luneta in Manila from 6 a.m. to noon. In August 2013, several organizations also gathered in Luneta to condemn corruption in the government. AMRSP also demanded an impartial and speedy investigation of all parties involved in the Priority Development Assistance Fund and Disbursement Acceleration Program controversies “regardless of affiliation.” “We also demand a full accounting of all the funds related to DAP,” they said. Meanwhile, students of the University of Santo Tomas are also expected at Monday’s action. The central student government tweeted an invitation to students to join the “TOMASINO PARA SA BAYAN: UST Against Pork!” March from UST to Plaza Salamanca, Taft & Plaza Salamanca, Taft to Luneta Park. It said assembly will be at the UST Chapel with participants asked to wear white “as a symbol of solidarity.” — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News

Jerramy Joson, who holds the notebook which allegedly lists those who received bribes in relation to the Ampatuan Massacre, claims she was threatened by two men who introduced themselves as Nationa Bureau of Investigation agents, GMA 7’s “24-Oras” program reported Saturday. According to Joson, the two supposed NBI agents came to their home and spoke with her mother last Wednesday. “Tapos, sinabi niya sa parents ko, iurong daw ‘yung kaso ko kay (Justice Department Undersecretary Francisco) Baraan, kasi, aanuhin daw niya ako ng kaso,” Joson said. She added that the men allegedly called Baraan and put him on loud speaker. The report said the incident was caught on the CCTV camera of Joson’s store around 2 p.m. Joson earlier filed a graft and corruption case against Baraan who she claimed asked for a bribe in exchange for a favorable decision in a separate carnapping case she filed. Baraan has denied the allegations. The name “Baraan” is also listed in the notebook held by Joson. The notebook is said to be originally owned by the wife of Atty. Arnel Manaloto, a former Ampatuan lawyer. Meanwhile, NBI Anti-Graft Division Chief Atty. Rachel Marfil-Angeles said the notebook would be subjected to further forensic examinations. “Ang notebook na yan isa sa mga key sa iniimbistigahan namin dahil nakalagay diyan ‘yung mga pangalan at what appears to be amounts given to certain people,” Marfil-Angeles said. Joson, meanwhile, will visit the NBI next week to give a more detailed testimony. — Andrei Medina/DVM, GMA News

Demonstrators at a rally supporting Kurdistan hold placards protesting against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in front of the White House on August 16, 2014 in Washington, DC. Jihadists carried out a “massacre” in the northern Iraqi village of Kocho, killing dozens of people, most of them members of the Yazidi religious minority, officials said. AFP/Mandel NGAN SINGAPORE—Australia and Singapore vowed Friday to enhance intelligence sharing in the face of growing fears about the threat posed by jihadist citizens returning home after fighting in Syria and Iraq. Ministers from both countries warned of the rising risk posed by the returning fighters who are radicalized and have developed sophisticated skills to carry out terror attacks. “In this context of counter-terrorism and counter radicalization… we felt that we could exchange more information because these threats if they materialize will affect all citizens of all races and all religions,” Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen said at a joint press conference with Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. Senior Australian government officials led by Bishop are in Singapore for bilateral meetings. Bishop said Canberra is “also in discussions with our counterparts in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines as this is not an issue that is isolated”. “If these foreign fighters as they are called, come back to Australia, come back to our region, then they pose a threat,” she said. “They are hardened, experienced extremists who have undertaken in a number of instances, terrorist activities overseas,” she added. Australia’s assistant Defense Read More …

Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines this coming January may take on a stronger Filipino flavor as organizers consider ferrying him around in a jeepney. Former Ambassador to the Holy See Henrietta de Villa, a member of the preparatory committee, said this is one of the options they are considering. “Nothing is fixed yet… I’m not actually the one in charge of this but I think there are suggestions for a jeepney that is open on top,” De Villa said, according to an article posted Saturday on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines news site. Pope Francis is scheduled to visit the Philippines Jan. 15 to 19. He is expected to visit areas devastated by super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in November 2013. The jeepney is a modified jeep used for public transport in the Philippines. Many jeepneys use modified diesel engines and custom-built bodies. In 1995, a modified Asian utility vehicle (AUV) was used as the Popemobile for the papal visit of now Saint John Paul II. De Villa said the idea of a jeepney being the next Popemobile stemmed from Pope Francis’ visit to South Korea, where he rode a locally built vehicle. “So maybe it would be better for him to use jeepney here,” she said. But she added the pope has so far not made any request as far as vehicles are concerned, though “all arrangements will still be finalized” this November. If Vatican protocol officials approve a jeepney as the next Popemobile by November, de Read More …