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By Bong LozadaINQUIRER.net 5:13 pm | Monday, May 26th, 2014 MANILA, Philippines — After two former senators marched to the Supreme Court Monday morning demanding that the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement be declared unconstitutional, the Department of National Defense fired back and stood its ground. DND spokesman Peter Galvez maintained the constitutionality of Edca, saying that it falls within the bylaws of the 1987 Constitution. “We maintain that it’s within the constitution and existing laws,” Galvez said. Former senators Rene Saguisag and Wigberto Tañada led several other petitioners in asking the high court to issue a restraining order against the implementation of Edca. “We respect their initiative,” Galvez said. “Nonetheless, we hope they will see the merits and bigger picture on how the Edca will impact our country.” Galvez added that the “country’s interest has been paramount” during the ratification of Edca. “We will be cooperating in whatever hearing will be required.” RELATED STORIES Former senators ask SC to declare Edca unconstitutional Edca a deterrent to war—Bautista DND: Edca not treaty, needs no Senate OK Follow Us Other Stories: Binay wife allowed to travel to Hawaii Italian envoy facing child abuse rap ordered charged Filipinos in Singapore drop Independence Day plans after abuse Former senators ask SC to declare Edca unconstitutional Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun Read More …

By Tetch Torres-TupasINQUIRER.net 2:09 pm | Monday, May 26th, 2014 AMBASSADOR Daniele Bosio in a photo taken from the official website of the Italian Embassy in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice has ordered the filing of charges against the Italian diplomat who has been detained in the country since last month for alleged child abuse. Daniele Bosio, the Italian ambassador to Turkmenistan, will be charged with three counts of violation of the Anti-Child Abuse Act and three counts of violation of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act. RELATED STORIES Italian diplomat held for alleged child abuse in Philippines Biñan court allows Italian diplomat facing child abuse case to undergo medical check-up Follow Us Other Stories: Former senators ask SC to declare Edca unconstitutional Navy to hold anniversary at base facing West Philippine Sea TFC launches ‘Galing ng Filipino Dance Move Promo’ Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate: c/o Philippine Daily Inquirer Chino Roces Avenue corner Yague and Mascardo Streets, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Or fax nos. +63 2 8974793 to 94

Rosa Rosal is back at the Philippine Red Cross after being appointed to its board of governors. Rosal’s was among the appointments that Malacañang announced over the weekend. Last December, Rosal called for an audit of the PRC and for the board to suspend its secretary general, Gwendolyn Pang, while the audit was being done. She said a former accountant for the PRC found irregular transactions and requests for payment and disbursement of funds, including the use of PRC money for a birthday party for Pang. In a press statement in December, the PRC said it had already investigated the allegations and that Pang “was fully exonerated and the Philippine Red Cross Governing Board has expressed its full confidence in her continued leadership of the organization.” Aside from Rosal, other appointments announced by the Palace were: Nicolas Dy-Liacco Ojeda, Jr. as deputy executive director of the Information and Communications Technology Office, under the Department of Science and Technology (appointed May 19) Thomas Orbos as assistant general manager for planning of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Cyril Ramos as deputy ombudsman for the military and other law enforcement offices (MOLEO) Blas James Viterbo as Securities and Exchange Commission commissioner Aurora Centeno as deputy executive director of the National Archives of the Philippines Vicente Lao as a member of the board of directors, representing the business sector, in the Mindanao Development Authority Gino Alphonsus Bayot as assistant secretary for the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office — Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News

President Benigno Aquino III might continue receiving his monthly salary of P95,000 for life should the bill filed by a party-list representative become a law. Citing the need to provide due recognition and to show gratitude to the Philippines’ former leaders for their services, ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Samuel Pagdilao Jr. said retired presidents should continue to receive an annual pension equivalent to their basic salaries. House Bill 4450, or the Retired Presidents’ Protection Act, seeks such benefit for former presidents as their “role as moral voice of the nation will continue” even long after they retired from government sevice, Pagdialo said in the bill’s explanatory note. Under HB 4450, the pension shall be paid monthly by the Office of the President to the former head of state. The bill defines “a retired president” as one who has completed his or her full term of office, the person who has served more than four years as the president’s successor, and the individual who resigns as president before his or her official term expires provided that he or she had not been removed from office or forced to resign due to impeachment. Meanwhile, under the 47-year-old Republic Act 5059, former presidents are only entitled to a tax-free life pension of P40,000 each year. Also, RA 5059 bans impeached presidents or those who assume another government post after stepping down from the presidency from receiving pension. Pension transfer In the event of a former president’s death, HB 4450 provides that the government should Read More …

• 20th anniversary campaign invites Filipinos to submit own video versions REDWOOD CITY, California – Following the success of its 20th year anniversary gala in April and the official launch of its anniversary music video performed by Gary Valenciano with son, Gab, on the Philippines’ number one weekend variety show, “ASAP 19,” The Filipino Channel (TFC) is inviting all Filipinos overseas to join in the celebration via the TFC20 Galing ng Filipino Dance Moves Promo. In the music video for the song “Galing ng Filipino,” which pays tribute to the “innate greatness of Filipinos” that enables them to thrive and excel wherever they are in the world, the choreography showed Gary and Gab executing specific dance steps for the last two lines of the chorus: “Oh oh oh, oh,oh (3x) Angking galing, ipagpatuloy mo!” The Valenciano father-and-son tandem does its own dance interpretation of the line that encourages Filipinos to “march on with their greatness,” making circular motions to represent continuing movement as they step to the rhythm and the beat of the song. TFC challenges global Filipinos to submit their own video versions of the “Galing ng Filipino” dance move. Exciting prizes await entries that are adjudged best renditions, according to TFC. “The song composed by Jonathan Manalo and Jay Santiago and arranged by Gary himself can be interpreted by Filipinos around the world in a million ways and that’s the beauty of it,” said ABS-CBN Global Chief Marketing Officer Jojo Ines. He explained, “While for this promo, we Read More …