Maniolas

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa on Monday defended before members of Congress Malacañang’s redefinition of savings in the proposed 2015 national budget, saying the executive crafted the new meaning in good faith. “Insofar as the executive is concerned, the [new definition of savings] was proposed in good faith, believing that we are correct and we do not violate any provisions of the Constitution,” Ochoa told lawmakers at the budget briefing of the Office of the President Monday night. Last July, the Supreme Court voted unanimously to strike down as unconstitutional specific acts of the Aquino government’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). One of the DAP acts that was declared unconstitutional was the withdrawal of unobligated allotments from the implementing agencies, and the declaration of the withdrawn unobligated allotments and unreleased appropriations as savings prior to the end of the fiscal year and without complying with the statutory definition of savings contained in the General Appropriations Act; Following the SC’s adverse decision on the DAP, the Palace changed the definition of savings in the proposed 2015 national budget to mean  portions of allocations that “have not been released or obligated” due to “discontinuance or abandonment of a program, activity or project for justifiable causes, at any time during the validity of the appropriations.” The General Appropriations Acts from 2011 to 2013, when the DAP was implemented, defined savings as funds that are “still available after the completion, or final discontinuance, or abandonment of the work, activity or purpose for which the appropriation is Read More …

The Office of the Ombudsman has meted the penalty of dismissal on Commission on Human Rights Commissioner Cecilia Rachel “Coco” Quisumbing after she was found guilty of violating the country’s code of conduct and ethical standards for government officials and employees. In a 23-page resolution signed by prosecutor Jasmine Ann B. Gapatan and approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on August 28, the Ombudsman also recommended the filing of a charge for direct bribery against Quisumbing before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan.  “[Quisumbing is] found guilty of violation of Section Seven of RA 6713 and grave misconduct and meted the penalty of dismissal from the service, including all its accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification for re-employment in the government service,” the resolution said.  The Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates provided GMA News Online with a copy of the Ombudsman’s resolution. The charges stemmed from a complaint filed by Quisumbing’s former staff member Regina Eugenio. Eugenio alleged that Quisimbing had her promoted but kept the additional salary intended for her new salary grade, an offense that the Ombudsman deemed punishable by dismissal. “For her act of soliciting and receiving money—in this case Eugenio’s Salary differential—in the course of her official duties, this Office finds probable cause to indict respondent for Direct Bribery under Article 210 of the Revised Penal Code,” the decision said. The commissioner was earlier suspended by the Ombudsman on the same charges.  Quisumbing has claimed that all charges against her Read More …

Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice has shelved his plans to introduce amendments to the Constitution allowing an incumbent President to seek reelection. In a privilege speech Tuesday, Erice said House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. had asked him to withdraw the bill he is planning to file so that the chamber could focus on deliberations on the pending resolution to amend only the economic provisions in the Constitution. “Nais kong linawin na ako’y sang-ayon sa payo ni Speaker Belmonte na huwag ko pong isabay sa pagtalakay sa House Resolution 1 na patungkol sa economic provisions ang aking panukala tungkol sa political provisions ng Konstitusyon,” the lawmaker said. The Liberal Party stalwart earlier said he will file a bill to amend the political provisions of the Constitution to enable the President to run for a second term. The measure eyed by Erice will enable the head of state to serve for two consecutive four-year terms if he or she is reelected. Erice had said he was “tempted” with the idea of amending the Constitution to allow President Benigno Aquino III to run for office again. No surprises Belmonte’s Resolution of Both Houses No. 1 (RBH 1), meanwhile, seeks to amend the following articles of the Constitution: Article II or the Declaration of State Principles and Policies, Article XII on National Economy and Patrimony, and Article XVI which contains sections on foreign ownership. The Speaker inserted the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” in his proposal to indicate that the current restrictions will Read More …