Trump nominee for state secretary grilled on EJKs in PHL

 Entertainment
Jan 132017
 

 By Nimfa U. Rueda LOS ANGELES — US Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson endured tough questioning about human rights – including extrajudicial killings (EJKs) in the Philippines – during his confirmation hearing in Washington earlier this week. Sen. Marco Rubio grilled Tillerson, the outgoing ExxonMobil CEO nominated by Donald Trump to be the US Secretary of State, about his views on reported human rights violations in Russia, China, Saudi Arabia and the Philippines. Rubio asked Tillerson: “Since President Rodrigo Duterte took oath last June, The Los Angeles Times reports that roughly over 6,200 people have been killed in the Philippines by police and vigilantes in alleged drug raids. In your view, is it the right way to conduct an antidrug campaign?” In response, Tillerson said the United States and the Philippines had a longstanding friendship and that it was important to keep that in perspective when engaging with the Philippines. “They have been an ally. We have to ensure that they stay an ally,” he said. Rubio replied: “That’s correct Mr. Tillerson, but my question is about the 6,200 that have been killed in these alleged drug raids. Do you believe that it is an appropriate way to conduct that operation, or do you believe that it is something that’s conducive to human rights violations (and) that we should be concerned about?” Shortly after the hearing, Amnesty International USA criticized  Tillerson for not calling out governments, including the Duterte administration, for human rights violations. “After a day of questioning, Read More …

Treats for tourism

 Economy
Dec 282016
 

The tourism sector seems to be going through an interesting phase now that it has been called on to take a bigger challenge — to be sustainable and competitive against other tourist destinations in the region. What else could possibly make it more fun in the Philippines? In the field of taxation, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) appears to likewise recognize the urgency of effecting Republic Act (RA) No. 9593, otherwise known as the “Tourism Act of 2009,” as a roadmap to developing Tourism Enterprise Zones (TEZs) aimed at enhancing the capacity of tourist attractions and its facilities in priority destinations. Through the issuance of Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 7-2016, the BIR recently acted upon the directive to implement the rules and regulations governing the tax incentives available to Registered Tourism Enterprises (RTEs) with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA). The realization of these incentives comes seven years after RA 9593 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) were passed.

Taxes do not take a holiday, unfortunately…

 Economy
Dec 262016
 

Christmas celebrations in the Philippines are considered the longest in the world. With all the parties, gift-giving, food, shopping and festivities, this celebration can be the most wonderful time of the year. But we cannot forestall the inevitable — taxes. While some may be savoring the cool Christmas air and enjoying the holidays, taxation does not stop. Every move appears to come with a tax consequence, and it pays to know the rules.

Duterte a ‘murderer,’ says De Lima

 Entertainment
Dec 102016
 
Duterte a ‘murderer,’ says De Lima

Senator Leila de Lima ,President Benigno Aquino III , New Bilid Prison,Justice Secretary, Vitaliano Aguirre II , Liberal Party MANILA, Dec 8 (Mabuhay) – Without mincing words, Senator Leila de Lima on Thursday called President Rodrigo Duterte a “murderer.” “People of the Philippines, your President is a murderer,” De Lima said in a statement. She noted Duterte’s statement Wednesday that he would not abandon the police allegedly involved in the November 5 killing of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. because it was his order to shoot those who would resist arrest. “That is an admission that he is the mastermind of such extrajudicial killing (EJK),” the senator said.“That says it all about the EJK phenomenon.” She added, “Together with Edgar Matobato’s testimony on the Davao Death Squad (DDS), Duterte’s admission seals his fate as the Father of all EJKs, first in Davao City, now throughout the entire Philippines, with the number of his victims now beyond the five thousand mark, and still rising.” Matobato, who claimed to be a former member of the DDS, has accused Duterte of masterminding the killings in Davao City when the President was still mayor. De Lima said this also meant that Supt. Marvin Marcos, sacked head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Eastern Visayas, and some of its members allegedly involved in Espinosa’s killing were part of the “expanded DDS,” which she said is now national in scope and operation. “Nothing can be clearer than that. What we now have is Read More …

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