Friday, April 2, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Defense official unceremoniously sacked
By Anthony Vargas (DateLine Philippines)
MANILA, Philippines – A senior official of the Department of National Department (DND) was sacked from his post early this month for still unknown reasons, dateline.ph learned on Tuesday.
Ariston delos Reyes, a retired navy vice-admiral, was sacked last March 9 from his post as the defense department’s undersecretary for internal affairs without citing any reason.
Delos Reyes said that he had received a letter from Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza informing him that his duty as undersecretary in the defense department has been recalled.
Delos Reyes added that he reported two days later to Mendoza’s office and was told that he was being terminated from the defense department due to some government re-organization.
“I reported to the executive secretary who informed me that due to reorganization, my designation was terminated,” delos Reyes said. “My termination was unceremonious, I had no forewarning,”
Delos Reyes, who was appointed to the department sometime in early 2006 after his retirement from the military service, said he felt no ‘frustration’ over his termination.
“I am not frustrated over it. It already happened, but I do hope that proper authorities would have acted on it so there will be due process,” delos Reyes said.
He declined to say if his being sacked from his post was a result of his move to initiate an investigation on two erring officials of the defense department said to have strong Malacañang connections.
“I am not saying that is the reason, what I am trying to say is the timing was bad and others might misconstrue it because of those things. I was removed. I don’t want to speculate,” delos Reyes said.
Sources from the defense department said delos Reyes might have been sacked from his post when he wrote a letter to the President asking for an investigation on two erring officials of the department.
Delos Reyes reportedly filed a complaint of dishonesty against another defense undersecretary who reportedly used his position to allow his son from the private sector to study for his master’s at government expense.
The said official allegedly signed a memorandum allowing his son to take his master’s at the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) despite a lack of qualification or being underqualified.
Delos Reyes also initiated the filing of a complaint against another defense assistant secretary found to be keeping in his office assorted serviceable and unserviceable munitions.
The munitions were reportedly kept in his office despite the fact that the Defense assistant had been relieved some two years ago. (http://dateline.ph)
MANILA, Philippines – A senior official of the Department of National Department (DND) was sacked from his post early this month for still unknown reasons, dateline.ph learned on Tuesday.
Ariston delos Reyes, a retired navy vice-admiral, was sacked last March 9 from his post as the defense department’s undersecretary for internal affairs without citing any reason.
Delos Reyes said that he had received a letter from Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza informing him that his duty as undersecretary in the defense department has been recalled.
Delos Reyes added that he reported two days later to Mendoza’s office and was told that he was being terminated from the defense department due to some government re-organization.
“I reported to the executive secretary who informed me that due to reorganization, my designation was terminated,” delos Reyes said. “My termination was unceremonious, I had no forewarning,”
Delos Reyes, who was appointed to the department sometime in early 2006 after his retirement from the military service, said he felt no ‘frustration’ over his termination.
“I am not frustrated over it. It already happened, but I do hope that proper authorities would have acted on it so there will be due process,” delos Reyes said.
He declined to say if his being sacked from his post was a result of his move to initiate an investigation on two erring officials of the defense department said to have strong Malacañang connections.
“I am not saying that is the reason, what I am trying to say is the timing was bad and others might misconstrue it because of those things. I was removed. I don’t want to speculate,” delos Reyes said.
Sources from the defense department said delos Reyes might have been sacked from his post when he wrote a letter to the President asking for an investigation on two erring officials of the department.
Delos Reyes reportedly filed a complaint of dishonesty against another defense undersecretary who reportedly used his position to allow his son from the private sector to study for his master’s at government expense.
The said official allegedly signed a memorandum allowing his son to take his master’s at the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) despite a lack of qualification or being underqualified.
Delos Reyes also initiated the filing of a complaint against another defense assistant secretary found to be keeping in his office assorted serviceable and unserviceable munitions.
The munitions were reportedly kept in his office despite the fact that the Defense assistant had been relieved some two years ago. (http://dateline.ph)
US Senate confirms new envoy to RP
By Dateline Philippines
MANILA, Philippines – The United States Senate has confirmed the appointment of Harry K. Thomas as the next American ambassador to the Philippines, the US embassy in Manila said.
The embassy said the Senate confirmation is required by the US Constitution.
Thomas, who has been learning Tagalog, is expected to arrive in the Philippines within the coming weeks, the embassy said.
A New Yorker, Thomas is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service and served most recently as Director General of the Foreign Service and Director, Human Resources.
He previously served as a Special Assistant to the Secretary and Executive Secretary of the Department.
Thomas joined the Foreign Service in 1984 and served as U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh from 2003 to 2005.
He also served in the White House as Director for South Asia at the National Security Council from 2001 to 2002. His other postings include: New Delhi, India; Harare, Zimbabwe; Kaduna, Nigeria; and Lima, Peru. Ambassador Thomas speaks Spanish, Hindi, and Bangla and is learning Tagalog.
He is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and pursued further study at Columbia University.
MANILA, Philippines – The United States Senate has confirmed the appointment of Harry K. Thomas as the next American ambassador to the Philippines, the US embassy in Manila said.
The embassy said the Senate confirmation is required by the US Constitution.
Thomas, who has been learning Tagalog, is expected to arrive in the Philippines within the coming weeks, the embassy said.
A New Yorker, Thomas is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service and served most recently as Director General of the Foreign Service and Director, Human Resources.
He previously served as a Special Assistant to the Secretary and Executive Secretary of the Department.
Thomas joined the Foreign Service in 1984 and served as U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh from 2003 to 2005.
He also served in the White House as Director for South Asia at the National Security Council from 2001 to 2002. His other postings include: New Delhi, India; Harare, Zimbabwe; Kaduna, Nigeria; and Lima, Peru. Ambassador Thomas speaks Spanish, Hindi, and Bangla and is learning Tagalog.
He is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and pursued further study at Columbia University.
PARTIAL LIST OF PARTY-LIST GROUPS AND THEIR
By TAHER G. SOLAIMAN
As of March 23, 2010, the following are the party-list groups that submitted their nominees to the Commission in Elections (Comelec):
1. Citizen’s Battle Against Corruption (Cibac)
1. Sherwin Tugna
2. Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales
3. Armi Jane Borje
4. Emil Galang
5. Carlos Muchada Jr.
As of March 23, 2010, the following are the party-list groups that submitted their nominees to the Commission in Elections (Comelec):
1. Citizen’s Battle Against Corruption (Cibac)
1. Sherwin Tugna
2. Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales
3. Armi Jane Borje
4. Emil Galang
5. Carlos Muchada Jr.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Bangit no-show at AFP-PNP meet on election security
By Anthony Vargas (Dateline Philippines)
MANILA, Philippines – After his Monday walkout from a media interview in Fort Bonifacio, General Delfin Bangit, newly-appointed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief, was a no show at a joint military and police conference on election security preparations held Tuesday in Camp Crame.
Director General Jesus Versoza, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the conference was one of the final steps in the security preparations for the May 10 synchronized local and national elections.
Except for Bangit, senior military officials that attended the conference included Lt. General Rodrigo Maclang, Military vice-chief of staff, and Major General Gaudencio Pangilinan, Military Operations chief.
Also present in the conference were Henrietta de Villa, former Ambassador to Vatican City and chairperson of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), and Lawyer Macur Marohombsar, legal division chief of the Department of Education (DepEd).
Lt. Colonel Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos, AFP chief public information officer, explained the absence of Bangit by saying the presence of the AFP chief is not highly needed in the joint police and military security meeting.
“His presence is not needed here… Our task force HOPE commander is Lt. General Maclang,” Burgos said.
Burgos also clarified that Bangit did not walk out from the media interview in Fort Bonifacio last Monday.
“There was no walkout, there was no press conference… And he is hurrying up for another meeting,” Burgos said.
Displeased over current issues hounding the military, Bangit lost his cool as members of the media were about to interview the AFP chief and ask him about his alleged rift with PNP Director General Jesus Versoza.
Bangit blurted out to the surprise of members of the media, “Pag may sinabi ako, masama ako, pag wala akong sinabi, masama pa rin ako” [Damned if I say something, damned if I don’t].
“My Public Information Officer will take care of everything,” Bangit added, looking very displeased. He walked away leaving a group of stunned reporters.
MANILA, Philippines – After his Monday walkout from a media interview in Fort Bonifacio, General Delfin Bangit, newly-appointed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief, was a no show at a joint military and police conference on election security preparations held Tuesday in Camp Crame.
Director General Jesus Versoza, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the conference was one of the final steps in the security preparations for the May 10 synchronized local and national elections.
Except for Bangit, senior military officials that attended the conference included Lt. General Rodrigo Maclang, Military vice-chief of staff, and Major General Gaudencio Pangilinan, Military Operations chief.
Also present in the conference were Henrietta de Villa, former Ambassador to Vatican City and chairperson of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), and Lawyer Macur Marohombsar, legal division chief of the Department of Education (DepEd).
Lt. Colonel Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos, AFP chief public information officer, explained the absence of Bangit by saying the presence of the AFP chief is not highly needed in the joint police and military security meeting.
“His presence is not needed here… Our task force HOPE commander is Lt. General Maclang,” Burgos said.
Burgos also clarified that Bangit did not walk out from the media interview in Fort Bonifacio last Monday.
“There was no walkout, there was no press conference… And he is hurrying up for another meeting,” Burgos said.
Displeased over current issues hounding the military, Bangit lost his cool as members of the media were about to interview the AFP chief and ask him about his alleged rift with PNP Director General Jesus Versoza.
Bangit blurted out to the surprise of members of the media, “Pag may sinabi ako, masama ako, pag wala akong sinabi, masama pa rin ako” [Damned if I say something, damned if I don’t].
“My Public Information Officer will take care of everything,” Bangit added, looking very displeased. He walked away leaving a group of stunned reporters.
More “bogus” party-list groups exposed
By Dateline Philippines
MANILA, Philippines – Four days before the deadline, an indigenous peoples (IP) party-list group submitted Monday to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) its list of nominees while exposing another dubious rival.
The KATRIBU party-list bared the names of its five nominees, namely: Beverly Longid, Genasque Enriquez, Nelson Mallari, Karlen Fanagel, and Virgelio Aniceto.
“In submitting the names of our nominees ahead of the Comelec deadline, KATRIBU would like to set an example and challenge other party-list bets who claim to represent indigenous and Moro peoples to be transparent about their platforms and nominees,” said KATRIBU spokesperson Piya Malayao in a statement.
KATRIBU said that its first nominee, Longid, is a grassroots activist from Mountain Province, while second nominee, Enriquez, is a Manobo farmer from Surigao del Sur. The third nominee, Mallari, is an Aeta community organizer from Pampanga, while Fanagel is a a B’laan from Sarangani Province and Aniceto hails from the Ibaloi tribe in Benguet.
“It’s about time that the historically marginalized and neglected indigenous peoples in the country be heard in Congress with a voice of their own,” she added.
At the same time, Malayao exposed another list of government officials who are reportedly being invited to represent another indigenous peoples group.
Malayao said, “Two commissioners of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Eugenio Insigne and Jannette Serrano-Reisland, are reportedly the nominees of the Agapay Indigenous Peoples Rights Alliance (A-IPRA) and Partido ng Katutubong Pilipino, respectively.”
According to NCIP’s website, Insigne is the commissioner for the Cordillera Autonomous Region and Cagayan Valley Region (Region I). Serrano currently heads Central Mindanao (Region XII).
Last January, the Office of the Ombudsman filed administrative charges against Insigne and Serrano, among other NCIP commissioners that were held responsible for the awarding of Forbes Park forest reserved lots to private applicants. The Ombudsman charged Insigne and Serrano with grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty.
The administrative cases against the NCIP commissioners, filed by Baguio City Mayor Reinaldo Bautista, stemmed from the award of Forbes Park forest reserved lots to the heirs of Lauro Carantes.
The city government maintained the award was spurious considering that the contested land is considered a forest area and thus inalienable.
Also, KATRIBU said that another indigenous peoples party-list group, Abante Tribung Makabansa, has the backing of the government.
Malayao said Abante Tribung Makabansa was formed by the Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Conference for Peace and Development, whose council of advisers include Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on Mindnao and chair of the newly-formed Mindanao Development Authority.
Other advisers are Energy secretary Angelo Reyes and Army Col. Allen Capuyan, KATRIBU said.
They added that Capuyan was a former head of the Intelligence Services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) who figured in the controversial “Hello, Garci” wiretapped tape that confirmed massive cheating in the 2004 presidential elections.
Capuyan was purportedly one of the ISAFP’s men who ordered to wiretap the conversation between then Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“We fear that the Arroyo administration is capitalizing even on the marginalized condition of indigenous peoples by investing on certain party-lists. It is deplorable that many of the President’s appointees, let alone her relatives, are all over the party-list system,” Longid said.
Garcillano was also heard in the “Hello, Garci” discussing the fate of another indigenous group, Ang Laban ng Indiginong Filipino or ALIF.
On June 14, 2004, Garcillano replied to an unidetified caller and said that “ang mauna siguro iyong ALIF. Pero gusto ko masabay-sabay [We put ALIF first. But I want it all at the same time].” Other party-list groups questioned the seeming favorable treatment of the poll body to the said group, which was proclaimed ahead of other winning groups.
About 187 party-list groups accredited for the May 10 polls will be competing for the 52 congressional seats, or a fifth of the House seats, duly reserved for them by the 1987 Constitution.
The numbers doubled compared to some 90 party-list groups that ran in the 2007 elections. About 60 party-list groups were accredited for the 2004 general elections.
MANILA, Philippines – Four days before the deadline, an indigenous peoples (IP) party-list group submitted Monday to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) its list of nominees while exposing another dubious rival.
The KATRIBU party-list bared the names of its five nominees, namely: Beverly Longid, Genasque Enriquez, Nelson Mallari, Karlen Fanagel, and Virgelio Aniceto.
“In submitting the names of our nominees ahead of the Comelec deadline, KATRIBU would like to set an example and challenge other party-list bets who claim to represent indigenous and Moro peoples to be transparent about their platforms and nominees,” said KATRIBU spokesperson Piya Malayao in a statement.
KATRIBU said that its first nominee, Longid, is a grassroots activist from Mountain Province, while second nominee, Enriquez, is a Manobo farmer from Surigao del Sur. The third nominee, Mallari, is an Aeta community organizer from Pampanga, while Fanagel is a a B’laan from Sarangani Province and Aniceto hails from the Ibaloi tribe in Benguet.
“It’s about time that the historically marginalized and neglected indigenous peoples in the country be heard in Congress with a voice of their own,” she added.
At the same time, Malayao exposed another list of government officials who are reportedly being invited to represent another indigenous peoples group.
Malayao said, “Two commissioners of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Eugenio Insigne and Jannette Serrano-Reisland, are reportedly the nominees of the Agapay Indigenous Peoples Rights Alliance (A-IPRA) and Partido ng Katutubong Pilipino, respectively.”
According to NCIP’s website, Insigne is the commissioner for the Cordillera Autonomous Region and Cagayan Valley Region (Region I). Serrano currently heads Central Mindanao (Region XII).
Last January, the Office of the Ombudsman filed administrative charges against Insigne and Serrano, among other NCIP commissioners that were held responsible for the awarding of Forbes Park forest reserved lots to private applicants. The Ombudsman charged Insigne and Serrano with grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty.
The administrative cases against the NCIP commissioners, filed by Baguio City Mayor Reinaldo Bautista, stemmed from the award of Forbes Park forest reserved lots to the heirs of Lauro Carantes.
The city government maintained the award was spurious considering that the contested land is considered a forest area and thus inalienable.
Also, KATRIBU said that another indigenous peoples party-list group, Abante Tribung Makabansa, has the backing of the government.
Malayao said Abante Tribung Makabansa was formed by the Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Conference for Peace and Development, whose council of advisers include Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on Mindnao and chair of the newly-formed Mindanao Development Authority.
Other advisers are Energy secretary Angelo Reyes and Army Col. Allen Capuyan, KATRIBU said.
They added that Capuyan was a former head of the Intelligence Services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) who figured in the controversial “Hello, Garci” wiretapped tape that confirmed massive cheating in the 2004 presidential elections.
Capuyan was purportedly one of the ISAFP’s men who ordered to wiretap the conversation between then Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“We fear that the Arroyo administration is capitalizing even on the marginalized condition of indigenous peoples by investing on certain party-lists. It is deplorable that many of the President’s appointees, let alone her relatives, are all over the party-list system,” Longid said.
Garcillano was also heard in the “Hello, Garci” discussing the fate of another indigenous group, Ang Laban ng Indiginong Filipino or ALIF.
On June 14, 2004, Garcillano replied to an unidetified caller and said that “ang mauna siguro iyong ALIF. Pero gusto ko masabay-sabay [We put ALIF first. But I want it all at the same time].” Other party-list groups questioned the seeming favorable treatment of the poll body to the said group, which was proclaimed ahead of other winning groups.
About 187 party-list groups accredited for the May 10 polls will be competing for the 52 congressional seats, or a fifth of the House seats, duly reserved for them by the 1987 Constitution.
The numbers doubled compared to some 90 party-list groups that ran in the 2007 elections. About 60 party-list groups were accredited for the 2004 general elections.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Hedcor welcomes Duterte’s move to amend city’s Watershed Code
Hedcor this week breathed a sigh of relief following the pronouncement of Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte that he will ask the City Council for the amendment of the city’s Watershed Code that could mark the end of the protracted deadlock between Hedcor and the Davao City Water District for the use of the Tamugan River.
The Watershed Code of Davao City prohibits the erection of any structure within the watershed areas of the city.
"We welcome the positive reaction to the new scheme we submitted a few weeks ago. Considering the finite water sources of the City, multi-use of the Tamugan River would be the most beneficial way forward for Davao City's consumers. We are aware of the Watershed Code of Davao and are confident both our projects will comply with its requirements,” Hedcor President and Chief Operating Officer Rene B. Ronquillo said in a statement.
Duterte ordered Hedcor and DCWD during the last Friday's meeting of the Davao City Peace and Order Council to “come into terms by March 20” and pledged to convince the Davao City Council for the immediate amendment of the city’s Watershed Code.
Hedcor wanted to harness the Tamugan River for its proposed Tamugan Hydropower Project while the water firm wanted to tap it as its surface water source.
For four years, Hedcor has been constantly communicating with DCWD towards a solution addressing their concerns. The goal is co-existence of the two projects: providing Davao City with potable water supply, and clean and renewable energy. Such win-win approach spells multiple benefits for the surrounding communities, and local and national governments.
To propel the city’s continued progress, Davao City can have both development projects: DCWD’s Surface Water Project and Hedcor’s Tamugan Hydropower Project.
Davao City need not choose between potable water or clean and renewable energy. The goal is not an either-or, because Dabawenyos can have both.
The proposal of Hedcor to co-exist with DCWD’s Surface Water Project consists of one hydropower plant located downstream of DCWD’s proposed infiltration gallery. (Karen Padawag, Corporate Communications, Hedor)
The Watershed Code of Davao City prohibits the erection of any structure within the watershed areas of the city.
"We welcome the positive reaction to the new scheme we submitted a few weeks ago. Considering the finite water sources of the City, multi-use of the Tamugan River would be the most beneficial way forward for Davao City's consumers. We are aware of the Watershed Code of Davao and are confident both our projects will comply with its requirements,” Hedcor President and Chief Operating Officer Rene B. Ronquillo said in a statement.
Duterte ordered Hedcor and DCWD during the last Friday's meeting of the Davao City Peace and Order Council to “come into terms by March 20” and pledged to convince the Davao City Council for the immediate amendment of the city’s Watershed Code.
Hedcor wanted to harness the Tamugan River for its proposed Tamugan Hydropower Project while the water firm wanted to tap it as its surface water source.
For four years, Hedcor has been constantly communicating with DCWD towards a solution addressing their concerns. The goal is co-existence of the two projects: providing Davao City with potable water supply, and clean and renewable energy. Such win-win approach spells multiple benefits for the surrounding communities, and local and national governments.
To propel the city’s continued progress, Davao City can have both development projects: DCWD’s Surface Water Project and Hedcor’s Tamugan Hydropower Project.
Davao City need not choose between potable water or clean and renewable energy. The goal is not an either-or, because Dabawenyos can have both.
The proposal of Hedcor to co-exist with DCWD’s Surface Water Project consists of one hydropower plant located downstream of DCWD’s proposed infiltration gallery. (Karen Padawag, Corporate Communications, Hedor)
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Philippines
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