Speaker
Pantaleon Alvarez today asserted the independence of the House of
Representatives in deciding the fate of the separate impeachment complaints
against Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo.
Earlier,
Alvarez said he respects the call of Pres. Duterte to stop impeachment moves
against Robredo but the House is bound by its constitutional duty to process
the complaints independently from the Executive.
“Para sa
akin yun ay opinyon lamang ng ating Pangulo, yung parang, it’s just a
statement. But of course alam naman natin na hindi naman puwedeng manduhan ng
ating Pangulo yung Kongreso,” Alvarez stressed in a radio interview.
He
stressed that the separation of powers among the three main branches of the
government as well as their respective duties are clearly specified in the
constitution.
“Kagaya
rin ho ng sinabi ko na dati, na this Congress will not be a rubber stamp of the
administration,” Alvarez said.
And while
many view impeachment as a political exercise, Alvarez said the House will
decide what to do with the impeachment complaints--or any additional complaint
that may be filed before Congress resumes session on May 2--on their compliance
with the legal requirements.
“Kung
meron pang dadagdag na mga reklamo siya ay pag-aaralan lahat yon, ipo-process
sabay-sabay yun at titingnan natin kung ano yung complaint na sufficient in
form and substance. Kung pare-parehong wala, wala iyan, dismiss yan lahat,”
said Alvarez.
However,
Alvarez said that if they found any of the impeachment complaint sufficient in
form and in substance, they will make sure they can successfully prosecute the
concerned official in the impeachment trial in the Senate.
The
Senate has the sole power to try and decide any impeachment cases. Alvarez said
it would be entirely up to the Senate to convict or exonerate the
concerned official.
“Ngayon
nasasa-kanila (Senate) na yun, yung bola nandoon sa kanila. At kami naman, once
we impeach a public official, we have to see to it that we can successfully
prosecute that impeached official,” Alvarez said. ####
Alvarez
backs Duterte to scrap barangay polls in October
Speaker
Pantaleon Alvarez today backed the stand of President Rodrigo Duterte on the
need to postpone the elections of barangay officials in October this year.
Earlier,
President Duterte warned that if the October barangay elections would push
through many village officials with ties to the drug trade would likely get
re-elected. Instead, the President said, he wants the polls postponed and fill
the vacant positions by appointment.
“Well,
wala akong problema diyan at suportado ko ang ating Pangulo diyan dahil
napaka-valid po noong reason, dahil tama yun, majority of the barangay
officials are involved in illegal drugs, nagagamit ito,” said Alvarez in a
radio interview.
The
Speaker believes the wish of the President can be implemented through amendment
of the Local Government Code and would not violate the constitution.
“Kinakailangan
po ng legislation diyan para magbigay ng kapangyarihan sa Comelec na
huwag ituloy yung election,” Alvarez said.
According
to the Speaker, the necessary amendment can be proposed and tackled when
Congress resumes session this coming May 2.
“Kailangan
matalakay na iyan,” said Alvarez.
President
Duterte had admitted that his plan to appoint barangay officials to fill the
vacant posts would be “quite messy” because incumbent barangay officials would
likely oppose the move.
According
to the President, the first requirement for a barangay officer-in-charge
nominee is that they should not have any connections at all with rebels.
Second, is that they are not into drugs, and lastly, they are not really
leaders of politicians.
The
President said he would accept nominations from the Catholic Church, from Islam
leaders, religious denominations and other organizations.
Estate tax amnesty okeyed
The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a
proposal to grant amnesty in the payment of estate taxes.
House Bill No. 4814, or “An Act Granting Amnesty in the Payment of
Estate Tax,” is expected to generate additional revenues for the government and
encourage taxpayers to settle their outstanding estate taxes, thereby freeing
up properties of unsettled estates.
The bill, which was endorsed for plenary approval by the committee on
ways and means chaired by Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua (Lone District, Quirino),
proposes a tax amnesty program covering estate taxes for the year 2016 and the
previous years that have remained unpaid as of December 31, 2016.
House Bill 4814 is authored by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez (1st District,
Davao del Norte), Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Fariñas (1st District,
IlocosNorte), Rep. Arthur Defensor Jr. (3rd District, Iloilo), Deputy Speaker
Romero Quimbo (2nd District, Marikina City), Cua, Reps. Arlene Arcillas
(1stDistrict, Laguna), Rose Marie Arenas (3rd District, Pangasinan), Lianda
Bolilia (4th District, Batangas), Peter John Calderon (7th District, Cebu),
Winston Castelo (2nd District, Quezon City), Eugene Michael De Vera
(Party-list, ABS), Jesulito Manalo (Party-list, ANGKLA), Victoria Isabel Noel
(Party-list, AN WARAY), Xavier Jesus Romualdo (Lone District, Camiguin), Jose
Antonio Sy-Alvarado (1st District, Bulacan), Manuel Zubiri (3rd District,
Bukidnon), Marlyn Primicias-Agabas (6th District, Pangasinan), Rodante
Marcoleta (Party-list, SAGIP), Raul Del Mar (1st District, Cebu), Leo Rafael
Cueva (2ndDistrict, Negros Occidental), and Delphine Gan Lee (Party-list,
AGRI).
The bill is one of the 186 relevant and important legislative measures
passed by the House over the past 83 session days of the 17th Congress.
The bill grants the following immunities and privileges to taxpayers who
avail of the tax amnesty: (1) immunity from the payment of estate taxes, civil,
criminal, or administrative penalties under the National Internal Revenue Code
of 1997, as amended, arising from the failure to pay any and all estate taxes
for taxable year 2016 and prior years; (2) the taxpayer’s Estate Tax Amnesty
Returns for 2016 and prior years shall not be admissible as evidence in all
proceedings that pertain to taxable year 2016 and prior years related to estate
settlement cases before any judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative bodies
in which the defendant or respondent, and except for the purpose of
ascertaining the gross estate for 2016 and prior years, the same shall not be
examined, inquired or looked into by any person or government office; and (3)
the books of accounts and other records of the taxpayer for the years covered
by the estate tax amnesty availed of shall not be examined.
To avail of the benefits of the tax amnesty, the covered taxpayer shall
file with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) an Estate Tax Amnesty Return and
pay the six percent of the decedent’s or deceased person’s net estate within
two years from the issuance of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of
the proposed legislation. The IRR shall be promulgated within 30 days after the
law becomes effective.
However, the proposed tax amnesty does not cover taxpayers with pending
cases, to wit: (1) those with pending cases falling under the jurisdiction of
the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG); (2) those cases
involving unexplained wealth or unlawfully acquired wealth or under the
Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; (3) those cases filed in court involving
violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Law; (4) those criminal cases for tax
evasion and other criminal offenses under Chapter II of Title X of the National
Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended, and the felonies of frauds, illegal
exactions and transactions, and malversation of public funds and property under
Chapters III and IV of Title VII of the Revised Penal Code; and (5) tax cases
subject to final and executor judgement by the courts.
The bill imposes the following penalties: (1) a person who, having filed
a statement or Estate Tax Amnesty Return, wilfully understates the gross estate
to the extent of 30 percent or more shall be subject to the penalties of
perjury under the Revised Penal Code; (2) the willful failure to declare any
property in the statement and/or in the Estate Tax Amnesty Return shall be deemed
prima facie evidence of fraud and shall constitute a ground upon which
attachment of such property may be issued in favor of the BIR to answer for the
satisfaction of any judgment that may be acquired against the declarant; (3)
any person who unlawfully discloses the existence of an Estate Tax Amnesty
Return, or its contents, shall be penalized by a fine of not less than P150,000
and imprisonment of not less than six years but not more than 10 years.
It further provides that if the offender is an officer or employee of
the BIR or any government entity, he shall suffer the additional penalties of
perpetual disqualification from holding public office, from exercising the
right to vote and be voted for any public elective post.
Tax amnesty, as defined by the Supreme Court, is a “general pardon or
the intentional overlooking by the state of its authority to impose penalties
on persons otherwise guilty of violation of a tax law.”
Simply put, taxpayers who failed to disclose their income or pay their
tax liabilities from previous years are freed by the government from any civil,
criminal or administrative penalties.
The bill has already been transmitted to the Senate for its concurrence.
Donor’s
tax rate reduction in the offing
The House
of Representatives recently approved on third and final reading a bill which
seeks to reduce the existing donor’s tax rate and ensure fair taxation.
House
Bill No. 4903 aims to simplify the donor’s tax rate, thus amending for the
purpose Section 99 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.
Under the
bill, Section 99 (A) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended,
is further amended to read as follows:
“A) In
General. – The tax for each calendar year shall be six percent and shall be
computed on the basis of the total net gifts made during the calendar year:
Provided, that annual net gifts not exceeding P100,000 shall be exempt.”
Under the
present law, if the net gift is:
- Not
over P100,000, the tax shall be exempt
- Over
P100,000 but not over P200,000, the tax shall be 0 plus two percent of the
excess over P100,000.
- Over
P200,000 but not over P500,000, the tax shall be P2,000 plus four percent of
the excess over P200,000.
- Over
P500,000 but not over P1,000,000, the tax shall be P14,000 plus six
percent of the excess over of P500,000.
- Over
P1,000,000 but not over P3,000,000, the tax shall be P44,000 plus eight percent
of the excess over P1,000,000.
- Over
P3,000,000 but not over P5,000,000, the tax shall be P204,000 plus 10 percent
of the excess over P3,000,000.
- Over
P5,000,000 but not over P10,000,000, the tax shall be P404,000 plus 12 percent
of the excess over P5,000,000.
- Over
P10,000,000, the tax shall be P1,004,000 plus 15 percent of the excess of
P10,000,000.
The bill
amends Section 99 (B) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 to read as
follows: “(B) Tax Payable by Donor if Donee is a Stranger. – When the done or
beneficiary is a stranger, the tax payable by the donor shall be six percent of
the net gifts. For the purpose of this tax, a “stranger” is a person who is not
a:
(1) Brother,
sister (whether by whole or half-blood), spouse, ancestor and lineal
descendant; or
(2) Relative
by consanguinity in the collateral line within the fourth degree of
relationship.”
The
present law states the tax payable by the donor when the donee or beneficiary
is a stranger shall be 30 percent of the net gifts.
Rep. Jesulito Manalo (Party-list,
ANGKLA), an author of the bill, said the reduction of the donor’s tax intends
to strike a balance between the power of the State to tax its people and the
implementation of a policy that will motivate those who have more in life to
share their properties and riches not only to the less fortunate classes of
society, but also to individuals whose lives may improve through such
donations.
“Verily,
most donors are dissuaded from giving off their properties for fear that they
will have to be accountable to pay enormous amounts of taxes, if they do.
Further, in extreme cases, donors merely circumvent the payment of the donor’s
tax by cloaking their donation through a sale transaction. This renders the donor’s
taxation system rather ineffective,’’ said Manalo.
Other
authors of the bill are Reps. Robert Ace Barbers (2nd District, Surigao del
Norte), Dakila Carlo Cua (Lone District, Quirino), Peter John Calderon (7th
District, Cebu), Victoria Isabel Noel (Party-list, AN WARAY), Rodante Marcoleta
(Party-list, SAGIP), House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Majority Leader Rodolfo
Fariñas, Reps. Deogracias Victor Savellano (1st District, Ilocos Sur), and
Leopoldo Bataoil (2nd District, Pangasinan).
FAST, SAFE AND CONVENIENT -- The entire family – including
toddlers, elderly, persons with disability (PWDs) and even their cars – can now
enjoy fast, safe and convenient sea travel. Thanks to the efforts of then
Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary, now House
Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez for bringing the nautical highway into fruition,”
said Rep. Divina Grace Yu (1st District, Zamboanga del Sur), Chairperson of the
House Committee on the Welfare of Children. House Members who joined in the
“First Nautical Highway, Roads and Ports Inspection,” were briefed by the
officers of Starlite and FastCat vessels about its safety, security and
efficiency features. Speaker Alvarez and Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Fariñas
also observed the loading of vehicles onboard--in compliance with Safety of
Life at Sea (SOLAS) as mandated by the International Maritime
Organization. The nautical highway inter-connected Mindanao to Luzon
and Virata's. . This translates to a bigger market for farm produce
and fish catch, more mobility for labor force, and better prospects
for the tourism industry. The House members expressed appreciation to the House
leadership for organizing the 10-day caravan (March 17 to 27, 2017) and hoped
that similar activities will be conducted in the future to give them a better
understanding of public infrastructure projects in relation to the proposed national
government budget.
SAILING
OUR SEAS. House
Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvareza, who is a Commander in the Philippine Navy
reserve force, joined naval officers and staff on board the Roll-on/Roll-off
(RoRo) ferry FastCat, which took the House delegation to different ports in
Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The “First Naval Highway, Roads and Ports
Inspection” held from March 17 to 27, 2017 allows participating legislators and
their staff first-hand experience of the current state of inter-island
transport and travel. The inspection team, which consisted of two big buses,
several private cars and motorbikes, also traversed island provinces, such as
Mindoro, Panay, Negros and Zamboanga Peninsula.
House to
strengthen anti-hospital deposits
To
improve the country's emergency health care service, the House of
Representatives passed on second reading a bill that makes more stringent the
law prohibiting hospitals from demanding deposits as a condition for
confinement or treatment of patients under certain cases.
HB 5159,
principally authored by Rep. Tom Villarin (Akbayan), seeks to amend Batas
Pambansa Bilang 702, entitled “An Act Prohibiting the Demand of Deposits or
Advance Payments for the Confinement or Treatment of Patients in Hospitals and
Medical Clinics in Certain Cases.”
Villarin
said that despite the "no balance billing" policy of the Philippine
Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) for the benefit of indigents, there
still have been reports of private hospitals rejecting patients on account of
the patients’ inability to pay for the hospital deposit.
Villarin
cited an increase in the number of cases where patients have died simply
because they were refused medical attention by private hospital in view of
their failure to pay the required deposit.
Should
this practice continue, Villarin said that the present statistic of seven out
of 10 Filipinos dying without ever seeing a doctor is likely to soar. This is
compounded by the fact that 50 percent of barangays in the country do not have
a barangay health station, added Villarin.
“Clearly
this practice must be stopped. By increasing the penalties for the violation of
the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law, expanding the definition of emergency care to
include women in active labor and at risk of miscarriage or fetal distress, and
providing incentives for health facilities that provide emergency medical services,
a framework where preservation of human life is paramount consideration can be
created,” said Villarin.
The bill
provides that, “in emergency or serious cases, it shall be unlawful for any
proprietor, president, director, manager, or any other officer, and/or medical
practitioner or employee of a hospital or medical clinic to demand any deposit
or any other form of advance payment as a prerequisite for confinement or
medical treatment of a patient in such hospital or medical clinic or to refuse
to administer medical treatment and support as dictated by good practice of
medicine to prevent death, miscarriage, or permanent disability, or otherwise
require payment for basic emergency care services to any patient.”
The bill
further provides that by reason of inadequacy of the medical capabilities of
the hospital, the attending physician after having administered emergency
measures, may transfer the patient to a facility where the appropriate care can
be given.
A
"serious case" is defined under the bill as “a condition of a patient
characterized by gravity or danger wherein based on the objective findings of a
prudent medical officer on duty for the day when left unattended to, may cause
loss of life or cause permanent disability to the patient, or in the case of a
pregnant woman, cause a miscarriage.”
Whereas,
a "basic emergency case" is the “response to a situation where there
is urgently required medical care and attention, and includes procedures
required for initial diagnosis, use of equipment, and supplies in sufficiently
addressing the emergency situation, considering the welfare of the patient and
other fees incurred at the time of basic emergency response.”
The bills
adds that "the case of a woman in active labor, who is already in crowning
stage shall be considered as an emergency, and the medical facility shall
perform the necessary measures or treatment to ensure that the labor goes well
into the separation of baby and placenta.”
Moreover,
where there is no ambulance available for use by the hospital or for the
emergency transfer of the patient to a facility where the appropriate care
shall be given, the local government unit (LGU) where the hospital is located
must allow the free use of its emergency vehicle to transport the patient. The
hospital must provide a certified staff nurse to accompany the patient in the
emergency vehicle.
As a
further requirement, a hospital must post at its entrance a notice indicating
its Department of Health (DOH) classification level and the list of medical
services that it is authorized to perform.
According
to the House bill, PhilHealth is required to shoulder all the expenses advanced
by hospitals for the emergency medical services given to the poor and indigent
patients, subject to its existing policies. Moreover, the Philippine Charity
Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) shall provide medical assistance to the basic
emergency care needs of the poor and marginalized groups.
Lastly,
the bill also provides for penalties for violation thereof, in the form of imprisonment
of not less than six months and one day, but not more than two years and four
months, or a fine of not less than P100,000, but not more than P300,000, or
both.
If the
violation is committed pursuant to an established policy of the hospital or upon
instruction of its management, the director or officer of such hospital
responsible shall suffer imprisonment of four to six years, or a fine of not
less than P500,000 but not more than P1 million, or both, without prejudice to
damages that may be awarded to the patient-complainant.
In case
of three repeated violations, the health facility’s license to operate shall be
suspended or revoked by the DOH.
The
president, chairman, board of directors or trustees, and other officers of the
hospital shall be solidarily liable for the damages that may be awarded by the
court to the patient-complainant.
Lastly,
the DOH is mandated to create a mediation board to initially settle complaints
from private individuals prior to the filing of a formal complaint against a
hospital.
Other
authors of the bill are Reps. Christopher Belmonte (6th District, Quezon
City), Teodoro "Ted" Montoro (AASENSO), Gus Tambunting
(2nd District, Parañaque), Jose Panganiban, Jr. CPA, LLB (ANAC-IP),
Maria Vida Espinosa Bravo (1st District, Masbate), Ma. Lucille Nava, M.D. (Lone
District, Guimaras), Angelina Tan (4th District, Quezon), Rodante Marcoleta
(SAGIP), Marlyn Primicias-Agabas (6th District, Pangasinan), Linabelle Ruth
VIllarica (4th District, Bulacan), Joaquin Chipeco, Jr. (4th District,
Laguna), Manuel Jose "Mannix" Dalipe (2nd District, Zamboanga
City), and Edgar Erice (2nd District, Caloocan City).
Sports
gets boost from House
The House
of Representatives has passed on second reading a bill seeking to require
higher education institutions (HEIs) to report participation and program
support expenditures in all college athletic programs.
House
Bill 5152 or the proposed “Athletic Programs Report Act” aims to: help develop
a healthy and competitive citizenry through sports and athletics; provide a
database of information containing athletic program participation rate and
financial support; and ensure that HEIs shall provide equal opportunities to
both female and male student athletes in sports activities.
Rep. Mark
Aeron H. Sambar (Party-list,PBA), principal author of the bill, said it is the
State policy to promote physical education and encourage sports programs,
league competitions and amateur sports, including training for international
competitions, to foster self-discipline, teamwork, and excellence towards the
development of a healthy and alert citizenry.
All
educational institutions are also mandated to undertake regular sports
activities throughout the country in cooperation with athletic clubs and other
sectors, Sambar said. “In line with these objectives, both male and
female athletes shall be given equal opportunities to receive proper training
and participate in sports activities and competitions,” he added.
He said
active participation in sports teaches the youth values such as teamwork,
handling challenges, and overcoming obstacles, keeps the mind sharp and
maintains physical fitness.
Sambar
said the bill requires institution of higher education to disclose
participation and program support expenditures in college athletic programs.
“Learning institutions should inform prospective students of the college’s or
university’s athletic programs in order for prospective students to make an
informed judgment of whether to enroll in the school or not,” said Sambar.
The bill
mandates HEIs to participate in any athletic programs recognized by the
Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
The HEIs
shall submit an annual report to the CHED chairperson regarding their
intercollegiate athletic programs containing the following: the total number of
participants in the athletic program and their gender; the ratio of male
participants to female participants in the entire athletic program; the total
operating expenses for the sports program; the total scholarship expenditures
vis-a-vis the total number of participants; the ratio of male scholarship
expenses to female scholarship expenses in the entire athletic program and the
number of contests participated in by the team, and the ratio of participants
to coaches among others.
On the
part of the CHED, it shall compile and publish annually the information
collected from HEIs, including the athletic conferences recognized by
intercollegiate athletic associations and participated in by the HEIs.
The CHED
shall also impose disciplinary action on HEIs and their personnel who will not
comply with the said requirement.
The bill
refers to college athletic programs refer as “college or university sports
programs, league competitions, amateur sports, and other sports activities,
including training for international competitions, organized by the HEI or
participated in by a team of students representing a college or university.”
It refers
to National Sports Associations (NSAs) as “various national sports associations
accredited by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).”
It refers
to program support expenditures as “operating, scholarship and other
expenditures incurred by the HEI in organizing an athletic team and
participating in an athletic program.”
The
measure mandates the disclosure of athletic program participation rate and
financial support, including the level of participation of NSAs and number of
athletes registered with the different NSAs.
The HEIs
shall also make available to the public the information contained in the report
submitted to the CHED through publication through any of the following public
information outlets: online, via the website of the institution; the local
school paper; bulletin boards in campus premises; and other schemes to disseminate
information.
Lastly,
it provides that within 60 days upon the effectivity of the Act, the CHED, in
coordination with the Philippine Association of State Universities and
Colleges, Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations, the
Association of Local Colleges and Universities, and the Philippine Olympic
Committee (POC), shall issue the necessary Implementing Rules and Regulations
(IRR).
Other
authors of the bill are Reps. Ben P. Evardone (Lone District, Eastern Samar),
Rose Marie J. Arenas (3rd District, Pangasinan), Christopher Vera Perez De
Venecia (4th District, Pangasinan), Cheryl P. Deloso-Montalla (2nd District,
Zambales), Jonas C, Cortez (6th District, Cebu), Renato J. Unico Jr. (1st
District, Camarines Norte), Carlito S. Marquez (Lone District, Aklan), Divina
Grace C. Yu (1st District, Zamboanga del Sur), Tricia Nicole Q. Velasco-Catera
(Party-list, MATA), Gary C. Alejano (Party-list,MAGDALO), Alfredo A. Garbin Jr.
(Party-list, AKO BICOL), Conrado M. Estrella III (Party-list, ABONO), Amado T.
Espino, Jr.(5th District, Pangasinan), and Leopoldo N. Bataoil (2nd District,
Pangasinan ).
Alvarez: A month enough to pass law postponing brgy. polls
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez today expressed confidence there is
enough time to pass a law to postpone the barangay elections and allow Pres.
Rodrigo Duterte to fill in the vacancies before the first regular session of
the 17th Congress ends in June.
Currently on break, Congress will resume its sessions on May 2 until
June 2 this year.
In a radio interview, Alvarez dismissed concerns Congress may not have
enough time to pass the necessary law to amend the Local Government for the
postponement of the barangay elections scheduled for October this year.
“Hindi po lalo na kapag na-certify as urgent ng ating Pangulo,” Alvarez
said.
In fact, Alvarez said that even while Congress is in recess he has
already directed his staff to prepare the draft of a bill for the purpose so
that it can be immediately filed in the House of Representatives upon the
resumption of session on May 2 and calendared for discussion.
Alvarez said Congress needs to pass the amendatory law to authorize the
Commission on Elections to postpone the October barangay polls.
Earlier, Pres. Duterte warned that if the October barangay elections
would push through many village officials with ties to the drug trade would
likely get re-elected. Instead, the President said he wants the polls postponed
and fill the vacant positions by appointment.
Alvarez reiterated his support for the position of Pres. Duterte.
“Valid naman po yung objective ng ating Pangulo,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez believes that the super-majority coalition in the House will
support Pres. Duterte’s proposal, saying that so far he has not received any
word expressing opposition against the idea from any member of the majority.
To ensure faster deliberation and approval of the proposal, Alvarez said
he intends to talk to Department of Interior
Secretary Ismael Sueno and Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel,
III.
Pres. Duterte had admitted that his plan to appoint barangay officials
to fill the vacant posts would be “quite messy” because incumbent barangay
officials would likely oppose the move.
According to the President, the first requirement for a barangay
officer-in-charge nominee is that they should not have any connections at all
with rebels. Second is that they are not into drugs, and lastly, they are not
really leaders of politicians.
The President said he would accept nominations from the Catholic Church,
from Islamic leaders, religious denominations and other organizations.
