20170529 Monday NEWS

Joint session only needed if Congress wants to revoke ML declaration—Speaker Alvarez

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez today said that unless Congress seeks to revoke President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law for the whole of Mindanao there is no need for the House of Representatives and the Senate to hold a joint session.

Some lawmakers earlier opined that the Constitution requires Congress to convene in a joint session to look into the legal and factual basis for the declaration of martial law.

In a radio interview, Alvarez explained that while it is very clear under the Constitution that the President needs to submit a report to Congress within 48 hours after declaring martial law, there is no explicit provision requiring a joint session of two chambers of the legislature to approve such declaration.

“Sinasabi po ng provision ng Constitution na yung Congress, voting jointly, may revoke the proclamation. ‘May revoke the proclamation’--- hindi po sinasabi na kailangan naming aprubahan. So, kung kailangan lang namin i-revoke, puwede kaming magpatawag ng joint session,” Alvarez said.

Among others, Art. VII, Section 18 of the 1987 Constitution provides that after the President submits his report on the declaration of martial law “Congress, voting jointly by a vote of at least a majority of all its Members in regular or special session, may revoke such proclamation.”

If a member of the House would question in the plenary session the basis of the declaration of martial law in the entire Mindanao, Alvarez said a vote may called to decide on the need for a joint session of Congress.

“Pagbobotohan namin sa mayorya kung kailangan naming magpatawag ng joint session, tapos kukonsultahin din namin yun Senado kung okay sila na mag-joint session,” said Alvarez.

Pursuant to their constitutional duty, Alvarez said they have asked several members of the Cabinet and other concerned government officials appear before the House

on Wednesday to answer questions from lawmakers on martial law and its implementation.

Among those invited to appear before the House include Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff and incoming Dept. of Interior and Local Government Secretary Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año, as well as other top brass from the Department of National Defense.

Earlier, Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said the House will meet as a Committee of the Whole on Wednesday to tackle President Duterte’s report on the declaration of martial law.

However, Alvarez said the House leadership has yet to decide on whether the proceedings of the Committee of the Whole will be open to the public and the media or would be held as an executive session.

After reading Malacanang’s report on the declaration of martial law, Alvarez said he is convinced that there are compelling reasons to justify the President’s decision.

“Klarong-klaro, wala akong doubt. Bilang taga-Mindanao na rin, I think talagang justified yung declaration ng martial law,” Alvarez stressed.

House leaders to embark on Northern Luzon highways inspection

The leadership of the House of Representatives headed by Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez will embark on another travel expedition from June 1 to 6, 2017 covering areas in Northern Luzon to continue its inspection of the country’s roads and highways, vital infrastructures, and installations to ensure the maximum benefit, comfort and safety of the Filipino people.

The Northern Luzon highways inspection expedition is inspired by the success of the historic “First House of Representatives Western and Eastern Nautical Highway Expedition” held from March 17 to 27, 2017 during which House members checked on the status of roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) ports and facilities, roads and highways, and infrastructures, among others.

The Western and Eastern Nautical Highway Inspection Expedition started off in Manila going to Mindoro and Iloilo then to Mindanao and the Visayas Region. It passed by the Bicol Region, Quezon and Batangas on its way back to Manila.

Because of the success of the first expedition, the House leadership decided to pursue the inspection project, this time covering Northern Luzon provinces. The new expedition will pass by the great plains of Pampanga, Tarlac and Bataan, the rolling hills of Zambales, the scenic Ilocos Region, and the mountainous province of Ifugao and Baguio City.

House leaders are expected to identify areas in Northern Luzon where vital infrastructures and road signs are most needed. They will also inspect the connectivity of road networks and the feasibility of using existing government installations for better public service.

The expedition will also inspect heritage sites and environmental wonders, among others, which need more protection.

So far, more than 70 House district and party-list lawmakers have manifested their desire to be part of the expedition.

Among the agencies which will form part of the caravan are the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

The House leaders decided to start the caravan immediately at the start of the sine die adjournment on June 1 so their time and effort will be maximized in checking on the needs of the people of Northern Luzon.

In his report to Congress during the plenary session last May 10, Majority Leader Rodolfo C. Fariñas (1st District, Ilocos Norte) submitted the Ad Hoc Committee report on the Western and Eastern nautical highway inspection tour which was the first part of the Speaker’s Highways Inspection Project.

Fariñas said the Speaker wanted the undertaking to assist the House Members during the budget deliberations in identifying priority areas that need budgetary support, reviewing all budget proposals of concerned agencies, and identifying which projects the Filipino people will mostly benefit from.

During the House committee on transportation hearing last March 29, panel chairman Rep. Cesar V. Sarmiento (Lone District, Catanduanes) said the data, experience and positive result they gathered during the first highways expedition will assist them in coming up with the needed development programs for the country’s ports, sea vessels, and land transport system.

Valuable inputs gathered were aired by Reps. Arnolfo A. Teves, Jr. (3rd District, Negros Oriental) who noted that in certain areas and long travel stretches, there were no rest stops along the highways. He proposed the use of ID scanners and the widening of roads in ports for faster and easier access.

Rep. Divina Grace C. Yu (1st District, Zamboanga del Sur) said that a safe, fast and convenient road network is imperative.  Sarmiento and Rep. Federico S. Sandoval II (Lone District, Malabon) reminded the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to do everything to ensure passenger safety at sea.

Fariñas noted that certain parts of Samar province have poor road network while many areas in Mindanao have good roads. He also said there were a few road signs to guide the riding public.

House panel summons Mark Lapid on Paskuhan sale probe

The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability has subpoenaed ex-Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) chief operating officer Mark Lapid to appear in its investigation of the alleged anomalous sale of the Paskuhan Village heritage site in Pampanga.

The committee chaired by Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Ty Pimentel issued the subpoena after Lapid repeatedly snubbed its inquiry into the sale deemed as allegedly grossly disadvantageous to the government.
  
The inquiry was initiated on the basis of House Resolution (HR) No. 654 filed by Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzalez, Jr., who claimed that the sale of the Paskuhan Village heritage site to Premier Central. Inc. was allegedly grossly disadvantageous to the government.
  
The sale allegedly violated Republic Act (RA) No. 9593, or the Tourism Act of 2009, and provisions of RA No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act, the ownership of the bidding participants, and the apparent disregard of Commission on Audit (COA) Circular No. 89-296 which set the guidelines for the disposal of government assets, among others.

Pimentel said the local government of San Fernando, Pampanga may have been on the losing end of the deal as the local government had argued in Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution No. 4622 that under RA No. 9593 it has the right of first refusal to the sale.
       
Deputy Speaker and Cebu Rep. Gwendolyn F. Garcia underscored that this provision is clearly specified in the law under Section 54, which states that “the TIEZA and the Department of Tourism (DoT), in coordination with the Privatization Council, shall determine which assets shall be put up for sale or lease.

Initiatives up to protect indigenous peoples

The House committee on indigenous cultural communities and indigenous peoples chaired by Rep. Nancy A.  Catamco (2nd District, North Cotabato) has approved the creation of a technical working group (TWG) that will finalize the bills seeking to protect and promote the rights of IPs affected by mining operations in ancestral domains.

The TWG to be headed by Rep. Jose T. Panganiban Jr.(Party-list,ANAC-IP) will consolidate House Bill 391 authored also by Panganiban and HB 4959 by Rep. Maximo B. Rodriguez Jr.(2nd District, Cagayan de Oro).

Both bills are titled “An Act To Protect And Promote The Rights of Indigenous Peoples Affected By Mining Operations In Ancestral Domains, Amending For the Purpose Republic Act No.7942, Otherwise Known As The “Philippine Mining Act Of 1995.”

Both measures seek to amend Section 16 of RA 7942 titled “Opening of Ancestral Lands to Mining Operations” so that “No ancestral and shall be opened for mining operations without the free and prior informed consent (FPIC) of the indigenous cultural community and a certification of precondition issued for the purpose by the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples, as specified under Section 59 of RA 8371 or “The Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997.”

Secondly, the bills seek to amend Section 17 of RA 7942 titled “Royalty Payments for ICCs so that In the event of an agreement with an indigenous cultural community pursuant to the preceding section, royalty payment, upon utilization of the minerals shall be given to the indigenous cultural community by the contractor, permit holder, or mining operator. The royalty shall form part of a trust fund for the socioeconomic well-being of the members of the ICC.

Per Panganiban’s bill the proposed royalty amounts to 20 percent of the gross output while Rodriguez’s bill proposed five percent.

The authors pointed out that Section 46 of RA 8371 provides the Ancestral Domain Office shall also issue, upon the FPIC of the ICCs/IPs concerned, certification prior to the grant of any license, lease or permit for the exploitation of natural resources affecting the interests of ICCs/IPs or their ancestral domains and to assist the ICCs/IPs in protecting the territorial integrity of all ancestral domains. It shall likewise perform such other functions as the Commission may deem appropriate and necessary.

This provision has created confusion among the stakeholders of the mining sector because RA 7942 and its implementing guidelines do not explicitly provide for such requirement, according to the the authors.

Moreover, the authors cited that Section 17 of RA 7942   about royalty payments for ICCs provides that in the event of an agreement with an ICC pursuant to the preceding section, a royalty payment upon utilization of the minerals shall be agreed upon by the parties which shall form part of a trust fund for the socio-economic well-being of the ICCs/IPs, without indicating the exact amount to be paid by the contractor, permit holder or mining operator.

This particular provision has likewise led to disagreements concerning the royalty payments according to them.

Rep. Allen Jesse C. Mangaoang (Lone District,Kalinga) said the agency that can address the issue on royalty is the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) while  Rep. Wilter “Sharky” Wee Palma II asked if it is the NCIP that collects the royalties.

Pascual Patting, NCIP Development Management Officer III, said the NCIP is not the agency that collects the royalties from mining firms.

Panganiban explained the NCIP acts as a witness between the mining companies and the community and that the miners pay directly to the community through its elders.

Rodolfo Velasco, division chief of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)-DENR said the provisions of Section 17 of RA 7942 were further expounded under the IRR through Administrative Order 2010-21.

The IRR states that in the event prior informed consent is secured in accordance with the preceding paragraph, the concerned parties shall agree on a royalty payment for the concerned ICC, which may not be less than one percent of the gross output.

Furthermore, the IRR provides the expenses for community development shall be credited to or charged against the said royalty.

Section 39 of the IRR on the terms and conditions of the mineral agreement stipulates that the contractors shall recognize the rights, customs and traditions of the local communities, particularly the ICCs.

The IRR also provides for the establishment of a social development and management program (SDP) for the host and neighboring communities within the mining operation that includes also the ICCs.  The SDMP being funded by the mining companies is pegged at 1.5 percent of their operating cost.

Velasco said the DENR supports the bills, however, it is apprehensive about the  magnitude of royalty payment of 20 percent per HB 391 and 5 percent per HB 4959 of the gross output of mining and quarrying operations.

He said the position paper they are submitting to the body contains a comparison on the present one percent royalty payment being paid by the mining companies, and how much it will become under the 20 percent and five percent proposals.

For example, Velasco said, the one percent royalty being paid by Carrascal Mining Corporation amounts to P19 million, and this will become P382 million if the royalty will be raised to 20 percent and P96 million at five percent.

Panganiban said it was unfortunate that when the DENR made the IRR, it pegged  the payment rate at 1 percent. “Unang-una, kawawa naman iyong mga IPs. Sa kanila na iyong lupa na durog na, bibigyan lang sila ng one percent. Nasaan naman iyong puso? The worst case is one percent na nga lang hindi pa binibigay, hindi pa binabayaran,”   said Panganiban.

Panganiban said the 20 percent or P398 million in Velasco’s example will be used in the rehabilitation of lands mined, development efforts, and corporate social responsibility, among others.

House leader calls for allowance for members of the reserve forces

With the recent events that transpired in the Marawi City following the declaration of Martial Law in the island of Mindanao by President Rodrigo Duterte, AKO Bicol Representative Rodel Batocabe calls for the passage of a law that would qualify the Citizen Armed Force for sufficient 7allowances and remuneration.

AKO Bicol Partylist filed House Bill 807, or “An Act Providing for Allowances for the Members of the Citizens Armed Forces of the Philippines”. The proposed legislative measure would pave way for allowances and compensation for the members of the Reserve Forces.

“Our Armed Forces have been gallantly fighting the terrorists who have wreaked havoc in the streets of Marawi that torched schools and buildings and harassed innocent citizens.” Batocabe said. “Should there be a need for the Reserve Forces to be summoned in active duty to march with our Armed Forces, we must recompense their efforts by granting necessary allowance and hazard pay”, Batocabe added.

Since Tuesday, the militants who have aligned their group to the Islamic State have kept citizens of Marawi City hostage, blocking all possible routes of exits with gunmen carrying heavy artillery to guard entrance and exit ports.

“Our Reserve Forces is always ready to provide the base for the expansion of AFP during war, invasion, or rebellion. They are also present for relief and rescue during disasters,” Batocabe added.

The passage of House Bill 807 would grant the Ready Reserve an allowance of P3,000.00 per month of service and P1, 000.00 per day of active duty in times of national emergency or war. The Standby and Retired Reserve shall also qualify for the daily hazard pay of P1,000.00 during active duty.

Reserve Forces units are categorized into three groups, the Ready Reserve, Standby Reserve, and Retired Services.

The Ready Reserve is the pool of trained and qualified individuals that are always on call to augment the numbers of the AFP during national and local emergencies. Calamities, disasters, and threats to peace and order are examples of local emergencies.

 The Standby and Retired Reserve may only be mobilized or ordered to active duty during instances of national emergencies or war.

Schools are easy targets for terrorists and criminals

Given the past months' headline-grabbing incidents of rape, homicide, robberies, and abuse of illegal drugs that happened on some campuses and involved students and teachers, I appeal to the Philippine National Police, Interior Department, and education agencies to be stricter and circumspect in their security measures for schools nationwide.

Principals, registrars, and guidance counselors must be on the alert for patterns and situations that can lead to or trigger violence involving students attacking other students and students attacking teachers. Sadly, bullying situations are involved in some past incidents of students attacking other students.

Rape and stabbings have happened on some campuses. While these incidents have been reported in media, we have heard nothing about the results of investigations. The results of these probes must be made public so we can learn hard, painful lessons from them.

Schools should be able to get the nearest local police station or police on patrol to respond quickly. Schools must work with PTAs to address emotional and social distress which trigger violence on campus or near-campus.

Most schools have only one or two security personnel on duty. There are some campuses with thousands of students and dozens of teachers, but only one security guard.

These schools needing additional security personnel must coordinate with their local barangay for the deployment of barangay tanod near their campus gates.

Schools happen to be soft or easy targets of robbers. Some schools have been robbed of their computers and CCTV equipment because the buildings where they are kept or installed are easy to rob.

Deadly weapons and illegal drugs have no place in our schools. School security personnel must be very strict on these dangerous items.

Contractors building classrooms on campuses must provide security at their project sites. Their construction workers must have limited access on campus and be closely monitored by their own security people.

Students and school personnel caught selling drugs on campus must be dealt with appropriately, consistent with current child protection policies and administrative rules.

Commuter tricycles ferrying students and teachers to and from campuses must be registered with city or municipal tricycle regulatory offices.

Barangays, police, and parents' groups must work together to make sure school children are safe when they commute or walk to and from school.

Impeach Duterte tutuldukan na sa Miyerkules

Inaasahan na ibabasura na ng Kamara de Representantes ang impeachment laban kay Pangulong Duterte.

Ayon kay House committee on justice chairman at Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali hindi ito naniniwala na nakakuha ng 98 boto para mabaliktad ang desisyon ng komite at iakyat ang reklamo sa Senado na magsasagawa ng impeachment trial.

“The public can expect the plenary to affirm the dismissed impeachment complaint against President Duterte this Wednesday,” ani Umali.

Sinabi naman ni House deputy speaker at Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu na nananatiling malakas ang supermajority bloc at mataas ang popularidad ni Duterte kaya malabo na magtagumpay ang impeachment.

“It is expected that the overwhelming majority of our colleagues under the super majority will sustain the decision of the House committee on justice, giving protection to the President from facing a similar ouster complaint for a period of one-year,” ani Abu.

Ibinasura ng Justice committee ang impeachment complaint na inihain ni Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano.

Isang beses lamang maaaring sampahan ng impeachment complaint ang pangulo sa loob ng isang taon. Kung mayroong maghahain sa Mayo 9, 2018 pa ito maaaring tanggapin ng Kamara.

Ang reklamo ni Alejano ay kaugnay ng extrajudicial killings, secret bank account umano ni Duterte at ang posisyon nito sa isyu ng West Philippine Sea.

 

 

House to junk impeach raps vs Duterte on Wednesday

The House of Representatives is expected to finally junk the impeachment complaint against President Duterte this coming Wednesday to affirm the decision of the House committee on justice.

Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, chairman of the panel, said he would sponsor the committee report this week to allow his colleagues to vote on the matter before Congress adjourns sine die starting June 3.

“The public can expect the plenary to affirm the dismissed impeachment complaint against President Duterte this Wednesday,” said Umali, a member of the PDP-Laban.

Deputy Speaker and Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu, a stalwart of the Nacionalista Party (NP), said his colleagues will “respect the overwhelming mandate given by the people to the President.”

“It is expected that the overwhelming majority of our colleagues under the super majority will sustain the decision of the House committee on justice, giving protection to the President from facing a similar ouster complaint for a period of one-year,” Abu explained.

Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte said the expected dismissal of the impeachment complaint in the plenary will help lawmakers to focus more on their legislative mandate to help President Duterte propel the economy.

“My colleagues can focus now on crafting reform laws that would help President Duterte achieve his government’s ambitious goal of sustaining the growth momentum, drastically reducing poverty and transforming our country into an upper middle-income economy by the time his term ends in 2022,” said Villafuerte, also of the NP said.

The committee on justice last May 22 dismissed the impeachment complaint filed by Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano for allegedly not meeting the required “substance” in an impeachment complaint.

Forty-two allies of the President voted against the impeachment complaint.
Based on the 15-page committee report, the panel resolved and concluded that the impeachment complaint against President Duterte is defective, prompting lawmakers to declare it “sufficient in form,” but “not sufficient in substance.”

“It is further recommended that this Committee Report and its accompanying Resolution dismissing the Verified Complaint and Supplemental Complaint for the Impeachment of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte be approved in a Plenary Roll Call vote pursuant to Section 3(3), Article XI of the 1987 Constitution,” the report said.

The report also recommended the Rules of Procedure in Impeachment Proceedings of the House of Representatives be amended to explicitly allow the dismissal of the impeachment complaint based on insufficiency in form.

The impeachment complaint was based on the testimonies of self-confessed Davao Death Squad members Arturo Lascañas, Edgar Matobato and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV who had accused Duterte of amassing ill-gotten wealth on the basis of bank records.

Also included in the complaint were the 8,000 drug suspects that were summarily killed in the course of President Duterte’s campaign against drugs.

Alejano accused Duterte of committing betrayal of public trust, bribery, multiple murder and crimes against humanity “when he adopted a state policy of inducing policemen, other law enforcement authorities and vigilante groups into the extrajudicial killings of more than 8,000 persons who were merely suspected of being drug offenders.”

He alleged that Duterte organized and maintained liquidation squads “under the guise of ‘Anti-Crime Task Forces,’ special police units like Davao’s Heinous Crimes Unit and/or vigilante groups like the dreaded Davao Death Squad and/or providing funds to the said group.”

House to formalize dismissal of Duterte impeachment complaint

The House plenary is set to officially declare as dead the impeachment complaint against President Duterte on Wednesday, May 31.

Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, chairman of the House Committee on Justice, said the plenary will put to vote their panel report and resolution dismissing the ouster complaint filed Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano against the Chief Executive this week before Congress adjourns sine die.

“The public can expect the plenary to affirm the dismissed impeachment complaint against President Duterte this Wednesday,” he said.

Deputy Speaker and Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu said there is no doubt that the plenary will affirm the Umali panel’s report junking the impeachment complaint against President Duterte.

“It is expected that the overwhelming majority of our colleagues under the super majority will sustain the decision of the House committee on justice, giving protection to the President from facing a similar ouster complaint for a period of one year,” he said.

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, vice chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations said it is about time for House members to focus more on passing significant legislation that would put the country’s economy in a solid footing.

House leaders reject some senators’ calls for joint session on ML

The House leadership rejected yesterday calls by some senators for Congress to hold a joint session to discuss extensively the Martial Law declaration of President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte.

With the support of the House supermajority to Martial Law proclamation, House Majority Floor Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo “Rudy” Fariñas, a stalwart of the ruling Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), said a joint session is far from being convened, explaining this may be needed only when lawmakers will revoke the martial law or Congress recommends its extension after 60 days through the request of the President.
  
“A joint session needs the concurrence of both Houses. If the majority of each House wants a joint session, each will adopt a Concurrent Resolution for that purpose,” Fariñas, a bar topnotcher, explained.
  
Fariñas said “the position of each legislator may be expressed in the sessions of the House of Representatives and the Senate when they separately consider the Report of the President. If either House finds that there is no need to revoke the martial law proclamation of the President, a joint session may not happen.”
  
Deputy Speaker and Batangas City Rep. Raneo Abu, a stalwart of the Nacionalista Party (NP), agreed with Fariñas, adding that majority rules where the House initially decided to convene Congress in a committee of the whole this Wednesday to ask Cabinet members about the Martial Law declaration.
  
“I respect the position of the senators who are calling for a joint session on martial law in Mindanao but the Lower House will abide with the decision of the majority about the matter,” said Abu.
  
But Akbayan party-list Rep. Tom Villarin, a member of the “Magnificent 7” bloc of the House of Representatives or the genuine opposition, joined senators in seeking a joint session to discuss the President’s martial law proclamation.
  
“A joint session should be in order but each chamber should decide it.
  
It’s constitutionally mandated. We in the opposition have a lot of questions on the martial law declaration as there are vague issues that need to be addressed. ML has turned into a nightmare of emerging policy questions,” said Villarin.
  
Senators Loren Legarda and Risa Hontiveros cited the need for Congress to call for a joint session to fulfil its constitutional duty to scrutinize the martial law declaration and allow that the position of each member of Congress be put on record.
  
Fariñas reiterated the committee of the whole will meet this Wednesday morning “to consider the President’s report” on martial law and “will decide whether it will move for the revocation of the Proclamation.”
  
Quoting Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Fariñas said the Senate will consider the Report of the President today at 3 p.m.
  
Deputy Speaker and Cebu Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia also echoed Fariñas’s position, saying that it would be unnecessary to hold a joint session if both the House and Senate would decide not to revoke the proclamation.
  
“Under the Constitution, it will indeed take a joint session to revoke the President’s proclamation. But, if no one files to revoke, there is no need for a joint session,” Garcia said.

 

Rejection of Duterte impeach suit final

 

The plenary of the House of Representatives is expected to affirm this Wednesday the unanimous decision of the House committee on justice junking the impeachment complaint against President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte.

Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, who chairs the panel, said the supermajority led ruling Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) said he will sponsor the committee report this week to allow his colleagues to vote on the matter before Congress adjourns sine die starting June 3.
  
“The public can expect the plenary to affirm the dismissed impeachment complaint against President Duterte this Wednesday,” said Umali, a member of the PDP-Laban.
  
Deputy Speaker and Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu, a stalwart of the Nacionalista Party (NP), said his colleagues will “respect the overwhelming mandate given by the people to the President.”
  
“It is expected that the overwhelming majority of our colleagues under the super majority will sustain the decision of the House committee on justice, giving protection to the President from facing a similar ouster complaint for a period of one-year,” Abu explained.
  
Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte said the expected dismissal of the impeachment complaint in the plenary will help lawmakers focus more on their legislative mandate to help President Duterte propel the economy.
  
“My colleagues can focus now on crafting reform laws that would help President Duterte achieve his government’s ambitious goal of sustaining the growth momentum, drastically reducing poverty and transforming our country into an upper middle-income economy by the time his term ends in 2022,” said Villafuerte, another NP stalwart.
  
Last May 22, the Umali panel adopted their May 15, 2017 decision where 42 lawmakers junked the impeachment complaint filed by Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano after admitting that he had no personal knowledge on the allegations raised.
  
The committee spent only 20 minutes to approve the committee report where 17 panel members voted to approve the report dismissal the impeachment complaint.
  
The impeachment complaint was deemed initiated on May 9, 2017 following the plenary referral to his panel, the date when the one-year bar on filing a similar impeachment complaint against President Duterte took effect.                                   
  
Based on the 15-page committee report, the panel resolved and concluded that the impeachment complaint against President Duterte is defective, prompting lawmakers to declare it “sufficient in form,” but “not sufficient in substance.”

“It is further recommended that this Committee Report and its accompanying Resolution dismissing the Verified Complaint and Supplemental Complaint for the Impeachment of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte be approved in a Plenary Roll Call vote pursuant to Section 3(3), Article XI of the 1987 Constitution,” the report said.
  
The report also recommended that the Rules of Procedure in Impeachment Proceedings of the House of Representatives be amended to explicitly allow the dismissal of impeachment complaint based on insufficiency in form.

‘TRAIN’ intact, on track for House passage

It seems that individual amendments of lawmakers to the Duterte administration’s tax reform package that is scheduled to be approved on second reading this Monday are considered dead as controversial provisions have remained intact, including P6 per liter tax on petroleum products, P10 per liter excise tax on sugar and sweetened beverages (SSB), lifting the Expanded Value-Added Tax (EVAT) exemption on cooperatives among others.

“All the original provisions are intact,” Quirino Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua, who chairs the House committee on ways and means, admitted on the proposal that is greatly feared would cause prices of basic goods to significantly rise.
   
“I am proposing to have second reading vote tomorrow (Monday). I believe that the bill has been discussed thoroughly and has the support of the majority of our colleagues,” Cua stressed.
  
To ensure its passage on third and final reading by Wednesday before Congress adjourns sine die this week, Deputy Speaker and Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo, a former chairman of the House committee on ways and means, said President Duterte has to certify the bill as urgent measure.
  
“The third reading approval of TRAIN is possible only if the President certifies the bill as urgent. As you remember, we can only vote a measure on third reading if copies of the second reading bill are provided the members at least three days prior to voting. There are only three session days left and no second reading approval yet. Without the presidential certification, it’s now a physical impossibility,” Quimbo explained.
  
Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte, a stalwart of the Nacionalista Party (NP), said the proposal is designed to cut income tax rates for the benefit of low-income workers and at the same time help raise money for the Duterte administration’s massive expenditure program to lift six million Filipinos out of poverty and transform the Philippines into an upper middle-income country by 2022.
  
“Let’s help in our vision to eradicate extreme poverty in one generation or by 2040 and make†the Philippines a high-income or advanced economy by that time,” said Villafuerte, a vice chairperson of the House committee on appropriations.

Last Monday, lawmakers submitted their individual amendments and compromise formula to support the passage of House Bill (HB) No. 5636 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN), formerly known as the Comprehensive Tax Reform Package (CTRP).

‘Grossly unfair’

Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe, president of the Party List Coalition (PLC) composed of 47 representatives, said he is hoping that a compromised agreement will still be reached or they will abstain during the voting if their request to scrap the provision under the bill lifting EVAT exemption on cooperatives is not accepted.
  
“It will be grossly unfair for our taxpayers to subsidize cooperatives, which is the DoF (Department of Finance) counter-proposal if and when coops are subjected to tax. Coops are sui generis, a different kind of sector which are designed more appropriately as social enterprises to encourage self-help and entrepreneurship to enhance inclusive economic growth especially in the countryside. Exempting them from VAT is one way of promoting coops among our people. Being a self- help organization, it is anathema to their inherent nature to beg for subsidy or doleouts from the government,” Batocabe explained.
  
The measure will exempt workers earning P250,000 and below for the years 2018 and 2019 from paying personal income taxes on top of the tax-free P82,000 worth of allowances and 13th month pay annually.

But the measure is also proposing P6 tax on petroleum products, P10 per liter tax on sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs), ad valorem tax on brand new automobiles among others.
  
If passed into law, it is expected to generate P206.8 billion in revenues. Negros Oriental Rep. Arnulfo Teves urged the BoC to collect their P230 billion annual tax leakage instead of passing the TRAIN.

Cua said the Department of Finance’s (DoF) decision to spread out the proposed P6 a liter to increase oil excise tax into three tranches of P3, P2 and P1 in the first three years will lighten the burden on the riding public.
                                      
The proposal will also restructure excise taxes on alcohol.

Solons cross party lines to raise funds for Marawi victims, with their salaries

A fund drive for victims of the Marawi clash is being readied at the House of Representatives by a group of congressmen from various political parties, a House leader disclosed yesterday.

“I will initiate a fund drive among my colleagues and to hopefully pass a multi-party resolution setting aside part of our salaries for the people of Marawi City as well as for the soldiers who died in the line of fire,” said Deputy Speaker and Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo, a stalwart of the Liberal Party (LP) allied with the supermajority led by the ruling Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
  
Quimbo refused to give details pending consultations with his colleagues.
  
Deputy Speaker and Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu, a stalwart of the Nacionalista Party (NP),  urged the nation’s largest corporations to provide cash and food items to support relief efforts in the conflict areas.
  
“The country’s biggest corporations can contribute hugely in extending assistance to the victims and the rebuilding efforts. Hopefully the Marawi City crisis will be over very soon,” said Abu.
  
Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, a member of the PDP-Laban, said “that is a very good gesture. I am all for it.”
  
Parañaque City Rep. Gus Tambunting, who chairs the House committee on games and amusement, said a fund drive is the best way to help the victims of Marawi City crisis.
  
“There will be a fund drive.  We will pass the hat and also solicit from other well meaning friends who wish to extend assistance to our brothers and sisters in Marawi City,” said Tambunting, a member of the PDP-Laban.
  
Citizens Battle Against Corruption (Cibac) party-list Rep. Sherwin Tugna, House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms chair, said the fund drive “can be done by members of the House of Representatives by contributing their own personal funds to help our distressed fellow Filipinos.”
  
Meanwhile, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe and Akbayan party-list Rep. Tom Villarin underscored the necessity of first assessing the extent of damage in Marawi City.
  
“Sa Marawi relief, we should hold our horses and purses first. First, we should know the extent of damage. Second, we should ensure that there is a system or conduit of aid to ensure that this will reach the right persons. Third, we make sure that the government cannot adequately answer the needs. In the meantime, please channel our generous spirit to the millions of urban and rural poor waiting to be helped,” said Batocabe, president of the Party List Coalition (PLC).
  
For his part, Villarin said “we still will discuss concretely how we can help the people of Marawi. It has turned into a big humanitarian crisis with internally displaced persons in thousands.”

Schools are easy targets for terrorists and criminals

Given the past months' headline-grabbing incidents of rape, homicide, robberies, and abuse of illegal drugs that happened on some campuses and involved students and teachers, I appeal to the Philippine National Police, Interior Department, and education agencies to be stricter and circumspect in their security measures for schools nationwide.

Principals, registrars, and guidance counselors must be on the alert for patterns and situations that can lead to or trigger violence involving students attacking other students and students attacking teachers. Sadly, bullying situations are involved in some past incidents of students attacking other students.

Rape and stabbings have happened on some campuses. While these incidents have been reported in media, we have heard nothing about the results of investigations. The results of these probes must be made public so we can learn hard, painful lessons from them.

Schools should be able to get the nearest local police station or police on patrol to respond quickly. Schools must work with PTAs to address emotional and social distress which trigger violence on campus or near-campus.

Most schools have only one or two security personnel on duty. There are some campuses with thousands of students and dozens of teachers, but only one security guard.

These schools needing additional security personnel must coordinate with their local barangay for the deployment of barangay tanod near their campus gates.

Schools happen to be soft or easy targets of robbers. Some schools have been robbed of their computers and CCTV equipment because the buildings where they are kept or installed are easy to rob.

Deadly weapons and illegal drugs have no place in our schools. School security personnel must be very strict on these dangerous items.

Contractors building classrooms on campuses must provide security at their project sites. Their construction workers must have limited access on campus and be closely monitored by their own security people.

Students and school personnel caught selling drugs on campus must be dealt with appropriately, consistent with current child protection policies and administrative rules.

Commuter tricycles ferrying students and teachers to and from campuses must be registered with city or municipal tricycle regulatory offices.

Barangays, police, and parents' groups must work together to make sure school children are safe when they commute or walk to and from school.

It’s the masses interest will lose if peace talks get cancelled

The Netherlands – Anakpawis party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao today is urging the Duterte gov’t not to stop the talks with the National Democratic Front of Philippines saying that it’s the masses interest will be at the losing end with the impending cancellation of the fifth round of peace talks.

Casilao, who is part of the House of Representatives delegation to observe the fifth round of peace talks which was held in Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands.

“It would be very disheartening if the talks will be cancelled, in fact the masses interest is at stake here as the main contention of the talks is their welfare which includes free land distribution, national industrialization, and environmental protection and among others”, Casilao said

The Anakpawis solon said “It’s only natural that during the negotiations, contradictions will arise, but the point is not to stop it. The peace negotiation is the proper venue to address various concerns and issues of both parties. Let the interest of the people whom for a long time clamouring for genuine change. We have the on-going peace talks to really push for these social reforms. The Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms which in the heart of its agenda are the decades-long problem of the peasants over landlessness. Many who are joining the New People’s Army were peasants who have been stripped of their lands or victims of previous pro-land lord land reform program. This is to be settled by providing distribution of land for free in which agreed upon by both parties”.

“Pres. Duterte should stand his ground in supporting the peace talks and stop listening to his security advisers that are obviously giving him ill-advises. These officials who whisper him in the ears want the peace talks to collapse to undermine his efforts to attain just peace. For example, hundreds of kilometres from Marawi City, thousands of civilians in the provinces of Compostela Valley, Davao City, Davao del Sur, South Cotabato, Saranggani, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato,  and Bukidnon numbering at least 1,600 residents flee for safety as aerial bombardment and shelling were conducted by the AFP since May 24, 2017. Affected are mainly farmers including Moro and lumad. These very alarming news should be address by both parties immediately”, Casilao concluded.

Deputy Minority Leader Harry Roque re recent remarks of Pres Duterte on Martial Law

I take it that President Duterte meant that he will get his facts on the ground from the AFP and PNP, because after all, they are the ones directly confronting the problem. It doesn’t mean he is suborning the checks-and-balances roles of Congress and the Supreme Court.

It's a different issue if Congress recalls the proclamation of Martial Law, as the Constitution says the President cannot overrule Congress on that score.

But limiting the process to inputs from law enforcement would not reflect the true situation on the ground. The totality of circumstances must be considered — including the views of civilians and all other stakeholders in the discussion is paramount.

Given the sensitivities of a Martial Law situation, the President must be precise and more circumspect in his statements, so as not to give the impression that he is subverting the Constitution. Congress and the Supreme Court must also be provided the information available to the Executive so that they can act as mandated by the constitutional order.

Finally, the Supreme Court cannot act on any petition questioning Martial Law until Congress has done its duty. However, it may step in if Congress procrastinates or fails to perform its duty to review the President's Declaration of Martial Law, pursuant to the High Court's decision in Fortun v. Arroyo (2012).