20170607 Press Realease

Transcript: Questions of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez

Joint Hearing of the House Committees on Public Order and Safety, Games and Amusement, and Tourism

NAIA Terminal 3, Dignitaries’ Lounge

June 7, 2017, 11:05 AM

SPDA: Can you educate this Committee on the universal definition of terrorism?

Albayalde: Well, basically, Sir, the definition is an act of violence that would create massive casualties and massive fear in the population.

SPDA: When you say "massive", what is the meaning of "massive" in your understanding?

Albayalde: We cannot substantiate that, Sir. Probably, it would be substantive. We cannot actually measure it, but probably 'yung talagang yung fear--you create fear. But we cannot possibly measure that, Sir.

SPDA: So, yung sinasabi mo, an action that would create fear, puwede ba nating dagdagan na yung action, not only creates fear, but harms and kills people indiscriminately, 'di ba? So based on that definition, do you consider this an act of terrorism?

Albayalde: Sir, the act...the deaths were caused during the incident in Resorts World was incidental po doon sa pagsusunog nung suspects.

SPDA: Walang fear?

Albayalde: Well, of course, there was fear, there was fear, Sir. But the deaths, kung ang sinasabi po natin yung deaths na sinasabi ninyo dun sa nangyari, the deaths were all incidental po doon sa pagsunog niya. Remember, iyon pong ginawa ni ano, kaya namatay yung mga taong 'yun was not intentional on the part of the suspect to really inflict…or probably kill those people.

SPDA: Was the act of the assailant...did he cause terror to the people?

Albayalde: Of course, Sir.

SDA:   Okay, kung nag-cause ng terror, so anong tawag natin doon? It’s an act of terorism, right? It’s an act of terrorism by itself, strictly defined.

Albayalde: Yes, sir. Technically, terrorism po 'yun, but if we will consider every…

SPDA: So we agree.

Albayalde: We agree, considering all other crimes as acts of terrorism, because even a shooting incident could create fear. So that’s an act of terrorism. That would probably be…

SPDA: You are right. You are right, no? Strictly, a person who harms and kills anybody indiscriminately is an act of terrorism whether or not he is a member of a terrorist group or a lone terrorist.

Albayalde: Technically, Sir, you can probably say that, that the act itself…the act itself…

SPDA: Thank you. At least you agree with me that we call a spade a spade. Thank you. Yes, Usec. Cuy?

 Usec. Catalino Cuy: What Gen. Albayalde….first, he said that that incident maybe considered as terrorism because it caused damaged and death and injury to people. But because of the ongoing incident in Marawi, he was just emphasizing that based on available information and evidence it’s not related to that particular terrorism that is happening in Mindanao.

SPDA: What we are trying to arrive at here, we are not connecting this incident to what is happening in Mawari. We just want a proper labelling of what happened in Resorts World. Let us not confuse between a crime and yung acts of terrorism. Of course, yung acts of terrorism produce maybe so many crimes: murder, arson, 'di ba? Pero iba 'yun e. Iba itong ano pagle-label natin nung acts of terrorism.

Let me call your attention to Republic Act 9372, Human Security Act. Act. 'Eto ha…"act  of sowing and creating a condition of widespread and extraordinary fear and panic among the populace in order to coerce the government to give in to an unlawful demand". Iyan 'yung definition based doon sa batas natin kung ano yung terrorism. So siguro, tingnan lang natin. Huwag tayo agad magsabi na, "uy, hindi act of terrorism 'yan kundi act of arson resulting in multiple homicide siguro," 'di ba? O arson as a means of committing murder, puwede rin 'yun. Pero itong mga crimes na ito, hindi yan ano... iba 'yung commission of that particular crime and 'yung terrorism as we defined. So 'yun lang ang gusto kong linawin. ####

DoLE suspension order was "premature", OFW solon says; seeks reconsideration in behalf of OFWs with approved contracts

ACTS OFW party-list Representative Aniceto "John" Bertiz III described the DoLE suspension order for Qatar-bound OFWs as premature considering that a formal assessment has yet to be completed by both the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

"We have yet to hear of any clamor from our workers in Qatar for immediate repatriation. Based on my own personal consultations with our workers in Doha, they are determined to stay put and continue working for their employers," Bertiz said.

The lone OFW representative in Congress is also suggesting that the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) may send a team to Qatar to consult with foreign employers and Qatar-owned recruitment agencies regarding the temporary ban on OFW deployment.

"The DFA should take the cudgels of explaining this new order with the assistance from members of the Philippine recruitment agencies. What we don't need is for the good intentions of the Philippine government to be misinterpreted as political in nature rather than an initiative that is purely welfare-oriented," the congressman said.

Congressman Bertiz also stressed the need for the Office of the President to activate the Middle East Preparedness Team that was formerly headed by retired General Roy Cimatu who now heads the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. "The MEPT needs a new team leader preferably someone who understands the history, culture and policies of the different Gulf states."

He also urged Filipino workers in Qatar to keep in touch with the Philippine Embassy at all times especially when the diplomatic row turns into a full-blown crisis that would require immediate evacuation.

"Despite our disagreement over the suspension order issued by DoLE, the Labor Secretary has my full support because he has the best interests of our workers at heart. Nevertheless, I shall continue to urge him to lift the temporary deployment ban to allow OFWs with approved contracts to leave for Qatar because there are employers depending on them," Bertiz said.