Katropa sa Kamara: Nobyembre 2017

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IILAN LAMANG PO IYON SA MGA IMPORMASYONG ATING NAKALAP SA KAMARA DE REPRESENTANTES NITONG NAKARAANG MGA ARAW.

MAGANDANG UMAGA PILIPINAS, MAGANDANG UMAGA KATROPA, AT MAGANDANG UMAGA SA LAHAT NG ATING MGA TAGAPAKINIG!

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AT KUNG NAIS PO NINYONG MAKIPAG-TALASTASAN O MERON MAN PO KAYONG MGA REAKSIYON AT SUHESTIYON HINGGIL SA ATING MGA PAKSA, TUMAWAG LAMANG O DIDI KAYA AY MAG-TEXT SA MOBILE PHONE NUMBER: 0905 457 7102.

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OKEY, NARITO NA PO ANG ATING NAKALAP NA MGA IMPORMASYON MULA SA KAMARA DE REPRESENTANTES, KABUUAN NG ATING MGA BALITA:

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MARAMING SALAMAT AT KAMI PO AY INYONG PINAHINTULUTANG PUMASOK SA INYONG MGA TAHANAN SA PAMAMAGITAN NG ATING PALATUNTUNANG KATROPA SA KAMARA.

BAGO TAYO MAGTAPOS NG ATING PALATUNTUNAN, BATIIN KO MUNA SINA: Dennis at Joanna Melarpis, Cecille Figueroa, Eloisa Lomeda ng Bills and Index Service ng House of Representatives; sina Lumon Ray Mordeno, Oscar Cadenas, aking mga kapatid na sina Edmund, Edith and Jing ng Brisbane, Australia; Ehm, Orland, Myra and Willie ng Jabonga, ADN; those who are listening via live streaming sa internet, wwwdotdwdddotcomdotph, sa Facebook wwwdotfacebookdotcom @dwdd1134 at sa Twitter #Katropa; and everybody.

DAGHANG SALAMAT PUD SA ATONG MGA KAHIGALAANG MGA BISAYA NGA NAMINAW KANATO KARONG TAKNAA.

ITO PO ANG INYONG LINGKOD – KINI ANG INYONG KABUS NGA SULUGUON, TERENCE MORDENO GRANA.

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NEWS Release

26 November 2017

House approves bill expanding powers of the NTC

The House of Representatives unanimously approved House Bill 6558 which seeks to expand and strengthen the powers of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to improve telecommunications services in the country.

To fulfill this, the bill, which is principally authored by Rep. Victor Yap (2nd District, trarlac), chairman of the committee on information and communications technology, provides for the amendment of Republic Act No. 7925, otherwise known as the Public Telecommunications Policy Act of the Philippines.”

It seeks the amendment of Section 3 of RA 7925 titled “Definitions and Interpretations” by providing for the meaning of Significant Market Power, which is “The ability of a public telecommunications entity to effect price, supply or innovation in the telecommunications industry or any part thereof, as a result of either its control over essential facilities or the use of its position in any market in the telecommunications industry or any market related thereto.”

The NTC is mandated to adopt standardized definitions of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the World Wide Web Consortium (WWWC), and the Internet Corporation For Assigned Numbers and Names (ICANN), and other international and transnational agencies governing the development, use, and standardization of the internet, and information and communications technology, subject to refinements of these international standards as may be prescribed by regional telecommunication bodies, taking into consideration the special circumstances applicable only to the region.

The bill also seeks the amendment of Section 5 of RA 7925 titled “Responsibilities of the NTC” by adding a sub-section H which is about imposing penalties on erring public telecommunication entities.

The sub-section provides that in the exercise of its regulatory powers, the NTC shall impose fines against public telecommunication entities within the scope of its regulation, which are found to have violated, violating, or those which have failed or are failing to comply with the terms and conditions of the Act, any certificate, or any order, decision or regulation of the NTC.

The erring public telecommunication entity shall be subject to a fine amounting to the actual loss or overcharging as determined by the NTC for every day during which such default or violation continues, or if it is not feasible to quantify the offense, to a fine amounting to P1 million for every day during which such default or violation continues until the amount is fully paid.

If the telecommunication entity has a gross annual income not exceeding P10 million, the penalty that may be imposed shall be equivalent to one percent to two percent of its gross annual income. The NTC is hereby authorized and empowered to impose such fine, after due notice and hearing. The erring telecommunication entity is also mandated to refund to consumers the charges it erroneously imposed on its subscribers.

The NTC is further authorized to impose a fine of P1 million for every day that a violation of Section 18 (Access Charge/Revenue Sharing) and Section 19 (Uniform System of Accounts) hereof is committed, and until such time that the erring telecommunication entity fully complies with the terms and conditions of the Act, any certificate, or any order, decision or regulation of the NTC.

If the entity has a gross annual income not exceeding P10 million, the penalty that may imposed shall be equivalent to one percent to two percent of its gross annual income.

The NTC shall require public telecommunication entities with significant market power as determined by the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) to provide timely access to its network, facilities or equipment to access seekers on a fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms and conditions.

The bill also amends Section 10 of RA 7925 titled “International Carrier” so that only entities which can demonstrably show technical and financial capability to install and operate an international gateway facility shall be allowed to operate as an international carrier.

The bill also amends Section 12 of RA 7925 titled “Mobile Radio Services” so that more than one duly enfranchised provider of mobile radio services, distinct and separate from the local exchange carrier, may be allowed to operate. However, such entities shall secure prior authority from the NTC and in addition, comply with the norms on radio frequency spectrum utilization.

It also amends Section 15 of RA 7925 titled “Use of Available or Unassigned Spectrum” which provides that the radio frequency spectrum allocation and assignment shall be subject to an annual review. The use thereof shall be subject to reasonable spectrum user fees.

Within one year from the effectivity of the Act, the Department of Information and Communications (DICT), in consultation with the NTC and the PCC, shall issue the guiding principles and policy direction for the use of spectrum.

The bill also amends Section 18 of RA 7925 to insert a new Section 18-A titled “Transparency”, which provides that all interconnecting carriers shall provide to the NTC all terms and conditions, including rates of access charge/revenue sharing arrangements such as carriers have entered into.

All telecommunications service providers shall open their books of account to the NTC, which is empowered to demand copies thereof.

Other authors of the bill are Reps. Manuel Jose Dalipe, Vilma Santos-Recto, Micaela Violago, Carlos Isagani Zarate, Makmod Mending, Jr., Enrico Pineda, Michael Odylon Romero, Francis Gerald Abaya, Mariano Michael Velarde, Jr. and Xaivier Jesus Romualdo. (30) RBB

News Release

27 November 2017

Justice Committee warns Sereno lawyers from ridiculing impeachment proceedings

In a rare show of unity, members of the House Committee on Justice from both sides of the political fence today decried statements issued by lawyers of Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno ridiculing the panel’s proceedings on the impeachment case against her.

Before the start of the hearing, Umali said that it has come to his attention that two of the lawyers of Sereno branded the proceedings of the panel as a “dog-and-pony show” after the panel refused to allow the counsels of Chief Justice to ask questions in her absence.

He identified the lawyers as Joshua Santiago and Aldwin Salumbides.

“If I may just enjoin the lawyers, please respect this impeachment committee lest we be forced to use the coercive powers of this committee or other powers vested in the House of Representatives, para lang po maging maayos ang proeedings,” Umali said.

He said Sereno lawyers should refrain from issuing statements casting aspersions on the committee proceedings.

“We are trying our darnest best to be fair here. May hangganan din po ang aming pasensya and I hope we will not come to that,” Umali added.

Quezon City Rep. Christopher Belmonte, who has been very vocal in questioning the impeachment proceedings, backed Umali’s warning.

“I agree with the chair. Medyo unfair din na pinipitik tayo na nire-railroad natin or etc. I think medyo unfair yun,” he said.

SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta said that apart from the lawyers of Sereno, a member of the Human Rights Commission whom he identified as Roberto Cadiz also issued “very demeaning” statement against the Committee. Cadiz allegedly characterized the rules being used by the Justice Committee as “rules of the jungle.”

Agusan Del Norte Rep. Lawrence Fortun also joined his colleagues in reminding lawyers of Sereno to respect the proceedings of the Justice Committee.

“I just wanted to express that I also take exception to those statements from certain lawyers about the proceedings in this committee. While I was one of those who voted to allow the lawyers of Chief Justice to be given the opportunity to ask questions here I also cannot agree na moro-moro ang mga nangyayari dito,” Fortun said.

Meanwhile, reporter Jomar Canlas showed up to testify before the Justice Committee. However, SC Justices Teresita De Castro and Noel Tijam, who were invited to testify in the proceedings did not appear and instead asked for time until the high court authorizes them to do so.

Shortly after opening the hearings, Umali suspended the proceedings to go into an executive session to further clarify applications of the rules of the panel in hearing the impeachment complaint against Sereno. ###

News Release

27 November 2017

‘Pambabastos’ ng Sereno camp tinuligsa!

SIGE ituloy n’yo ang pambabastos nang makita ninyo ang hinahanap nyo.

Iyan ang bantang binitawan ng House Justice Committee noong Lunes sa dalawang abogado ni Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno kaugnay ng umano’y mga mapanirang pahayag nila laban sa komite na dumidinig sa impeachment complaint laban sa kanilang amo.

Sa pagpapatuloy ng impeachment hearing laban kay Sereno, sinabi ni Justice Committee chair Rep. Reynaldo Umali na nakarating sa kanilang kaalaman na tinawag ng dalawang kampon ni Sereno na “dog-and-pony” show ang impeachment proceedings.

Tinukoy ni Umali ang dalawang “pasaway” na abogado na sina Joshua Santiago and Aldwin Salumbides.

“Para lang po maging maayos ang proceedings,” dagdag ni Umali. “We are trying our darnest best to be fair here. May hangganan din po ang aming pasensya and I hope we will not come to that.”

Kinatigan naman ni Quezon City Rep. Christopher Belmonte ang pagkastigo sa mga bata ni Sereno, na pinag-iisipan ng komite na isyuhan ng subpoena o maging ng warrant of arrest upang mapwersa ang pagdalo ng chief justice sa impeachment hearings.

“I agree with the chair. Medyo unfair din na pinipitik tayo na nire-railroad natin or etc. I think medyo unfair yun,” pahayag ni Belmonte.

Bukod sa dalawang abogado ay hindi naman pinalusot ni SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta ang patutsada ni Roberto Cadiz ng Human Rights Commission, na umano’y “rules of the jungle” ang pinapaiiral sa impeachment hearings.

Sinegundahan rin ni Agusan del Norte Rep. Lawrence Fortun ang babala nina Umali at Marcoleta.

“While I was one of those who voted to allow the lawyers of Chief Justice to be given the opportunity to ask questions here I also cannot agree na moro-moro ang mga nangyayari dito,” ani Fortun.

News Release

27 November 2017

Reporter stands pat on story that Sereno unilaterally altered TRO

Journalist Jomar Canlas today stood pat on his June 4, 2013 article in the Manila Times which said that Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno unilaterally altered a Temporary Restraining Order that prevented the Commission on Elections from further proclaiming winning groups in the party list elections.

The article said SC Justice Teresita Leonardo De Castro, who was the justice originally assigned to write the decision on the case or the “ponencia”, gave Sereno a “tongue-lashing” over the altered TRO. Likewise, the article said other SC justices threatened to confront Sereno over the same issue.

Instead of covering only the Senior Citizens Party List, Sereno issued a “blanket” TRO and thus other groups not party to the case benefited from it.

The alleged “tampering” of the TRO was among the grounds complainant Atty. Larry Gadon raised in his impeachment complaint against Sereno.

“I stand by my story that such incident transpired,” Canlas told the Justice Committee. He also insisted that other details he mentioned in the article were accurate.

He claimed to have read a letter from Sereno admitting the alteration of the TRO, although he said he can no longer locate his copy of the document. Canlas said the committee may be able to obtain a copy of the letter from the Supreme Court.

However, Canlas denied that his source of information for the story was Justice De Castro. While admitting he met and talked with Gadon in March this year about the issue, Canlas denied he told the lawyer that his source for the story was Justice De Castro.

“I have several sources in the judiciary and I try to verify my story from different sources,” Canlas said, noting he has developed contacts from the judiciary which he has been covering for 20 years.

Canlas said only the SC can say if Sereno’s action is irregular or not. Yet, he said that from his experience in covering the SC since the time of Chief Justice Andres Narvasa up to the present, he could not recall a similar incident of an altered TRO.

As far as his knowledge of the usual court processes, Canlas said: ”The Chief Justice deviated from the regular lane”.

But Canlas refused to divulge his sources to the committee, invoking the RA. 53, as amended by RA 1477, law which protects journalists from any compulsion to reveal sources who revealed information to them in confidence unless it concerns the “security of the State”.

Opposition solon Ramon Rocamora insisted that since Canlas has invoked RA 53, he could not present witnesses to back his article and thus his testimony may be considered hearsay.

According to Canlas his testimony may be corroborated by Justice De Castro when she testifies before the Committee.

De Castro, along with Justice Noel Tijam, earlier sent a letter to the committee informing the panel that they are only awaiting authorization from the high court before testifying in the impeachment proceedings.

For his part, Rep. Vicente Veloso opined that the testimony of Canlas may be considered as an “independent relevant evidence”, depending upon the evaluation of the committee. ###

News Release

27 November 2017

House approves bill granting medical scholarships

The House of Representatives passed on third and final reading House Bill 6571 which seeks to provide scholarships to students aspiring to become doctors.

The approved “Medical Scholarship and Return Service Program Act” aims to help deserving students pursue medical education and eventually render services in government hospitals or government public health offices.

The bill aims not only to help the youth achieve their dream of becoming a doctor but also address the shortage of physicians in the country, thereby promoting and protecting the health needs of the Filipinos especially those in the far-flung areas.

The bill mandates the establishment of a Medical Scholarship and Return Service Program in state universities and colleges (SUCs) or in private higher education institutions (PHEIs) in regions where there are no SUCs offering medicine course.

The scholarship program shall accept at least one scholar from each municipality throughout the country.

The total number of scholars per province or municipality shall depend on the number of government physicians needed for each province or municipality, as determined by the Department of Health (DOH).

The Medical Scholarship and Return Service Program grants the following benefits: Free tuition and other school fees; Allowance for prescribed books, supplies, and equipment; Clothing or uniform allowance; Allowance for dormitory or boarding house accommodation; Transportation allowance; Internship fees, including financial assistance during post-graduate internship; Medical board review fees; Annual medical insurance; and Other education-related miscellaneous subsistence or living allowances.

Deserving students accepted to the scholarship program shall be subject to certain conditions which include : 1) Must carry the full load of subjects prescribed per semester by the SUC or PHEI, and shall, under no circumstance, drop a course which will result in underloading; 2) Must finish the entire Doctor of Medicine program in the prescribed time frame in the SUC or PHEI where the scholar is enrolled in, subject to the retention policies of the SUC of PHEI; 3) Must undertake post-graduate internship in a DOH-accredited public health facility or hospital upon graduation from a four-year Doctor of Medicine program, subject to the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges (APMC) Intern Matching Program; 4) Must take the board examination within a maximum period of one year after completion of an internship program which may be a post-graduate internship program for scholars under a four-year Doctor of Medicine program or after completion of internship as a fifth-year medical student for scholars under a five-year Doctor of Medicine program; and 5) Must serve in a government public health office or government hospital in the scholar’s hometown or, in the absence of a need thereat, in any municipality within the scholar’s home province, or in any underserved municipality closest to the scholar’s hometown in any province determined by the DOH as a priority area.

The scholar shall lose his scholarship and repay the full cost of scholarship and related benefits received under the following circumstances: If the scholar accepts another scholarship from other government or private agencies or entities while enjoying the benefits under this Act; If the scholar fails in 40 percent of the subjects or fails to meet the academic requirements of the SUCs of PHEIs or to complete the course within the prescribed period without valid cause as may be determined by the SUC or PHEI, CHED or the DOH; If the scholar fails to pass the licensure examination for physicians for the second time; and If the scholar commits behavioral misconduct in a manner that would bring significant damage to the HEI, government institution concerned, persons, and the community.

Upon passing the Physician Licensure Examination (PLE) administered by the Philippine Regulatory Commission (PRC), the scholar shall be integrated into the public health and medical service system, through the DOH, with the appropriate rank and salary and related benefits.

The mandatory return service upon integration into the public health and medical service system under this Act shall be a period equivalent to at least eight years within 10 years for those who have availed a four-year program, and 12 years for those who availed of a five-year program, upon passing the licensure examination for physicians, which shall be part of the mandatory service and integration into the public health and medical service system.

In the event that a physician who has availed of the Medical Scholarship and Return Service Program fails or refuses to serve in a government hospital or any local health office in the scholar’s hometown or in any underserved municipality in any province, he/she shall be required to pay twice the full cost of the scholarship including other benefits and expenses incurred by reason of participation in the scholarship program.

In case of non-payment, the PRC shall deny the renewal of the physician’s license.

Authors of the bill are Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, and Reps. Ann Hofer, Angelina Tan, Vilma Santos-Recto, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Salvador Belaro Jr., Alfredo Vargas, John Marvin Nieto, Edward Vera-Perez Maceda, Eric Olivarez, Juan Pablo Bondoc, Karlo Alexei Nograles, France Castro, Maximo Rodriguez, Jr., Elisa Kho, Julieta Cortuna, Edwin Ong, Carlito Marquez, Renato Unico Jr., Antonio Tinio, Jocelyn Limkaichong, Raul Tupas, Jose Enrique Garcia III, Celso Lobregat, Rosemarie Arenas, Jose Tejada, Leopoldo Bataoil, Arlene Arcillas, Leo Rafael Cueva, Lorna Bautista-Bandigan, Joey Sarte Salceda, Ben Evardone, Ma. Lucille Nava, Manuel Jose Dalipe, Evelina Escudero, Scott Davie Lanete, Estrellita Suansing, Mark Go, Dennis Laogan, Virgilio Lacson, Len Alonte, Ana Cristina Siquian-Go, Ron Salo, and Sherwin Tugna.

NEWS RELEASE

November 27, 2017

Justice committee dispels criticisms against impeachment proceedings

The House committee on justice began its hearing on Monday by first clearing the air in response to criticisms, with its chairman Rep. Reynaldo Umali (2nd District, Oriental Mindoro) stressing that the panel is simply fulfilling its constitutional mandate in relation to determining probable cause in impeachment proceedings.

Umali likened the committee proceedings to investigating prosecutors, as the trial proper that will decide whether Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno should be removed from office will be conducted by the Senate. Umali warned against depriving the Senate of its constitutional mandate to sit as an impeachment court to hear and decide all impeachment cases.

“To the complainant and respondent in this impeachment complaint, including their respective lawyers, the Chair strongly enjoins you to refrain from misleading the public on the nature of these impeachment proceedings, the mandate of this committee and the constitutionally guaranteed rights in relation to these proceedings,” said Umali.

He further said: “It is our duty to society as officers of the court to properly inform everyone in legal and constitutional rights and processes and not to mislead or misdirect the public’s attention in order to further our own interest.”

Umali also reminded those concerned not to resort to name-calling or dilatory tactics to prolong the committee’s proceedings.

Likewise, he enjoined fellow representatives to stick to the factual issues of the case.

The appraisal comes on the heels of statements released by Sereno’s lawyer-spokespersons over the weekend. They alleged the committee of turning the investigative proceedings into a “dog and pony show.”

Last November 22, Sereno’s legal counsel asked to be excused from the committee hearing after the justice committee approved the motion of Rep. Alfredo Garbin, Jr. (Party-list, AKO BICOL) to deny the plea of the Chief Justice to be represented by her lawyers and be allowed to cross-examine witnesses through her lawyers.

The criticisms arose after the committee refused to allow Sereno’s legal counsel to cross-examine the complainant, Atty. Lorenzo Gadon.

Members of the committee thus approved a motion by Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia (3rd District, Cebu) that a show-cause order be issued to Commission on Human Rights Commissioner Roberto Cadiz and Sereno’s lawyers, Joshua Santiago and Aldwin Salumbides, explaining why they should not be cited contempt over their statements. Cadiz previously said the committee hearings are governed by the “law of the jungle.”

NEWS RELEASE

November 27, 2017

House panel tackles proposed creation of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Authority

The House committee on games and amusements chaired by Rep. Gus Tambunting (2nd District, Paranaque City) on Monday elicited the views of various gaming and amusement entities on the proposal to rationalize and consolidate government regulations relating to all games of chance.

During the hearing, the committee continued its deliberation on House Bill 6111 authored by Reps. Enrico Pineda and Michael Romero (Party-list, 1-Pacman) and conducted the initial deliberation on House Bill 6514 authored by Speaker Pantaleon Alvares and Senior Deputy Majority Leader Juan Pablo Bondoc. Both bills seek to create the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Authority (PAGA).

The PAGA, a corporate body to be under the Office of the President, shall regulate and consolidate all regulatory functions relating to games of chance in the country.

Tambunting said PAGA shall be the regulatory in nature and shall not be an operator of games of chance.

In the process, Tambunting said the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) shall be purely a regulator of games of chance and shall no longer operate casinos.

In addition, Tambunting said all functions relating to gaming and amusements of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Games and Amusement Board (GAB), Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CESA), Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO), and Authority of Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) shall be transferred to the PAGA.

Both bills provide for the GAB abolition, repealing for the purpose Sections 6 and 7 of Executive Order No. 392, Series of 1950. All gaming operations shall secure their legislative franchise from Congress before they can operate gaming activities.

All gaming operations, which were given license pursuant to Presidential Decree 1869, as amended, Republic Act 7922, Republic Act 9490, Republic Act 9728, Presidential Decree 420, Republic Act 1169, Republic Act 1168 and other such laws that allowed licensing of gaming operations and without the legislative franchise, shall be given a period of one year from the effectivity of the Act to secure a legislative franchise, otherwise their continued operations shall be considered illegal.

During the hearing, Bondoc debunked the position paper of the PAGCOR which stated that the issuance of a legislative franchise by Congress for gaming is not necessary. The position paper was titled “The opinion of PAGCOR for RA 9587, “An Act further amending PD 1869, otherwise known as “The PAGCOR Chapter” enacted by Senate and House of Representatives.”

Bondoc said under Section 1 of the PAGCOR Charter, the PAGCOR franchise under PD 1869 which granted the gaming firm a franchise to operate for another 25 years and renewable for another 25 years, the rights, privileges and authority to operate license gaming casinos, gaming club and other similar recreations and amusement places gaming pools.

“It is very clear, PAGCOR exists because we extended its franchise. So, the franchise for gaming enjoyed by PAGCOR emanates from an act of Congress. So Congress grants the franchise to PAGCOR. So your position paper is wrong in stating that Congress cannot grant franchises for gaming. In fact, you exist because we granted you this franchise. It did not cause separation of powers of issues,” said Bondoc.

GAB chairman Abraham Kahlil Mitra said the GAB is a regulatory body which is in charge of looking after the welfare of professional athletes. “Somehow, somewhere, in the past, cockfighting was included. But in 1991, during the discussion on the local government code, it was devolved to the LGUs,” he said.

However, Mitra said what was left to the GAB regarding cockfighting is the oversight on international derbies and this only happens four times a year.

Tambunting asked Mitra’s view if GAB should be placed under the PAGA or GAB is against the bill.

“I don’t think that GAB should be included. I do not disagree with the wisdom of the leadership of the House, but as chairman of GAB, we would like to politely decline,” said Mitra.

“GAB is more of games of skill. Lakas ang ginagamit dito. Training, skill and effort, wala pong sugal,” Mitra said.

CEZA Chief Executive Officee Atty. Raul Lambino said the plenary powers of Congress regarding issuances of franchise cannot be denied. “This is an inherent power of Congress.” said Lambino.

“Congress delegated some of its powers to agencies it has created that it deemed to be in possession of expertise which Congress may not have at the moment. But of course, anytime these powers that are delegated by Congress, which includes the granting of franchise to PAGCOR and other economic zones, can be taken back. There is no issue about that, your honors. We subscribe to that and we accept this reality,” said Lambino.

“In the case of CEZA, Congress granted us the authority under RA 7922 and we submit your honor, that you can take away this power to us anytime that you would want to,” said Lambino.

He said their concern is that when Congress creates the PAGA, this will be primarily removing from PAGCOR its power to operate casinos and giving it (PAGCOR) the power to regulate gaming operations and casinos. “Also, Congress will take away from the economic zones that power and give it to PAGA. That is where we have some objections,” he said.

PHOTO Release

27 November 2017

LESSENING YULE SEASON TRAFFIC. No mall sale on weekdays, halt on LGU road projects, exclusive lanes for buses, and carpooling are among the Metro Manila Development Authority's (MMDA) strategic plans to ease vehicular traffic which is expected to worsen this during the Christmas season.

In this series of photos, the Metro Manila Development Committee chaired by Rep. Winston T. Castelo invites the inter-agency council on traffic (I-ACT) composed of the Departments of Transportation, Public Works and Highways, Highway Patrol Group of the Philippine National Police, major shopping malls and local government units to hear their views on the MMDA proposals.

Present during the public hearing were Senior Majority Leader Aurelio D. Gonzales Jr., Reps. Federico S. Sandoval II, Vincent P. Crisologo, Edgar R. Erice, Luis Jose Angel N. Campos Jr. and Rodel M. Batocabe.

THE HONORABLE FREDERICK W. SIAO
Lone District of Iligan City

BISA NG EASE OF DOING BUSINESS ACT INAABANGAN NA SA MGA KANAYUNAN - SOLON

Inaabangan na ang magiging epekto ng Ease of Doing Business Act sa pagyabong ng negosyo sa mga kanayunan, yan ang inihayag ni Iligan City Lone District Congressman Frederick Siao.

Inilabas ang nasabing pahayag, matapos pumasa sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa sa House of Representatives ang House Bill 6579 o ang Ease of Doing Business Act (EODBA) na layuning gawing madali ang pagtatayo at pagsasagawa ng negosyo at transaksyong pang-negosyo saan mang dako ng Pilipinas.

Sa ilalim ng EODBA, kailangang magkaroon ng one-stop-shop ang lahat ng Local Government Units – barangay, bayan, lungsod, at probinsya para sa pagpoproseso ng mga business permit.

Dapat din ipaskil ng bawat LGU sa kanilang mga opisina at i-post sa kanilang website ang lahat ng requirement at processing time para sa kaukuluang permit at lisensiya na may kaugnayan sa negosyo para maiwasang magpabalik-balik ang mga aplikante ng permit.

Dapat ding maiproseso ang permit ng isang aplikante sa loob lamang ng isang araw para sa mga barangay, tatlong araw para sa mga pambansang ahensiya at iba pang LGUs; habang sampung araw ang ibibigay na palugit sa mga LGUs para sa mga kumplikadong papeles.

“Excited kami sa Iligan City sa napipintong pagsasabatas ng EODBA sa buong bansa dahil mangangahulugan ito ng mas masiglang daloy ng negosyo sa Iligan at mas maraming trabaho para aking mga kababayan,” sabi ni Siao, na nagsilibing two-term councilor sa Iligan City bago naging Kongresista.

Ayon sa 2017 edition ng Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index of the National Competitiveness Council nangunguna (1^st) ang Iligan City pagdating sa “Availability of Basic Utilities,” 10^th pagdating sa “Cost in Doing Business,” 12^th sa “Business Registration Efficiency,” 16^thsa “Employed population,” 17^TH Sa “Social Protection,” at 18^th sa “Compliance to Business Permits and Licensing System (BPLS) Standards.”

“Tingin ko maganda na ang ranking namin para sa isang Mindanao City na may populasyon na 352,000. Kapag naipatupad ang EODBA, lalo pang mapapaganda ang ranking namin,” sabi ni Siao.

Si Siao ang itinuturing na ama ng Investments & Incentives Code of Iligan City, ang ordinansang katumbas ng EODBA sa Iligan City. Siya rin ang Chair ng Committee on Trade & Commerce sa konseho ng Iligan City mula 2010 hanggang 2016.

Panawagan ni Siao, sa susunod na taon ay kailangang maisailalim na sa pagsasanay ang bawat kawani at opisyal ng bawat LGU para maihanda sila sa tamang pagpapatupad ng EODBA. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), at Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) ang mga ahensiyang maaaring magbigay ng pagsasanay sa mga LGU officials and employees.

“Sa Iligan City, sisikapin naming maging maayos ang pagpapatupad ng ng Computerized or Software-Enable Business Permit and Licensing System at ng Electronic Business One Stop Shop, pati na ang pag-adapt ng unified business application form, batay sa mga tagubilin ng EODBA,” wika ni Siao.

“Sa Disyembre ay napipintong maisabatas ang 2018 National Budget at ang 2019 budget cycle ay mag-uumpisa na sa unang quarter ng 2018, kaya naman inaasahan kong isasaalang-alang na ng DTI, DILG, DICT, at ng Department of Budget and Management ang budget and personnel requirement ng bawat ahensiya ang EODBA,” sabi ni Siao.

Ang senate version ng HB 6579 ay ang Senate Bill 1311 o ang Expanded Anti-Red Tape Act na inaprubahan na rin ng senado. May mga pagkakaiba sa mga probisyon ng SB 1311 at HB 6579 kaya’t pagkakasunduin pa ang mga pagkakaibang ito para makabuo ng iisang bill na ieendorso para lagdaan ni Pangulong Duterte.

News Release

28 November 2017

House to declare June 19 “Araw ng Pagsulat”

The House committee on basic education and culture chaired by Rep. Ramon Durano VI (5th District, Cebu) on Monday resumed deliberation on House Bill No. 2139, or “An Act Declaring Every 19th Day of June as ‘Araw ng Pagsulat,’ A Special Working Holiday,” introduced by Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil (2nd District, Pangasinan).

The bill aims to address “concerns about declarations of symbols and sites that represent the Filipinos’ pride and legacy and that tell the values and stories about the country’s ancient past,” said Durano during the hearing.

It seeks to declare June 19 of every year as “Araw ng Pagsulat,” which shall be a special working holiday, to be celebrated in all elementary and secondary schools throughout the country.

The bill also states that if June 19 falls on a weekend, the holiday shall be observed on the Friday of that week.

June 19 also coincides with the birth anniversary of national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal, which the country commemorates every year, and is a special working holiday.

Bataoil said it is fitting and proper to honor the birth anniversary of the country’s national hero by declaring June 19 of every year as “Araw ng Pagsulat” as Dr. Jose P. Rizal changed the course of the nation’s history primarily through his writings.

“The bill recognizes the importance and promotes writing as a shared activity among the youth, families, educators, and the private sector, thereby emphasizing personal interaction and facilitating the exchange of ideas throughout the country,” Bataoil explained.

Bataoil further said his measure seeks to create awareness and uphold the Filipino heritage and culture.

The proposed Act mandates the Department of Education, in consultation with the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, other government agencies and units, and concerned writing associations to plan and implement activities for the observance of the “Araw ng Pagsulat.”

The bill also encourages the use of “Baybayin,” or pre-Spanish writing system, and the regional languages in the celebration.

Rep. Gabriel Bordado (3rd District, Camarines Sur) expressed support for the measure, pointing out that declaring June 19 as “Araw ng Pagsulat” and as a special working holiday would ensure awareness and participation of the students in the celebration.

The committee created a Technical Working Group (TWG) that will finalize the measure.

STATEMENT BY THE HONORABLE

BERNADETTE “BH” HERRERA-DY
Bagong Henerasyon Party-list

TIME TO ACT IS NOW: OVERHAUL THE OLD ROAD SAFETY LAWS

The land transportation and road safety regulatory architecture of our country is archaic, severely broken and is destroying many lives. It is so convenient to simply comment on and share the viral videos and news articles, and social media posts about these fatal collisions on our roads. But that kind of activity is not enough to solve the problem.

The virality of those media content will eventually fade and be largely forgotten. The real and constructive way to address the issues and underlying problems is the overhaul, updating, and future-proofing of our land transportation and road safety laws, as well as the related criminal and civil laws.

House Resolution No. 1486 calls upon the Department of Transportation, Department of Justice, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Public Works and Highways, Office of the Court Administrator at the Supreme Court, the University of the Philippines Law Center, the Commission on Higher Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, to jointly form an INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCE ON THE REVISION OF LAWS ON LAND TRANSPORTATION, ROAD SAFETY, AND RECKLESS DRIVING.

The Resolution I filed asks these agencies to draft a NEW LAND TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC CODE that addresses the continuum of issues from the time the driver’s license is issued, during the process of manufacturing a land vehicle, and when the roads and bridges are built, to the law enforcement, investigation, prosecution, and adjudication aspects of road collisions and incidents.

The new code should provide for some form of a Traffic Court or an adjudication board where all cases of reckless driving shall be heard and tried in a court of original jurisdiction. A special procedure for the specific management of all reckless driving cases is badly needed.

The time to REFORM these ancient laws is NOW. It was way back in 1964 when the Land Transportation and Traffic Code (RA 4136) became law. The great-grandmother of our country’s crime laws, the Revised Penal Code, was enacted in 1930. The Public Service Law (Commonwealth Act No. 146), which governs the issuance of the certificate of public convenience (commonly referred to as prangkisa o franchise), is circa 1936. The Civil Code of the Philippines (RA 386) is from 1949.

Over the years, patchwork amendments to these laws have been done. Now we have a neighborhood of old, decrepit legal houses in bad need of either overall or major renovation. Some of these laws are so ancient and obsolete that they must be completely torn down and replaced with new structures with adaptability features for future, unforeseen situations, and automatic review.

Consider also that road safety is also a matter of international commitment to the community of nations and citizens of the world.

The Philippines is a party to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic which the Philippines signed on November 8, 1968 and acceded to on December 27, 1973. The 1968 Vienna Convention entered into force on May 21, 1977.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) 2016 Metro Manila Accident Recording and Analysis System (MMRAS) recorded 109,322 road accidents and that deaths resulting from those accidents numbered 446.

According to data of the Philippine Statistics Authority, the number of deaths from road crashes has stayed above 8,000 since Year 2010.

Road traffic injuries are the ninth leading cause of death globally, responsible for over 1.25 million deaths each year. To accelerate action to reduce this burden, the United Nations General Assembly declared a Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011–2020).

News Release

28 November 2017

What consti crisis? We won’t compel Sereno to appear---Alvarez

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez today dashed all speculations about a looming constitutional crisis as he bared that the House of Representatives would not compel Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno to appear in the hearing of the Committee on Justice on the impeachment case against her.

In a press briefing, Alvarez supported the legal opinion of Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Fariñas that their rules do not allow them to compel Sereno to appear before the Committee on Justice.

“I subscribe to the opinion of the Majority Leader,” said Alvarez.

Earlier, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Sen. Francis Escudero raised concerns of a constitutional crisis may ensue following the statement of Justice Committee Chairman Reynaldo Umali that his panel is authorized by the constitution to compel the attendance of witnesses, including Sereno, in the impeachment proceedings.

“Natutuwa naman ako na may mga miyembro na ng Senado na atat-na-atat nang mag participate. Pero relax muna. Darating din tayo diyan,” Alvarez said.

He said that if the Committee on Justice finds enough evidence to warrant a trial of the impeachment case against Sereno to trial in the Senate they would do so.

“Pero kung wala naman talaga after so many hearings eh hanggang dito na lang,” he said.

Fariñas bared that during the executive session of the Committee on Justice yesterday he advised them that under the rules—whether in administrative or criminal cases—the respondent cannot be compelled to testify.

Under the same rules, Fariñas said the committee likewise cannot compel Sereno to answer the allegations raised against her in the impeachment complaint filed by Atty. Lorenzo Gadon and if she took this option it would be deemed a general denial of the charges against her.

Sereno has submitted to the Committee on Justice her answer to the allegations raised in the Gadon complaint.

“If we want to question her, sabi naman ni Speaker pwedeng respeto na lang yun. Respondent naman siya eh hindi na namin kailangang pilitin para hindi na umabot doon sa ganun,” Fariñas said.

Fariñas said the rationale behind the rule is that forcing a respondent to testify in a proceeding against him would subject him to the risk of perjury based on the natural temptation to defend himself.

On the other hand, Fariñas backed the view of Umali that when it comes to witnesses, including members of the Supreme Court, the Committee on Justice has the compulsory power to ensure their presence in the proceedings if necessary.

“There are some senators saying na wala yan sa rights ng House. Mali po sila, under our rules, even in impeachment proceeding may power po ang Committee on Justice to issue subpeona duces tecum or ad testificandum,” Farinas said

However, Fariñas said that in the case of the Supreme Court justices the House recognizes they are also subject to their own internal rules before testifying in the impeachment proceedings.

Reports said Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-de Castro and Noel Tijam as well as retired justice Arturo Brion are willing to accept the invitation of the House justice committee but they would first seek consent of the SC sitting as a collegial body.

“We are confident that after they (SC) discuss this, they should allow them if their testimony is material and relevant,” Fariñas said.

Meanwhile, Umali clarified in an earlier morning interview that his statement on the compulsory power of the Committee on Justice to issue subpeona or warrant of arrest against Sereno is merely a hypothetical answer to a hypothetical question from the media.

Umali said he himself do not subscribe to any move to issue a warrant of arrest against Sereno to compel her attendance at the impeachment proceedings because this could indeed spark a constitutional crisis.

Besides, Umali said he had no power to make that determination, saying it’s the decision of the entire committee to authorize the use of compulsory powers such as the issuance of subpoena or a warrant of arrest.

28 November 2017

Solons assured Metro Manila remains safe

Members of the House committee on Metro Manila development chaired by Rep. Winston Castelo (2nd District, Quezon City) got an assurance from police officers that Metro Manila remains safe despite the reported presence in the region of relatives and supporters of the Maute group.

In a hearing on government agencies’ traffic and security plans for the Christmas season, Castelo asked Philippine National Police National Capital Region Police Office (PNP-NCRPO) chief Director Oscar Albayalde to comment on reports that some of the relatives of the Maute are already in Metro Manila and that they might attempt to sow terror in the region.

”So how safe is Metro Manila in the light of that information?,”said Castelo.

Albayalde said there are already indications that Maute supporters are probably in Metro Manila because of recent arrests.

“It (Metro Manila) is still safe because of number one, our usual cooperation with the other intelligence units. We were able to arrest supporters of Maute, we were able to arrest suspected ASG during the ASEAN in Culiat, Quezon City. So this indicates meron naman talagang….we cannot deny anymore,” said Albayalde.

What law enforcers can do is to increase their intelligence gathering operations which is very critical in addressing any security threat, according to Albayalde.

Pressed by Castelo to confirm that if some Maute relatives are indeed in Metro Manila, Albayalde replied in the affirmative. He stressed that even before the Marawi siege, the police were able to identify the Maute relatives and conducted profiling on them. He said most of the relatives are legitimate entrepreneurs.

“Halos lahat naman po sa kanila ay legitimate businessmen. At wala naman po tayong nakita na ginagawa nilang hindi maganda. They’ve been here for so many years already,”said Albayalde.

Rep. Edward Vera Perez Maceda (4th District, Manila) asked Albayalde about the situation in the City of Manila. “Sa amin sa lungsod ng Maynila, okey naman (ba ang) situation namin duon?

Albayalde said so far the situation in Manila is alright because of the full support of the Muslim community.

“So far, okey naman po I think we have the full support of the Muslim community there, especially po duon sa Quiapo. After nung blast sa Quiapo, we met them, and they pledged their support for us and vowed they will not tolerate ung mga pagtatago ng mga extremists.,”said Albayalde.

Maceda said the support for and cooperation with the police of Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada is also a big factor in ensuring the safety of Manila residents.

Meanwhile, Rep. Vincent Crisologo (1st District, Quezon City) asked about the security plans of the NCRPO for the Christmas season.

“How can we assure the people of their safety especially now? What are the plans of the police with regards to malls, bus and train stations to ensure public safety during the Christmas season?,”said Crisologo.

Albayalde said what they usually do is to improve or increase police visibility in the malls, the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Railway Transit (LRT) stations through the setting up of police assistance desks.

“Police visibility should be reinforced with very good intelligence gathering. Yun sana po ang gusto naming mangyari. We have to improve on our intelligence gathering. Kaya even before, with the problem on terrorism, which is actually global. I think we have to improve the funding on intelligence gathering, not only funding but also training of our personnel.

Albayalde said the NCRPO also secures churches and all open markets especially Quiapo, Divisoria and Baclaran during the holiday season. “We increased our personnel and also put visibility patrols there, and of course police assistance desks,” said Albayalde.

In Quiapo, Albayalde said the police already built a PCP (police community precinct) there right after the blasts which happened near the Manila Golden Mosque.

He said the police security forces would be augmented by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) coming from the Joint Task Force.

News Release

28 November 2017

House approves proposed Philippine Qualifications Framework

The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading House Bill 6572 which aims to establish the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) that shall describe the levels of educational qualifications and set the standards for qualification outcomes.

The PQF is a quality assured national system for the development, recognition and award of qualifications based on standards of knowledge, skills and values acquired in different ways and methods by learners and workers of the country.

One of the goals of the PQF is to adopt national standards and levels of learning outcomes of education.

The PQF also seeks to support the development and maintenance of pathways and equivalencies that enable access and to assist individuals to move easily and readily between the different education and training sectors and between these sectors and the labor market.

Likewise, it intends to align domestic qualification standards with the international qualifications framework thereby enhancing recognition of the value and comparability of Philippine qualifications and supporting the mobility of Filipino students and workers.

The bill calls for the creation of the Philippine Qualifications Framework-National Coordinating Council (PQF-NCC) to harmonize and promote a seamless education and training system

The PQF-NCC shall be composed of the Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) as Chairperson with the following members: Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED); Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); Chairperson of the Professional regulation Commission (PRC); One representative of the economic sector; and One representative of the industry sector.

Among the functions of the PQF-NCC are to harmonize qualification levels across basic, technical-vocational and higher education; to align education standards and learning outcomes with the level descriptors contained in the PQF; to promote the PQF and its elements, including the principles, key features, definitions or terminologies, structure, and governance arrangements, and provide information and guidelines in the implementation of the PQF; to rationalize the quality assurance mechanisms in Philippine education as well as develop and recognize pathways and equivalencies, among others.

The measure states the PQF shall incorporate the qualifications level descriptors to be defined in terms of knowledge, skills and values, application, and degree of independence.

Furthermore, the PQF-NCC shall make detailed descriptors for each qualification level following the principles of lifelong learning and the recognition of prior learning from previous informal experiences, while incorporating the learning standards in basic education, competency standards of training regulations, and policies and standards of higher education academic programs.

The measure tasks the PQF-NCC members to jointly implement the national pilot programs to determine their relevance and applicability in all levels of education.

The DOLE shall provide the necessary and updated labor market information regarding the demand for specific qualifications and emerging occupations as bases for the prioritization of learning standards development.

The CHED, TESDA, DepEd, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and other related agencies are directed to identify priority sectors and programs for the PQF as a preliminary approach to the implementation of the PQF and t ensure its more focused implementation.

The bill is authored by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, Deputy Speaker Frederick Abueg, Deputy Majority Leader Juan Pablo Bondoc, Reps. Ann Hofer, Sherwin Tugna, Evelina Escudero, Luis Raymund Villafuerte, Ramon Durano VI, Karlo Alexei Nograles, Mark Go, Mercedes Cagas, Pablo Ortega, Federico Sandoval II, Micaela Violago, Celso Lobregat, Michelle Antonio, Lorna Bautista-Bandigan, Rose Marie Arenas, Carlito Marquez, Luisa LLoren Cuaresma, Ruwel Peter Gonzaga, Salvador Belaro Jr., Gabriel Bordado, Jr., Alexandria Gonzales, Lianda Bolilia, Fernando Gonzalez, Jesulito Manalo, Glona Labadlabad, Ma. Lourdes Aggabao, Greg Gasataya, Marisol Panotes, Winston Castelo, Mark Aeron Sambar, Jose Tejada, Rodrigo Abellanosa, Raul Del Mar, Cristal Bagatsing, Christopher De Venecia, Maria Vida Bravo, Florida Robes, Eugen Michael De Vera, Edwin Ong, Leopoldo Bataoil, Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo, Scott Davies Lanete, Estrellita Suansing, Dennis Laogan, Virgilio Lacson, Marlyn Alonte, Ana Cristina Go, Angelina Tan, Ron Salo, Roger Mercado, Vincent Crisologo, Aurelio Gonzales, Victoria Isabel Noel, Gerald Anthony Gullas, Arnel Ty, Johnny Ty Pimentel, Francisco Jose Matugas II, Deogracias Victor Savellano, Benhur Lopez, Vini Nola Ortega, Jose Enrique Garcia III, Bernadette Herrera-Dy, Cristina Roa-Puno, MArlyn Primicias-Agabas, Jose Atienza Jr., Alfredo Garbin, Jr., Anthony Bravo, Luis Jose Angel Campos, Jr., Harlin Neil Abayon III, Julieta Cortuna, Roy Loyola, and Jose Anthony Sy-Alvarado.

NEWS Release

28 November 2017

Alvarez vows BBL passage by March 2017; special session may no longer be needed

A special session for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) may no longer be necessary as House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has given his commitment to President Rodrigo Duterte that they would pass the measure before they adjourn on March 21 next year.

“The Speaker has given his commitment to the President that we will finish it before we adjourn on March 21. Kasi nga kailangan naman mag public hearing naman ulit. So the committee has set a schedule to go around the involved areas, the stakeholders,” Fariñas said in a joint press briefing with Alvarez.

In a speech during the first Bangsamoro Assembly held in Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao on Monday, Duterte said he will ask Congress to convene a special session to discuss the proposed BBL.

“Ang akin, it must be inclusive, lahat. Walang maiiwan dito sa peace talks na ito, MILF, MNLF, lahat na, Lumad, kailangan kasali,” Duterte said, referring to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front.

However, the President did not indicate as to when he wants Congress to convene for such special session. Congress is scheduled to go on its Christmas break from December 16, 2017 to January 14, 2018.

Fariñas said that since the concerned committees of the House of Representatives must conduct the public hearings their schedule would be in conflict if a special session is called before the end of the year.

“So we will request the President na hindi na siguro kailangang yung special session and we will try to finish it before we adjourn on March 21,” Farinas said.

The Committee on Local Government is the lead committee tasked to deliberate on the proposed BBL, in cooperation with the committees on Peace and Reconciliation and Muslim Affairs. Fariñas said these committees have scheduled their respective public consultations for the month of December.

Fariñas said the BBL had been discussed under the previous Congress and this would help expedite the process. He expressed confidence that the leadership can muster enough numbers to ensure the passage of the measure.

“I’m very confident that under the tutelage and leadership of the Speaker makakausap naman namin yung mga members to come up with this request of the President because the Speaker and the leadership also feel that this is indeed needed,” Fariñas said.

The BBL was supposed to be the legal framework of the peace deal signed during the Aquino administration and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The proposal failed to get the approval of Congress amid concerns of unconstitutional provisions and the furor over the Mamasapano clash that killed 44 members of the elite Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police.

PHOTO Release

28 November 2017

KEEPING THEIR HEADS IN THE GAME--House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez exchanges ideas with Majority Floor Leader Rep. Rodolfo C. Fariñas and Justice Committee Chairman Rep. Reynaldo V. Umali during the deliberation on the impeachment complaint against Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno. Alvarez and Fariñas also took time to meet the press on the sidelines of the committee hearing. Earlier, Speaker Alvarez and MFL Fariñas attended the Committee on Appropriations hearing to give a push to House Joint Resolution No. 18 authorizing the increase in the base pay of military and uniformed personnel which they filed together with Minority Leader Rep. Danilo Suarez and Appropriations Committee Chairman Rep. Karlo Alexei B. Nograles.

NEWS Release

26 November 2017

Justice committee stands firm on subpoenas, witness attendance

The House committee on justice chaired by Rep. Reynaldo Umali (2nd District, Oriental Mindoro) on Tuesday expounded on its power to issue compulsory procedures as needed in the committee’s efforts to determine whether there is probable cause in the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

This comes after several lawmakers expressed concern over a possible constitutional crisis, which in turn were spurred by comments from Umali in a radio interview last Sunday, November 26. In the interview, Umali said that a warrant of arrest may be issued should the Chief Justice fail to act on a subpoena demanding her presence as a witness.

He clarified in today’s hearing that he was merely responding to a hypothetical question posed by a media personality.

However, Umali stressed that this course of action is well within the rights of the justice committee as it attempts to establish whether there is probable cause in the complaint filed by Atty. Lorenzo Gadon. Umali cited Article 11 of Section 3 of the Constitution, which states the House of Representatives shall have the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment.

“This is the power from which we draw our power to issue compulsory processes including subpoena and even the power to issue a warrant if and or [it is needed],” said Umali.

Moreover, Section 8 of Article 11 of the Constitution pertaining to Accountability of Public Officers provides that Congress shall promulgate its rules of impeachment to effectively carry out the purpose of this section.

The committee has also remained in line with the Rules of Procedure in Impeachment Proceedings in the House of Representatives in the17th Congress. The Rules of Procedure, which was adopted on August 3, 2016 and published August 26, 2016, details that the committee on justice shall have the power to issue compulsory processes for the attendance of witnesses for the production of documents and other related evidence.

“In other words, iyong sinasabi po nila na wala daw kaming poder dito sa impeachment proceeding, itong impeachment committee—dahil iyon daw po ay only in aid of legislation—is unfounded,” Umali said.

He further said :“We do have this power beyond the power of Congress in aid of legislation. This is a power vested in this impeachment committee, by the Constitution no less, embodied in the Rules of Procedure in Impeachment Proceedings.

Umali urged everyone to contribute to a better understanding of the case instead of obfuscating the issues and creating an atmosphere of disrespect to the proceedings.

“Sana po ay maintindihan natin lahat ‘yon para huwag po tayong nagsasalita nang hindi natin alam ang pinanggagalingan ng sinasabi natin,” he said.

Umali also reiterated his request to commentators, from the media and government alike, to carefully consider the opinions they voice to the public.

“We are observing the law, the Rules, and the Constitution. And we are respecting the rights of every citizen, including the right to voice out their opinion. But sana naman po, ‘yung opinion nila ay ‘wag naman pong makakagulo o madidisrespeto ang impeachment committee, ang proceeding, at ang mga miyembro nito para po mas maayos ang takbo ng ating hearing dito,” he stated.

Umali acknowledged the concern of senators, which is probably because the senators are growing impatient or may want to join the proceedings already.

“You will have your time, Senator-judges, if and when this case is filed in the Senate,” assured Umali.

Press Statement November 29, 2017

Office of Rep. Ben P. Evardone

Lone District, Eastern Samar

SWA-402, HOR, QC

Reference: Mark O. Alido

09177721177

“STAY AWAY FROM BITCOINS”

Evardone warns cryptocurrency could bankrupt unwary investors

House Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries Chairman and Eastern Samar Representative Ben P. Evardone today cautioned Filipino investors not to part with their hard-earned money by buying bitcoins in the hope of making quick profits.

The price of bitcoin, the best known virtual currency currently in use, neared the $10,000 mark this week for an almost 900 percent increase since the start of the year.

This stoked fears that the Filipinos might get tempted into putting in their savings and retirement funds into bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies without realizing that they could lose everything in one drastic plunge.

“Cryptocurrencies like bitcoin are a promising low-cost remittance platform for Filipino workers sending their earnings home but they are extremely risky investments due to lack of regulatory protections for consumers,” said Evardone.

Bitcoins and other electronic currencies are not backed by a bank, any existing currency unit in circulation, or any asset of tangible value that offer some degree of security for its buyers.

Investors stand to lose everything overnight if exchange platforms for cryptocurrencies shut down or when the consumer’s virtual wallet containing confidential information is hacked or stolen.

The biggest cryptocurrency hacking incident was the Mt. Gox case in Japan where $460 million worth of bitcoins was lost.

Another cryptocurrency, tether, was the subject of the most recent hack early this month resulting in a reported loss of $31 million.

“Until enough safeguards are put in place, investors would be well-advised to heed the admonitions of the Bangko Sentral and the Securities and Exchange Commission to put their money in safer investments,” said Evardone.

In the recent briefing on crypto-currencies to members of the Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries, representatives from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as BSP accredited local bitcoin operators warned the public against investment in crypto-currencies.

Radio TV Monitor

11/29/2017 Wednesday

DZMM/House

Failon Ngayon (8:00-10:00AM)

Ted Failon

(8:09AM)

Panayam kay Rep. Reynaldo Umali

Failon: Atin na pong kausapin na ngayon si Congressman Rey… good morning po chairman.

Umali: Good morning Kuya Ted, magandang umaga po sa lahat ng ating mga followers.

Failon: Congressman, kumpirmado po ba na aattend this morning si Associate Justice Teresita De Castro?

Umali: Opo, tama po yun. Siya po ay nagpasabi sa amin… to my secretary na siya ay dadalo ngayon.

Failon: Opo. So 9:30 po ang hearing, Congressman?

Umali: Tama po yun, tama po yun.

Failon: Opo. Maliban po kay Associate Justice De Castro, sino pa ho ang isasalang po ninyo at nag-confirm na aattend sa hearing na kasama po doon sa binigyan po ng go signal ng Supreme Court.

Umali: Sa ngayon po ay actually… mayroon kaming mga inimbitahan but we don’t expect them to come dahil para ma-optimize po natin yung mga sasabihin ni Associate Justice De Castro dahil… para sa amin po marami po sa mga complaint na ito ay siya ang pinaka nasa sentro nitong mga ito dahil… siguro mga tatlo o apat na mga charges ang involved, yung personal knowledge o itong mga nalalaman ni Associate Justice Teresita De Castro… kaya we are allotting the whole day for her to testify. But naka-standby lang naman po yung mga iba, we just don’t want to waste their time na maghintay dito, pero hindi naman sila matatanong.

Failon: Opo. Sige po. So ang inyo pong sinasabing schedule Congressman Rey is Monday hanggang Miyerkules -- today po yun -- hanggang next week po daw ito, tama po?

Umali: Baka… sa tingin ko dahil nabawasan na po kami ng pitong araw na doon sa mga nauna namin, dapat nagsimula kami, naka-pitong sessions sana kami na malawak na yung naaabot namin, ay palagay ko mag-iislide po tayo hanggang hindi lang next week… baka abutin pa natin yung hanggang December 13 na magtatapos na kami para lang po sa paglatag nitong mga…yung factual side nitong kasong ito na magiging… magpapatibay doon sa akusasyon ni Atty. Gadon.

Failon: Opo. Sige po, abangan po namin, hindi namin pangungunahan po itong magiging pahayag po ni Associate Justice Teresita De Castro… make or break ito, dito po sa mga articles na inihayag ni Atty. doon sa kanyang complaint, kung ang magiging pahayag po ni Associate Justice De Castro ay tutugma doon sa mga claims nitong si Gadon, ano po?

(line cut)

Failon: Kita mo, sumagot na… Hay naku. Anyway, lagyan natin ng pormalidad na closure yung ating panayam kay Congressman Rey. So mga mga ka-family, mukhang… Junry Hidalgo, papuntahin mo ng maaga si Robert Manio sa Kongreso… ito na yun… this is it. Nang magkaalaman po tayo kung talagang may sustansya ba itong reklamong ito ni Atty. Gadon. Ok. Sige po, so Congressman Rey, ano po ito, kumbaga po ay make or break ito, ano po, doon sa mga partikular nga po na kasama doon sa listahan po ng complaint ni Atty. Gadon?

Umali: Crucial po ito dahil karamihan po ng complaint or yung charges ni Atty. Gadon ay nakasalalay po sa testimonya po ng… ni Justice De Castro.

Failon: Ok. Sige po, we will be watching Congressman Rey, marami pong salamat and good luck.

Umali: Maraming maraming salamat din po, magandang umaga po sa ating lahat.

Failon: Opo, thank you.

NEWS Release

29 November 2017

House moves to strengthening right of gov’t to expropriate lands

The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading House Bill 159 which seeks to strengthen the right of the government to expropriate lands for the purposes of socialized housing.

The bill seeks to amend Sections 9, 10, and 11 of Republic Act 7279 otherwise known as the “Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992”.

The amendment to Section 9, which is titled "Acquisition of Land for Socialized Housing," provides that the following lands may be acquired for socialized housing: (a) Those owned by the Government or any of its subdivisions, instrumentalities, or agencies, including government-owned or-controlled corporations and their subsidiaries; (b) Alienable lands of the public domain; (c) Unregistered or abandoned and idle lands; (d) Those within the declared Areas for Priority Development, Zonal Improvement Program sites, and Slum Improvement and Resettlement Programs sites which have not yet been acquired; (e) Bagong Lipunan Improvement of Sites and Services or BLISS sites which have not yet been acquired; and (f) Privately-owned lands.

The power to identify and to prioritize the particular area to be acquired shall be with the local government unit or the proper agency acquiring land for socialized housing. For this purpose, the enumeration in this section shall not, in any way, be interpreted as setting an order of priority, the amendment provides.

The amendment to Section 10 of RA 7279 titled "Modes of Land Acquisition" provides that the modes of acquiring lands for purposes of the Act shall include, among others, community mortgage, land swapping, land assembly or consolidation, land banking, donation to the Government, joint-venture agreement, negotiated purchase, and expropriation.

Where expropriation is resorted to, parcels of lands owned by small property owners shall be exempted for purposes of the Act. Abandoned property, as herein defined, shall be reverted and escheated to the States in a proceeding analogous to the procedure laid down in Rule 91 of the Rules of Court.

For the purpose of socialized housing, government-owned and foreclosed properties shall be acquired by local government units, or by the National Housing Authority primarily through negotiated purchase: Provided, that qualified beneficiaries who are actual occupants of the land shall be given the right of first refusal.

The bill also amends Section 11 titled "Expropriation of Idle Lands" so that all idle lands in urban and urbanized areas, as defined and identified in accordance with the Act, shall be expropriated and shall form part of the public domain.

These lands shall be disposed of or utilized by the government for such purposes that conform with their land use plans. Expropriation proceedings shall be instituted if, after the lapse of one year following receipt of notice of acquisition, the owner fails to introduce improvements as defined in Section 3(f) hereof, except in the case of force majeure and other fortuitous events. Exempted from this provision, however, are residential lands owned by small property owners.”

Authors of the bill are Reps. Jose Christopher Belmonte, Xavier Jesus Romualdo, Jospeh Stephen Paduano, Strike Revilla, Abdullah Dimaporo, Winston Castelo, Deputy Speakers Romero Quimbo and Raneo Abu, Reps. Rodrigo Abellanosa, Joaquin Chipeco, Jr., Lawrence Fortun, Jorge Banal, Rene Relampagos, Marisol Panotes, Alfredo Benitez, Aniceto Bertiz III, Eugene Michael De Vera, Alberto Ungab, Deogracias Ramos, Jr., Gavini Pancho, Jericho Jonas Nograles, Gary Alejano, Alfredo Garbin, Jr., Wilter Wee Palma II, Julieta Cortuna, Virgilio Lacson, Cesar Sarmiento, Deogracias Victor Savellano, Michael Romero, Rodel Batocabe, Arnulfo Teves, Jr., Ma. Lucille Nava, Harry Roque, Ron Salo, Ben Evardone, Tom Villarin, Aileen Radaza, Manuel Luis Lopez, Edgar Mary Sarmiento, Marlyn Primicias-Agabas, and Manuel Jose Dalipe.

PHOTO RELEASE

UNPRECEDENTED: Associate Justice of the Supreme Court (SC) Teresita Leonardo-de Castro today stood as one of the witnesses as the House committee on justice continued its hearing to determine whether there is probable cause in the impeachment complaint filed by Atty. Lorenzo Gadon against Supreme Court Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. House Majority Leader Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas commented on the rare occurrence to have a magistrate appear as witness in such deliberations, calling de Castro's attendance and agreement to testify as "unprecedented." SC Court Administrator Midas Marquez also appeared today as a witness, answering questions from the justice committee members.

PHOTO Release

29 November 2017

CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND PROFITEERING -- Two House Members called for an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the alleged illegal acts committed by key officials of the Social Security System (SSS) leading to opportunity losses to the state pension fund and ultimately the SSS members. House Resolution Nos. 1433 and 1434 were jointly tackled by the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability led by Rep. Johnny Ty Pimentel, and the Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries led by Rep. Ben Evardone. Resource persons present during the public hearing included SSS Chairman Atty. Amado Valdez, SSS President and CEO Emmanuel Dooc, and representatives from the Philippine Stock Exchange and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other Members in attendance were Deputy Speaker Romero S. Quimbo, Reps. Robert Ace S. Barbers, Pablo C. Ortega, Rodante D. Marcoleta, Conrado M. Estrella III, Raul del Mar, Winston T. Castelo, Strike B. Revilla, Gabriel H. Bordado Jr., Antonio L. Tinio, Tom S. Villarin, and Jocelyn S. Limkaichong.

Justice committee enlightened on Sereno attempt to create JDO

The House committee on justice today continued deliberations on the impeachment complaint filed by Atty. Lorenzo Gadon against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, as the testimony of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court (SC) Teresita Leonardo-De Castro shed light on the issues revolving an administrative order by Sereno to relaunch the Regional Court Administration Office (RCAO) of the Seventh Judicial Region.

According to De Castro, Sereno had misrepresented the intent of the November 27, 2012 en banc session of the SC, during which the Court discussed the creation of the RCAO in Region 7. The Court had only deliberated to study the need for the RCAO, not on its creation.

“If I may clarify: the confusion came about because of—I’m sorry to use this word—the attempt of the Chief Justice to give a legal basis for what she has done. So she keeps referring to RCAO, when actually what she intends to do is establish another office, which is not under the office of the Court Administrator,” said De Castro.

De Castro outlined to the committee the differences between the Regional Court Administration Office (RCAO) created through Administrative Matter (AM) No. 06-11-09-SC, and the Judiciary Decentralized Office for the Seventh Judicial Region (JDO 7) established through Sereno’s Administrative Order (AO) No. ‎175-2012.

The RCAO was a pilot project, intended as a decentralized unit that would function over a one-year period.

In contrast, JDO 7, as outlined in Sereno’s administrative order, was to be effective immediately and until revoked by the Chief Justice. De Castro noted this gave the JDO 7 permanence, unlike the RCAO, which is an ad hoc body.

However, the Supreme Court is not granted by the Constitution the power to create a permanent office, as this is solely a legislative power.

The RCAO also had the SC Court Administrator as the Head Implementor of the Pilot Project.

The JDO 7 was to be headed by JDO Head, designated by the Chief Justice, who was the Program Management Office (PMO) Head and not an official of the Court Administrator.

Moreover, AM 06-11-09-SC laid out the official functions of the Pilot RCAO: Court Administrator, Regional Court Administrator, Deputy Regional Court Administrator, Assistant Regional Court Administrator, and an Oversight Committee. The difference with the functions as mandated by AM ‎175-2012, is that all functions were vested in the Head of the JDO.

“I think there is a deliberate desire to remove this JDO with the organizational machinery or set-up of the Office of the Court Administrator. So, she really didn’t want to use the term ‘Regional Court Administrator’ or ‘Deputy Regional Court Administrator.’ I think it was deliberate on her part not to use these titles,” said De Castro.

Lastly, AM 06-11-09-SC mandated that staffing pattern approval for the RCAO must be Court-approved and the designation of RCAO personnel shall be approved by the Chief Justice upon the recommendation of the Court Administrator. The AO by Sereno detailed the hiring of contractual personnel for the JDO 7 which must be consistent with the staffing pattern approved by the Chief Justice.

To address the incongruencies, De Castro said the Supreme Court revisited the issue during their December 11, 2012 en banc meeting.

“The creation of the JDO, with only one person in charge, will wreak havoc on the management and operation of the courts of Region 7... There are 146 judges in Region 7, and there are 1,435 personnel. And the AO [by Sereno] is ordering the transfer of all the records to the JDO of Region 7 with only Geraldine Econg manning the office,” explained De Castro.

The Court reiterated there should be a study committee to investigate the reopening of the RCAO. They eventually decided to assign Associate Justice Jose Perez, instead of Econg, as head of the study group. AM 12-11-09-SC, the resolution produced from the December 11 en banc session, created a Needs Assessment Committee to study the necessity of decentralizing the functions in support of the Supreme Court’s power of administrative supervision over lower courts.

The resolution further declared that it superseded all prior resolutions, administrative orders, and issuances on the covered matter and shall take effect immediately upon its promulgation. De Castro stated that the Court had, in effect, subtly revoked Sereno’s AM.

News Release

30 November 2017

House committees probe insider trading activities of SSS execs

The House committees on good government and public accountability and on banks and financial intermediaries chaired by Reps. Johnny Ty Pimentel (2nd District, Surigao del Sur) and Ben Evardone (Lone District, Eastern Samar), respectively, on Wednesday began their joint inquiry into the alleged irregular stocks trading activities of certain officials of the Social Security System (SSS).

The SSS officials who are subject of the investigation are Rizaldy Capulong, Executive Vice President for Investments; Reginald Candelaria, chief of Equities Investment Division; Ernesto Francisco, head of Equities Product Development; and George Ongkeko Jr., Chief Actuary.

The joint inquiry by the said committees was prompted by the following House resolutions: House Resolution No. 1433, entitled: “An Resolution directing the Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries to immediately conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the recently reported improper and allegedly illegal act of stocks trading of certain key officials of Social Security System (SSS) leading to investments opportunity losses of the SSS to the prejudice of the corporation and its members, and to recommend appropriate legislation,” introduced by Evardone; and House Resolution No. 1434, or “Resolution for the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the alleged conflict of interest and profiteering of SSS Executives, filed by Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate (Party-list, Bayan Muna).

Pimentel, in his preliminary remarks, said that the mandate of the committee on good government and public accountability is to determine if, in the case at hand, SSS officials were remiss in the performance of their mandated duties and responsibilities tantamount to malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance and if remedial legislation is necessary to resolve the issues addressed to the committee.

He stressed that although the SSS is already conducting its own investigation into the case, the committees concerned could not be prevented from conducting their inquiry, citing the rules of procedure governing inquiries in aid of legislation.

Evardone, in his resolution, cited reports about SSS officials who allegedly made money from buying and selling stocks for their personal accounts using SSS-accredited brokers handling the pension fund’s equity investments.

He said the concerned executives reportedly withheld stockbrokers’ information from the SSS, used the same information which was obtained in their official capacity, and consequently cornered the benefits of five companies’ initial public offerings (IPOs) for themselves.

Evardone further said these officials allegedly personally made profit out of such information, instead of the SSS making the profit, which resulted in investment opportunity losses for the agency.

Zarate, for his part, said SSS executives Capulong, Candelaria, Francisco, and Ongkeko allegedly illegally profited from their position by trading their own stocks using the same stockbrokers who manage the portfolio of the state-administered pension fund.

He cited the complaint filed by SSS Commissioner Jose Gabriel La Viña against the abovementioned SSS officials for “serious dishonesty and grave misconduct.”

Zarate said that in the light of the reported conflict-of-interest and profiteering activities of the said executives, he urged an audit of all the assets of the SSS Board members and other officials, as well as lifestyle checks so as to ensure that they are not profiteering using their positions.

Deputy Speaker Romero Quimbo (2nd District, Marikina City) appealed to SSS officials to cooperate with the joint committees as the panels could not be cowed by the pendency of any criminal or administrative investigations, in the light of the pending investigation being conducting by the SSS on the alleged insider trading controversy.

Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (2nd District, Surigao del Norte) urged the resource persons to cooperate with the House committees as the hearing is being conducted in aid of legislation and involves national interest.

NEWS Release

01 December 2017

House to take hard stance, defend 2018 budget in bicam--Alvarez

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez today said the House of Representatives would stand pat on its version of the 2018 budget and defend it in the bicameral conference committee even at the risk of having a reenacted budget next year.

The deliberation of the bicameral conference committee on Thursday hit a snag over the disagreeing provisions in the House and Senate versions of the budget.

In a bid to settle the issue, the bicameral conference panel decided to create two small groups to discuss the contentious provisions.

“Kami sa House of Representatives, napag-usapan namin na mag-hard stance kami dito, dahil kung ano yung napag-usapan namin, at inaprubahan doon sa House of Representatives, yun ay ang gusto naming mangyari,” Alvarez said in a radio interview.

Among the contentious issues in the 2018 budget was the Senate cut of the proposed P50 billion under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) over issues of right-of-way (ROW) acquisitions.

Likewise, the House opposed the Senate’s realignment of the P900-million allocation for Oplan Double Barrel for the Philippine National Police (PNP) and allocated it instead for the housing projects for the police and the military.

Alvarez said that if the two sides cannot agree on the contentious issues before Congress takes its Christmas break, it is possible that the government may operate next year on a reenacted 2017 budget.

The last day of session of Congress for 2017 is on December 13.

“Ngayon, kung hindi kami magkasundo doon, ay magre-enact na lang tayo ng budget noong nakaraan. Tabla-tabla na lang,” Alvarez said.

He noted that the House has conducted a thorough deliberation of the budget and so they are not just about to relent to the demands of some senators.

Alvarez said a reenacted budget would actually be advantageous to the Executive Department because it can then use the funds for the purposes it may deem necessary.

“Kasi puwede nilang i-program kung ano ang gusto nila,” Alvarez explained.

However, Alvarez said it is still possible that the House and the Senate bicameral panel may reach a consensus within the next few days on the disagreeing provisions of the 2018 budget.

NEWS Release

01 December 2017

Defend yourself before the committee, not through media—Alvarez tells Sereno

Instead of using the media, it would be better for Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno to appear at the impeachment proceedings against her being conducted by the House Committee on Justice to defend herself, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez today said.

On Thursday, Sereno attended a Mass at the Parish of Holy Sacrifice in Quezon City and later a youth forum at the University of the Philippines where she vowed to resist calls for her resignation and insisted that she had done nothing wrong. Her statements in both events were reported in the media.

Last November 29, Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo De Castro testified before the Justice Committee and confirmed that Sereno not only altered a Temporary Restraining Order but also created the Judicial Decentralized Office in Region 7 contrary to resolutions the high court had approved.

“Ang sinasabi ko, dahil nga hindi siya nag-aappear doon sa hearing, talagang paano niya didepensahan yung sarili niya hindi ba? Tapos maglalabas na lang siya ng mga statement sa media, hindi naman valid yun,” said Alvarez in a radio interview.

To be able to disprove the allegations against her in the proper forum, Alvarez said Sereno must appear before the Justice Committee.

“Kaya kailangan talaga siyang pumunta doon para i-disprove yung mga allegations at yung mga ebidensya na inilahad laban sa kanya. Alam naman niya yan dahil abugado rin iyan, nagpa-practice,” Alvarez said.

The House leadership earlier said they would respect Sereno’s right as respondent whether or not to attend the impeachment proceedings.

Atty. Lorenzo Gadon, the complainant against Sereno, has expressed confidence the testimony of Justice De Castro is enough evidence to warrant the impeachment of the Chief Justice.

Alvarez declined to make a personal assessment of the weight of Justice De Castro’s testimony and that of Court Administrator Midas Marquez, but he said the Justice Committee would proceed with its job of evaluating additional evidence against Sereno.

“Maganda naman ang testimonya ni Justice Teresita De Castro at ni Administrator Midas Marquez. At marami pa rin kaming ipapatawag po na testigo at isa-subpoena na mga dokumento,” Alvarez said.

If Sereno resigns, Alvarez said the proceedings of the Justice Committee would grind to a stop.

“Kung magreresign nga siya, so talagang titigil kasi wala na tayong iniimpeach. Ngunit kung hindi siya magreresign ay patuloy pa rin yung pag-gather natin ng ebidensya ukol doon sa mga alegasyon na nasa complaint ni Atty. Gadon,” Alvarez said.

However, Alvarez distanced himself from Sereno’s allegations that some people have been talking to her and pressuring her to resign.

“Hindi ko alam kung sino yung tao na yun,” Alvarez said.

Meanwhile, Alvarez reiterated that the impeachment proceedings against Sereno is in accordance with the constitutional duty of the House of Representatives and not in any way over a personal matter, as the camp of Sereno had been trying to suggest.

“Siguro manood na lang tayo ng committee hearing, dahil doon naman lumalabas yung talagang mga ebidensya. Mayroong mga nagtetestigo doon sa mga hindi nga tama na pamamaraan sa pagpapatakbo ng Supreme Court at siguro maging objective na lang tayo dahil nga gumagawa lang sila ng issues na wala namang kaugnayan doon sa mga charges,” Alvarez said.

Such allegations, according to Alvarez are merely part of the diversionary tactic of Sereno’s camp.

“Publicity style ito. Ano lang ito, yung parang paraan para ilihis yung totoong usapin dahil hindi na kayang komprontahin yung mismong mga issues,” Alvarez said.

Katropa sa Kamara

Martes, Nobyembre 28, 2017

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