Cayetano to Authorities: Quell the people's fear and keep airports safe!

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday called on the government to get its act together and ensure the general safety of the people amid the growing public fear due to incidents of the “Tanim-Bala” modus at the country’s airports.

“People are afraid. Everyone who goes to our airports is bulletproofing their bags. They feel that if they are victimized, a case will be filed against them before someone listens to them. Takot na takot ang mamamayan dahil ang gobyerno ay hindi maramdaman,” Cayetano said.

                             

During yesterday’s Senate inquiry regarding the bullet-planting scandal, the senator questioned Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya’s earlier statement that they have already started their investigation on the matter, after “Tanim-Bala” victims invited at the hearing confirmed that none of the concerned agencies, DOTC included, made an effort to get their side of the story.

“An investigation means that you are looking at who is right or wrong, that you are listening to both sides. Pero ang kanang kamay ninyo, nag-file na ng kaso, sinasabing guilty sila. Ang kaliwa ninyong kamay, hindi naman sila tinatanong kung anong nangyari,” Cayetano told Abaya.

He also expressed his disbelief on how bullets allegedly carried by passengers can be intercepted by airport personnel, while kilos of drugs are smuggled unnoticed.

“What kind of x-ray machines do our airports have that are so picky that it can detect a bullet allegedly carried by OFW Gloria Ortinez but fail to detect 2.5 kilos of cocaine?” Cayetano asked.

Single department to protect OFWs from abuse

The senator said that the government should have a swift and effective response to the scam in order to quell the public’s fear and secure the country’s airports.

Meanwhile, in Cayetano’s Senate Resolution No. 1662 filed on Wednesday, he expressed the need for the government to establish a single department that will manage, harmonize, and strengthen existing policies and programs that will protect the rights of Filipino migrant workers.

He also called on the Office for Transport Security to conduct an immediate investigation and file a report within 15 days, with the end view of rendering justice to the victims and punishing all those responsible of the scam.

“What we need are simple, swift and effective measures to address this issue. Hindi pupwede ang pateka-teka. ‘Pag mabilis ang aksyon ng gobyerno, mawawala ang takot ng tao,” Cayetano concluded.#

What an airport mess

INTROSPECTIVE By Tony Katigbak (The Philippine Star) 

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We truly must be a laughing stock all over the world right now. Last week I wrote about the laglag bala scam in my column and the plot continues to thicken with at least one person being caught with a bullet in the bag every day since then. How ridiculous does it look that everyone in our international airport is walking around toting bags and suitcases wrapped in plastic and tape just to prevent potential bullets from being planted. Looking at videos and photos of the airport these days is just laughable. We’re the subjects of memes the world over and at the end of the day the joke is really on us.

It’s bad enough that we have already dropped in rank when it comes to places tourists want to visit for business or pleasure in Southeast Asia, we are also making ourselves look like fools. Sure we have addressed other issues surrounding the potential reasons for all these airport bullet findings, but the fact remains, we have yet to actually do something about it. Which is honestly a pity because not only are tourists not opting to come to the Philippines, but our very own balikbayans are afraid to do so well and end up passing on chances to be with their families and loved ones this holiday season.

Some people have said that some Filipino passengers bring a bullet with them as anting-anting or a way to ward off misfortune. While that may have been true before, I honestly believe there has been sufficient information spread all over the world (this bullet story has landed us on several major international news portals and channels) to prevent this from happening anymore. People know they can’t bring a bullet with them to the airport, so why are so many bullets still being found on a daily basis? I’ve heard that sometimes catching two or three passengers a day is normal. That should not be the case.

Personally I feel frustrated, , as many do, that it has taken this long and has required this much attention to take care of something that should not be happening in the first place. Yes, we are reading about government officials condemning the situation, but what are they doing about it? According to the news, DOTC Secretary Joseph Abaya has said that they do not have sufficient evidence that a syndicate is behind the scam. On the other hand though, according to the National Bureau of Investigation their probe leads them to strongly believe a syndicate is present.

Reports claim several airport screeners and security personnel are being suspended or restricted from work until a further investigation, and while it’s a step, I can’t help but feel that it should not be this hard to put an end to this craziness. Perhaps it’s necessary to remove everyone connected and start from scratch? I truly feel bad for those who are honestly just trying to do their jobs and are not involved in this ridiculous scam, but we cannot let this go on any longer. It’s affecting the Philippines on a global level and if it does not stop it’s only to get worse and worse.

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I watched with interest as Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou met and shook hands last Saturday in Singapore, bridging a gap that has been between them for over 60 years in the wake of China’s civil war. While the historical meeting (which was closed to the public for over an hour) is a good first step there is obviously still a lot of work to be done. There is just so much bad blood between the two countries that no one can expect that to change overnight or after just one handshake.

However, I am optimistic. I know that we, as an ASEAN nation, could do better if we truly learned to work together instead of against one another. I know the Philippines has its own problems with China, but as I mentioned in previous columns, I truly believe this can be worked out diplomatically and peacefully if we all do our part. There is just so much to be gained from smooth inter-country relations.

In a previous column I also mentioned that one of the benefits of working together will be the Beijing led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). This welcome institution is set to be operational by year’s end, though it’s looking more like that will happen next year. I believe that this facility will truly help Asian nations be less dependent on the World Bank and on the European Union. At the very least, it will make interest rates far more competitive and fair for everyone. Currently supported by 57 countries, with more to come onboard, AIIB will no doubt help improve the international banking and loaning community.

- See more at: http://www.philstar.com/opinion/2015/11/11/1520640/what-airport-mess#sthash.j6AR0nJ8.dpuf

Duterte: I might just run for president

By Edith Regalado (The Philippine Star)

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Video grab from ABS-CBNnews.com shows Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte speaking on his local TV show yesterday.

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – For the sake of the oppressed, he might just run for president.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said yesterday he could still join the 2016 presidential race.

“I do not like the way oppressed Filipinos are being treated now. They are oppressed and have no one to turn to,” Duterte said in his “Gikan sa Masa, para sa Masa” TV show. “If they keep letting Filipinos suffer, I might just decide to run as president.”

It would be a turnaround from his previous stand that he could not be “the savior” of the country.

Earlier, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) chose the mayor as substitute for its presidential candidate Martin Diño who withdrew his bid in the 2016 polls.

The party announced that Duterte was its “concededly strongest presidential hopeful” and passed a resolution on Oct. 27 to show its support for the mayor.

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Duterte said he was getting tired of responding to speculations that he would eventually join the presidential race by beating the Dec. 10 deadline to replace Diño.

“I really do not know. I really do not know how to solve the problem of the Philippines. I cannot be the savior of this republic,” he said.

However, even as he shuns running for the country’s top post, he has been commenting on what can be done to solve some of the country’s problems should he become president.

He has lamented the ordeal suffered by ordinary Filipinos, mostly overseas workers, who become victims of the “laglag bala” or bullet planting scam at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Vice presidential bet Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano has been trying to persuade Duterte to run for president.

The mayor said if he does run for president, he would have former Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino in his senatorial slate.

Duterte said he supports Tolentino’s aim of forming a National Disaster Recovery Agency and push for laws that will promote disaster preparedness and environmental sustainability.

“The Commission on Elections earlier said it would not work on the substitution of Duterte as presidential candidate of the PDP-Laban until the mayor accepts the party’s decision.

The poll body has not received a letter from Duterte indicating his willingness to stand as Diño’s substitute for the presidential race.

The PDP-Laban has also yet to file a new certificate of nomination and acceptance for Duterte. The substitution will not be valid without Duterte’s consent, the Comelec said.

Duterte said he has yet to receive a communication from PDP officially compelling him to run for president in place of Diño.

The mayor had repeatedly said he has no interest and ambition in seeking the highest office of the land.

“I do not have the stomach to become the president of this country,” Duterte said many times.

But the mayor said government has not done enough to address the problems besetting the country these days.

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Border Talks with Indonesia after Sinking of 4 Philippine Vessels

By Carmencita A. Carillo, Correspondent

DAVAO CITY -- The Philippines’ Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) met with the Indonesian delegation at the 34th Philippines-Indonesia Border Committee Chairmen’s Conference (BCCC) to discuss border issues, following last month’s arrest and sinking of four Philippine fishing vessels by the Indonesian Navy.

“There is a need to clarify this from a technical viewpoint because as far as we are concerned, the fishing vessels were still within the Philippine EEZ [Exclusive Economic Zone], while Indonesia thinks otherwise,” BFAR National Director Asis G. Perez said in an interview on Wednesday on the sidelines of the annual conference held in Davao City which began on Wednesday and ended yesterday.

The EEZ is prescribed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the international agreement which covers maritime borders and resources.

“While this is being discussed diplomatically, there is a need to resolve this at the technical level since there is already an agreement between the Philippines and Indonesia when it comes to these boundaries,” Mr. Perez said.

The Philippines and Indonesia, both state parties to the UNCLOS, signed a bilateral agreement on May 23, 2014, which delimits the overlapping EEZs in the Mindanao Sea and Celebes Sea in the southern Philippines and the Philippine Sea on the southern section of the Pacific Ocean.

The agreement was hailed as a landmark accomplishment amid rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea where there are long-standing overlapping claims involving the Philippines, China and other states.

Mr. Perez said his agency raised to the Indonesian delegation its concern that, “despite our communication efforts to conduct an investigation on the matter,” Indonesia reportedly went ahead with the sinking of the vessels.

Reports said the Philippine vessels were stopped by the Indonesian Navy, presumably on Indonesian waters, and their crew arrested as they didn’t have the permits to fish in the area.

The Philippine government has no information yet on the Filipino fishermen who are reportedly facing trial in Indonesia. Mr. Perez said the fishermen are believed to be held in the Indonesian island and city of Tarakan, off North Borneo.

The Indonesian Navy reportedly sunk 12 foreign vessels last month, including the four owned by Philippine companies.

Mr. Perez said this was not the first time Philippine flag vessels were apprehended by the Indonesian Navy.

The Philippine government has not previously raised this matter because the vessels in question were believed to have been operating in Indonesian waters. “We respected their authority,” Mr. Perez said.

Indonesia, which has launched a vigorous campaign against illegal fishing, sank 34 boats from foreign countries, including the four Philippine vessels last August as part of its 70th Independence Day commemoration.

Indonesia’s “sink the vessel” policy is based on Article 69, Paragraph 4 of Law No. 45/2009 on Fisheries, which allows Indonesian authorities “to burn or sink foreign fishing vessels conducting illegal fishing within the Indonesian fishing management area subject to the sufficient preliminary evidence.”

But in the case of the four Philippine vessels, Mr. Perez said an investigation showed they were still within the country’s EEZ. “While I do not expect the problem to be resolved now, we can at least discuss the border issue at the technical level,” he said.

Benjamin F.S. Tabios, Jr., BFAR assistant director for administrative services, informed the Indonesian delegation about the Philippines’ own stand against illegal fishing as affirmed by the passage this year of the Amended Fisheries Code, adding that the government is undertaking an information campaign among fisherfolk about going beyond Philippine waters.

The BCCC is chaired by Lt. Gen. Aurelio B. Baladad of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Rear Admiral Laksda Tni Darwanto, S.H., M.A.P. of the Indonesian Navy.

In a joint statement at the end of the conference, the two officials said “the discussions of the committee aim to enhance cooperation addressing border and maritime concerns of the two biggest archipelagic states of the world.”

Among the issues taken up at the different sub-committee levels were the inclusion of civilian maritime law enforcement agencies in conducting coordinated patrols, and of other transnational and organized crimes (such as drug trafficking and migrant smuggling) in the list of border offenses, along with intelligence and information sharing procedures in the Border Crossing Stations.

The 35th BCCC will be held in Manado, Indonesia next year.

Philippine Income Tax Cuts

Malacañang still cool on 

income tax cuts

By Prinz P. Magtulis (The Philippine Star)

President Aquino’s allies in Congress have been pushing for the reduction of income taxes that go as high as 32 percent, one of the highest in Southeast Asia.

MANILA, Philippines - Barely a week after Congress resumed session, the Aquino administration has renewed its opposition to lower income taxes, suggesting Malacañang’s persistent cool reception to the measure.

“The Department of Finance is, and always has been, in favor of reforming the tax system,” Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said in a statement Friday.

“The question is whether we should go for real, comprehensive tax reform, or address the issue in a piecemeal and politically-charged manner that can only stunt the momentum of development,” he added.

President Aquino’s allies in Congress have been pushing for the reduction of income taxes that go as high as 32 percent, one of the highest in Southeast Asia.

At the forefront are Liberal Party stalwarts Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo and Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara who filed House Bill 4029 and Senate Bill 2149, respectively, both pending at the committee level.

Leaders from the House of Representatives and the Senate could not be immediately reached for comment.

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Saying legislators have been painting an “incomplete picture” of the country’s tax system, Purisima said structural problems that hinder tax administration – and not policies themselves-- have in fact hindered the government from collecting revenues.

“Reforming the country’s outdated tax laws would give the Philippines a competitive edge in the Asian Century,” the finance chief said.

“Simplistic solutions that do not address the complex structural issues that underpin our tax system run contrary to this vision,” he pointed out.

Citing data from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Purisima said lowering income taxes could narrow the state’s tax base more, noting that a large pie of BIR collections-- around 64 percent-- are being sourced from only 2,128 companies.

On top of that, the bureau has estimated that at least P200 billion in revenues are being lost annually from non-paying self-employed individuals and professionals such as doctors, lawyers and businessmen.

If tax evasion cases being filed every two weeks are of any indication as well, the BIR has also already lost roughly P73 billion to more than 400 cases filed under its Run After Tax Evaders program since July 2010.

“We cannot take a reductionist or simplistic approach to tax reform. It is easy, and I must say, very popular during election season, to cut taxes, and if we only look at this as a simple yes or no question, who wouldn’t want to?” BIR Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares said in the same statement.

“But we must be more fiscally responsible and ask the right, even if they are tough, questions in making our effort at tax reform a balanced one, for the sake of those whom we pass this country on to,” she explained.

To start with, Purisima said legislators could push for the revisions of the country’s bank secrecy law that stops the BIR from examining bank accounts for tax purposes, meaning to match tax payments with an individual’s income.

“A hurried tax reform plan, absent the necessary transformation of our restrictive bank secrecy laws, and done with undue haste during the frenzy of elections, would be a grave disservice to our people,” the finance czar said.

“We call on them and the Filipino public to support bank secrecy reform as a prerequisite and pillar of any proposed tax reform plan,” he added.

A Night Before Christmas

Mother Teresa once said, "It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you".

That is why in November, Christmas will be celebrated early in Davao City. Seda Abreeza Hotel and Lighthouse Homeschooling Network (LHN) jointly pesent "A NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS- A Special Dinner-Concert for the benefit of 'special' (differently-abled) youth trainees at SHINE Life Skills Center.

The fund-raising event will feature Davao City's very own AVI (Agdao Violin Institute) String Quartet. Their live, soothing music will play, while guests dine buffet-style at the T'nalak Hall, Seda Abreeza Hotel on November 14, 2015 from 6 to 8 pm.

This is a rare event where people reach out to 'special' individuals. It is an opportunity to "let God love others through you" and actually find joy in doing it.

Be a part of this worthwhile evening of dining, music and dancing. Let it be Christmas in November.

Agro-Eco Tourism Complex himoong Instructional Laboatory for Research

 Gov. Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy and other officials lead the ceremonial blessing of Heavy Equipment of the provincial government such as Dump Trucks, Payloader, and Road Roller Tandem on November 4, 2015 at the capitol. (a. dayao/ids comval)

"TINDOG COMVAL! WALANG IWANAN!"

Compostela Valley Province – Aprobado na sa Comval SP sa pagpanguna nila ni Vice Gov. Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora ug Senior Board Member Tyron Uy ang planong paghimo sa “Lamdag Panginabuhi Agro-Eco Tourism Complex” nga sentro sa himoong mga pagtuon sa mga estudyante sa Compostela Valley State College (CVSC) pinaagi sa paghimo niini nga usa ka “Instructional Laboratory for Research and Extension” sa bag-o namugnang “State College” sa Comval Province.

Kini human giuyonan pinaagi sa boto nga unanimous gikan sa tanang SP Members nga mitambong atol sa 105^th Regular Session nga gidumala ni Vice Gov. Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora ang duha ka mga proposals nga giduso nila Senior Board Member Tyron Uy ug mga kauban nga sila SP Members Augusto Blanco Jr., Macario Humol, Raul Timogtimog, Ramil Gentugaya, Paul Galicia, ug Cesar Richa.

Unang naaprobahan ang Motion for the Adoption  of the Memorandum of Ageement by and between the Provincial Government of Compostela Valley and the Compostela Valley State College (CVSC) for the Utilization of Lamdag Panginabuhi Agro-Eco Tourism Complex as Instructional Laboratory for Research and Extension”. Ikaduhang naaprobahan ang paghatag ug katungod kang Gov. Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy aron pirmahan ang gihimong kasabotan (MOA).

Miboto pabor niini ang mga Primary Sponsors nga sila Senior Board Member Tyron Uy ug  SP Members Augusto Blanco Jr., Atty. Ruwel Peter Gonzaga, Macario Humol, Raul Timogtimog, Ramil Gentugaya, Paul Galicia, Cesar Richa, Moran Takasan, Joseph Jaoud, Neri Barte,  Randy Opisan, ug Majority Floor Leader Atty. Arvin Dexter Lopoz. (Gilbert Cabahug, IDS Comval)

Senator Alan Peter S. Cayetano on "Tanim-Bala"-issue

Office of the Senate Majority Leader

Alan Peter S. Cayetano

Rm. 603 GSIS Complex Senate of the Philippines Roxas Blvd Pasay City

         

PRESS RELEASE

05 November 2015

 

 

 

Cayetano on "Tanim-Bala" issue: “They’re people, not statistics” 

 

 

“Tao ang pinag-uusapan natin, hindi numero, hindi statistics. Napaka-offensive na iko-compare mo kung ilan ang biktima sa population ng (NAIA passengers). Ang numero, walang buhay ‘yan, walang anak, walang pamilya, walang trabaho, walang pangangailangan. Pero ang tao, meron. And government is supposed to protect the weakest of the weak,” Senate Majority Leader Alan Cayetano said, stressing that DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya owes the public an apology for his recent statements on the "Tanim-Bala" issue.

 

"Sa 0.004% na apektado, dapat 101% parin ang tugon ng gobyerno," Cayetano insisted as he slammed cabinet officials who seemed to undermine the occurrence of the modus at the country’s international airports.

 

"Panay ang salag, panay ang dipensa, as if sila ang ina-accuse na gumawa nito. Pero ang ina-accuse sa [kanila] ay ang pagiging napaka-defensive, to the point na wala [silang] ginagawa to prevent and to correct [the alleged scheme],” the senator added.

 

In a press conference on Wednesday, Abaya addressed allegations of extortion by airport personnel, stressing that the cases have been “blown out of proportion” as the number of passengers who were caught with ammunition merely comprised 0.004 percent of the total number of passengers who pass through NAIA terminals.

 

Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras confirmed that the Palace is looking into the possibility that “Tanim-Bala” reports could merely be part of a demolition job against the administration, especially since elections are coming up and the situation is an ideal political issue.

 

But Cayetano criticized the officials’ take on the issue as well as the government’s overall “gross inaction” on cases reported by victims of the scheme. He decried the repeated denials early on by government agencies that extortion activities were happening at the airports.

 

“Ang binibilang lang nila, ang nahulihan ng bala. [What about the] chilling effect [experienced by all passengers]… OFW man o turista… napa-paranoid na mataniman sila ng bala. So how can [they] say na 0.004 lang ang percentage ng apektado?” he noted.

 

The senator cited the case of Gloria Ortinez, an OFW from Hong Kong who was arrested after airport officials allegedly found a rifle bullet in her bag. Ortinez was later on released due to questionable evidence, but lamented at how her employment abroad was crucially affected as she is forced to stay in the country pending her case.

 

“Kahit isa lang ‘yan out of 100 million Filipinos, ang ine-expect natin sa gobyerno, maging proactive. [Matapang na solusyon at mabilis na aksyon ang kailangan, hindi panibagong palusot],” Cayetano concluded. ###

Materialists and idealists

Kleinvieh macht auch Mist ...

In German: Kleinvieh macht auch Mist.
What it means: Small amounts add up to something bigger.

Interesting, isn’t it? Learning other language? University of Southeastern Philippines, Institute of Languages and Creative Arts offers Languages.

One of these languages is the German Language. German as a foreign Language is like French. German has become a classic second foreign language in the western world, as English (Spanish in the US) is well established as first foreign language. German ranks second (after English) among the best known foreign languages in the EU (on a par with French) as well as in Russia. In terms of student numbers across all levels of education, German ranks third in the EU (after English and French) as well as in the United States (after Spanish and French). In 2015, approximately 15.4 million people were in the process of learning German across all levels of education worldwide. As this number remained relatively stable since 2005 (± 1 million), roughly 75–100 million people able to communicate in German as foreign language can be inferred assuming an average course duration of three years and other estimated parameters. According to a 2012 survey, up to two thirds of this global number, i.e., ca. 47 million people, within the EU claimed to have sufficient German skills to have a conversation. Within the EU, and not counting countries where it is a (co-)official language, German as a foreign language is most popular in Eastern and Northern Europe, namely the Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Poland. German was once, and still remains to some extent, a lingua franca in those parts of Europe. 

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