President Aquino swears-in SC Associate Justice Sereno
President Benigno S. Aquino III administered the oath of office of newly appointed Supreme Court Associate Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno in simple ceremonies held in Malacañang Monday.
Sereno was appointed to the position vacated by then Associate Justice Renato Corona who now sits as the 23rd Chief Justice of the High Court.
In an interview immediately after the oath-taking, the President said he chose Sereno over other Associate Justice candidates recommended by the Judicial and Bar Council for her “awe-inspiring” resume which included her being instrumental in winning the PIATCO and FRAPORT cases in favor of the Philippines.
He added that Sereno and he shared the same view when it came to his “centerpiece” program of reforming the judiciary.
Sereno, who is currently the executive director of the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center, graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines’ College of Law in 1984, and was the class valedictorian.
She holds a degree in economics from the Ateneo de Manila University and a master’s degree in law from the University of Michigan Law School.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Corona witnessed Sereno’s swearing-in which was held in Malacañang’s Rizal Hall at around 11a.m. Also present were the other SC Associate Justices: Antonio Carpio, Conchita Carpio Morales, Presbitero Velasco, Antonio Eduardo Nachura, Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Arturo Brion, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Mariano Del Castillo, Roberto Abad, Martin Villarama, Jr., Jose Perez and Jose Mendoza.
In a statement, Sereno thanked President Aquino for the opportunity to serve the country as a member of the Supreme Court and vowed to work “to help fulfil the Filipino’s quest for true justice.”
Below is the complete text of Associate Justice Sereno’s statement:
“I thank God, first of all, for the extraordinary grace with which His hand has moved to guide me and my family. I take this new chapter of our lives as both a blessing and a charge from Him to dedicate my work in the administration of justice. I also thank His Excellency, President Benigno S. Aquino III, for giving me the opportunity to serve my country within its highest judicial institution, whose decisions are crucial to our development as a democratic nation. It is an honor to be granted this responsibility, and I will strive to fulfil it to the utmost of my ability.
Those appointed to the highest court in the land bear an integral public trust: to uphold the rule of law. I pledge to undertake my work fully acknowledging that it is in both foundation and essence a commitment of service to the Filipino people. I will serve my fellow Filipinos with integrity and conviction, holding myself to the ideal of justice that refutes the abuse of strength and instead labors to succor the weak; justice that does not limit itself to any one person or group of individuals, but instead encompasses the entire nation and acts for the sake of all Filipinos; justice that may serve as one of the several foundations for rebuilding institutions and restoring the people’s faith in good government.
“The responsibility of a Supreme Court Associate Justice in the continuing endeavor of national development is indeed formidable. The strengthening of governance by the rule of law needs to be guided by a deep and unadulterated pursuit of truth in all its various dimensions – seeking to uphold what is fundamentally right and fair. I humbly accept this responsibility and by God’s grace commit myself to help fulfill the Filipino’s quest for true justice.”
President Aquino to embark on US road trip next month
President Benigno S. Aquino III confirmed today that he will be embarking on a United States “road trip” next month to invite potential investors to the country.
In an interview, President Aquino said he will be meeting with Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima “who just came back from setting the ground work for the US trip” to discuss the particulars on how “to make the country even more attractive to all of these investors in the hopes of generating all of those jobs.”
The President said that he was informed by US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas upon their first meeting that “there is a serious interest on the part of investors to know what’s in store for them if they invest in the Philippines.”
“So you know that job generation is the first priority and America is still the biggest (of our) trading partners therefore we are called upon to go there and try to make the country even more attractive to investors in the hopes of generating all of those jobs,” the President said.
The President also said that aside from pushing for the Philippines as an investment haven, his other itinerary for the US trip will include his attendance to the United Nations General Assembly, witnessing the signing of the Millennium Challenge Corporation compact granting $434-million to the country and meeting with the Philippine Development Foundation (PDF).
He said his meeting with the PDF was to discuss ways of “growing our information technology base of people, engineers and scientists.”
“Because there are Filipinos and Americans of Filipino descent who are into venture-capital industries and they are movers and shakers of that industry. They find it difficult to invest in the Philippines primarily because we lack the human resources to meet the needs of industries in that category,” the President said.
When asked if he would hold talks with US President Barack Obama, President Aquino said that the details were “still being finalized.”
President Aquino suspends VAT on toll
President Benigno S. Aquino III said today that he has suspended imposing additional taxes on toll fees pending further discussions on the issue.
“Yung VAT (value added tax), I’ve actually put it on hold as of last week (as) this is still subject to a lot of discussions,” the President told reporters in Malacañang this morning.
The Chief Executive pointed out that the discussions centered on two important points namely: the Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC) franchise and the possible effect of the actual imposition of VAT on toll which, he said, “might deter economic activity.”
According to the President, the issue on the PNCC franchise, whose extension beyond its expiration 2007 is being questioned in court, has to be addressed as the revenue generated from this entity can be used to recoup the investment of those who built the South and North Luzon Expressways.
He said the imposition of VAT on toll fees and the subsequent reconfiguring of toll fee amounts may have implications on future investments in the country.
“There is a study on-going on the implications as far as SLEX is concerned: the increase in toll rates, the increase in transportation, and of course VAT is another cost that might deter economic activity,” the President said.
“There is an ongoing study on the effect of all these increases in toll rates and transportation, and of course Vat is another cost that might deter economic growth,” he said.
P-Noy to put up e-centers nationwide
President Benigno S. Aquino III plans to establish an e-center in every barangay nationwide to ensure that even citizens in the remotest barangays will have access to his website and be able to share their views and concerns with him.
In a press briefing after today’s launching of the President’s website, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma said the Aquino Administration will bring the government closer to the people through the use of traditional, new media and social networking sites.
Coloma said the President intends to reach out to the 42,000 barangays all over the country through his website www.president.gov.ph and through the use of social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Friendster and Multiply among others.
“This is an effective means by which the President can get the sentiments of the people and have them as partners in good governance,” Coloma stressed.
He said this will be realized with “no extravagant expenditure” as Netopia, an internet cafe network operating in the country, has “formally signified making available all their sites nationwide to provide access to our people.”
According to Coloma the local government units (LGUs) will also be encouraged to set-up barangay e-centers.
“We will also evoke civil spiritedness so that concerned citizens may donate computers and connectivity,” Coloma said.
Palace opens new interactive website
Malacanang has opened a new interactive website which provides the public updates on the official events of President Benigno S. Aquino III and at the same time serve as a constructive feedback mechanism using the digital media.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma launched the Palace’s official website “www.president.gov.ph” during a media briefing this afternoon in Malacanang.
Launched today, Coloma said, is Phase I of Malacanang’s new media communications infrastructure which features three banner statements—“Piliin Natin ang Daang Matuwid; “Kayo ang BOSS Ko;” and Iba na tayo ngayon, BAGONG Pilipinas.”
Coloma said the first banner statement represents the public’s commitment to follow the new path that the President has set forth while the second statement mirrors the President’s personal commitment expressed during his first State-Of-the-Nation Address (SONA) last July.
“The third banner statement ‘Iba na tayo ngayon, Bagong Pilipinas,’ represents the commitment of our national leadership towards rebuilding trust in government, weeding out corruption, and ushering in a new era in a new culture of good governance,” Coloma said.
Aside from viewing the latest news, photo and video releases, Coloma said the public can now also air their views and concerns using social media links such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Friendster and Multiply which can be acted upon immediately by concerned government agencies.
