Aquino calls on lawyers to play active role in exercise of genuine democracy
President Benigno S. Aquino III called on the country’s lawyers on Friday night to be an active part of a genuine democracy and to provide everyone, especially those without the means, access to real justice.
In a speech at the University of the Philippines College of Law grand alumni homecoming at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel, the President said he and the country look forward to the UP Law School as a source of lawyers who, in generations to come, will dispense justice that does not favor any class or individual.
He recalled that when his father, the late Senator Ninoy, used to talk proudly about UP, “I often thought of voicing my protest, as an Atenean, to his numerous exhortations about being a scholar of the country. But my beliefs that UP and Ateneo, being neighbors, are united in espousing the interest of the country, has never changed.”
The President said the UP College of Law produced four presidents, 12 Supreme Court Chief Justices, several senators and congressmen and many distinct personalities in both government and private sectors. He said he attended just recently the reunion of San Beda Law, where he was named its honorary alumnus, and he said it was then that he realized “we have too many lawyers.”
“There are lawyers who know the law and there are those who know the judge,” the President said, a remark that drew a distinct rumbling from those in the grand ballroom.
He said despite the big number of lawyers, he was bothered by the realization that there are more people suffering from injustices, from abuses but are not given their day in court. “I am even more bothered about the volumes of paper that pile up in courts and the cases that have been pending for several decades,” said the President.
According to the Chief Executive, a lot of lawyers are more busy dressing, looking and acting as lawyers rather than handling cases of their least fortunate countrymen. “I suppose many of you are mumbling that what I am saying is very idealistic.”
He said he hopes the reunion would pave the way for all lawyers to revisit, not just their student days, but more importantly the ideals thrust upon them during their stay at Malcolm Hall about giving real and quick justice to all people.
“Do not fail your country, your profession and yourselves,” the Chief Executive said as he lauded the UP Law Center for rising up in 2005 against the anomalous Northrail project worth $800 million (P22 billion) and for the numerous times that it strongly advocated human rights against the previous administration.
To help improve the UP’s role as a guardian of the country, the President announced that he allocated P100 million for Faculty Development Fund for 2011. He said he expects the UP College of Law to continue helping the administration fight wrongdoings.
He said the country expects no less than equal justice for all and that his administration is striving to restore people’s trust in all the institutions.
“Let us urge the Supreme Court to be open to the possibility of having the Maguindanao massacre trial be aired live,” he said which elicited loud cheer and long applause from the crowd, which counted former and current Supreme Court justices.
He said the reasons he is pushing for the live broadcast of Maguindanao massacre trials are: a) it would reduce the cost of the victims’ survivors to view the trials on television instead of spending for fare just to witness the hearings and b) this will convince the entire nation that we have nothing to hide and that our justice system does not lean on any side.
Finally, the President said real change rests on everyone’s shoulders. “No one should be left behind in genuine progress that we are now enjoying and will continue to nurture,” he said. (PCOO)
Aquino & Pacquiao exchange gifts
President Benigno S. Aquino III graciously received international boxing sensation, Manny Pacquiao Saturday when he paid the Chief Executive a courtesy call at the Premier Guest House. The pound-for-pound king had just planed in from Texas where he fought against Mexican boxer Antonio Margarito and won his eighth boxing title in as many weight class division in the 12th round at the Cowboys stadium.
The two exchanged gifts with the President giving the champion boxer a bottle of special wine. The boxer and incumbent representative of the lone district of Sarangani gave the President a replica of the World Boxing Council championship belt, a team Pacquiao T-shirt, and a DVD of his most recent boxing bout opposite Mexican Antonio Margarito.
Pacquiao said he intends to visit General Santos on Thursday after reporting for work in the House of Representatives on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. “Trabaho muna then bisita sa distrito.” Pacquiao is the representative of the lone district of Sarangani.
Asked how he would share his blessings to his countrymen, Pacquiao, said: “All my blessings came from the Lord who I always thank. Of course I will share my blessings, especially to those who need them most, among my constituents in my district.”
On whether he would agree to be the poster boy for the tourism sector, Pacquiao said “yes I am willing to help the country in whatever way I can, especially for the majority of our people.
The two then met with the media for a joint press conference at the ground floor lobby of the guest house.
On the controversial slogan, Pilipinas Kay Ganda, Pacquiao said he agreed with the concept of the Department of Tourism. “We need to beautify the image of our country and not tarnish it. We must all do our share in promoting our country abroad, because this is our only country,” Pacquiao said.
The President said he was delighted to hear Pacquiao’s volunteering to help in promoting Philippine tourism as he is the epitome of success of the Philippines.
“From his days when he had nothing, Manny reached success through hardwork, discipline and perseverance and these are traits that we must promote abroad about the country and the Filipinos. Not only that, Pacquiao embodies what is beautiful and the wealth of the country which must bring the country to success,” the President said adding that the image of Manny would go a long way in promoting the country.
Regarding his earlier proposal to the National Economic and Development Authority to develop Mindaoa into some kind of Mount Olympus, he said the Pacquiao Heights development already has investors from other countries but the project has to get a consensus, especially among residents in the areas to be developed. We are working on it.” (PCOO)
Aquino thanks Pacquiao for offering to help in peace talks
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Saturday morning said he is happy about international boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao’s offer to help in advancing peace in Mindanao.
“But as far as the peace process for Mindanao is concerned, we have already fully constituted the government panel that will talk peace with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. It is advancing, one way or the other,” the President said in a press briefing during the call on the Chief Executive by Pacquiao, who flew in from Dallas and headed straight to Quiapo church for a 9 a.m. mass and then to the Premier Guest House.
Before the President joined the press briefing, Pacquiao told reporters he was willing to help, in any capacity, to promote peace and development, as envisioned by President Aquino.
The President said Manny will be a great help if a legislation to amend some laws to ensure peace and progress in Mindanao as sought by MILF is required in Congress. “As a congressman he can help us in these proposed legislation,” the President said.
“I suppose, from where Manny lives, his province is not too distant from the places of conflict and strife,” the President added.
In a separate interview, Pacquiao said he would focus on being a congressman of Sarangani and attend to his numerous pet projects to alleviate poverty such as the three-story ultra-modern hospital worth P200 million that would start construction next year.
Pacquiao also met with Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, who invited him to visit DPWH on Monday so they could discuss his proposals for the construction of a road and revival of a bridge in the province.
The pound-for-pound boxing icon said he would not face any opponents for now, including Floyd Mayweather “since he has a lot of court cases to attend to,” Pacquiao said of Mayweather.
Pacquiao said in all his fight, including that with Margarito, his driving force is the Lord and the Filipino people. He said that before he left for Dallas he sought President Aquino’s help for his hospital project.
He said he is not considering retiring from the boxing ring yet but neither is he entertaining new fights in the near future. “I will concentrate first on serving my district who elected me as congressman.”
He also brushed aside reports that he wants to vie for the presidency. “My focus is on serving my constituents. I am happy being a congressman,” he said. (PCOO)
Aquino scraps ‘Pilipinas kay Ganda’ slogan
President Benigno S. Aquino Jr. expressed his dissatisfaction with the proposed tourism slogan Pilipinas kay Ganda saying the ”stakeholders themselves were not happy about it (the slogan).”
In a press conference during the call on him by international boxing icon, Manny Pacquiao at the Premier Guest House, the President said “he met with the stakeholders recently and they showed their discontent over the new slogan.”
“Maybe we do not have to fine tune the slogan but look for something more appropriate. There was an old slogan, though still acceptable to many, but I tasked Tourism Secretary Bert Lim to fix it and find a new one based on the blue print of the tourism program and I will review all the details,” the President told reporters.
On Friday night, the President said he recently met with Secretary Lim to discuss the details of the master plan. “Some of it I can’t really reveal because we are still embarking on a non traditional approach in trying to really promote tourism in the country.”
Among them is the recognition of the assets that we have, such as the seafarers, who the President said are the single biggest nationality flying the world’s oceans.
The President said the DoT submitted a master plan that contains a lot of changes. “I will first look at every detail that they placed in that master plan,” he added.
He said there should have been more research and focused group discussions in working out the logo and the slogan before the launch.
“I understand now that the DoT and others involved in the planning are talking to the stakeholders to get their reaction on something that will differentiate us from all our competitors. There are many errors in the concept but it’s not too late to rectify the errors,” the President said. (PCOO)
Palace bares more appointments
Malacanang announced on Saturday more new appointments to the different departments of the executive branch.
In an interview over Radyo ng Bayan, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said President Aquino appointed Liberto Casco as executive director of the Maritime Training Council of the Department of Labor and Employment.
Also appointed were Josefino Torres as deputy administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration; Carolyn Esposo Espiritu (the one who conducted communication crisis training to the President’s Cabinet members last July and August) as member of the board of trustees of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. She replaced Ruperto Nicdao.
Bob Gothong was reappointed as board member of the Philippine National Oil Company. Also appointed to the board of PNOC were: Potenciano Larrazabal Jr., Felipe Medalla, Rolando Bacani and Oscar Ala.
Appointed to the Nayong Pilipino board of trustees for a period of one year were architects Paulo Alcazaren (vice Pacita Juan) and Augusto Villalon (vice Ma. Imelda Gomez) along with Mary Jane Ortega (vice Sherry Grace Velarde-Yambao).
Appointed commissioners to the Commission on Population of the Department of Health were Benjamin de Leon (vice Geraldine Sotto-Padilla), Rodrigo Tano (vice Mercedes Concepcion) and Jaime Galvez-Tan (vice Jose Sandejas).
The President named Dr. Manuel Chua Chiaco as acting executive director of the Philippine Heart Center of the DOH.
Gavino Barlin was named acting deputy executive director of the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority under the Department of Agriculture.
Teodoro Herbosa was appointed undersecretary under co-terminus status of the Department of Health.
Fermin de Leon Jr. was appointed Director IV of the National Defense College of the Philippines under the Department of National Defense and Manuel Yoro as acting director III of DND, both under co-terminus status.
Appointed board of directors of the Philippine Reclamation Authority for a term expiring March 3, 2012 were Reynaldo Robles (vice Juan Antonio Gatuslao); Manuel Medina vice Pedro Lavlo Jr. and Rene Enrique Silos vice the late Epimaco Velasco. (PCOO)
