Aquino to Ateneo lawyers: Help us end 'just-tiis' norm
President Benigno Simeon Aquino III challenged the alumni of the Ateneo Law School to unite and join hands with the government in its efforts to eliminate the culture of “just-tiis” in society and continue to remain true to their sworn duty in upholding the law.
In his speech keynoting the culmination of the 75th anniversary celebration of the Ateneo Law School on Monday at the Ateneo Auditorium in Makati City, the Chief Executive urged all lawyers of Ateneo to continue the principle of “lawyers for others” as espoused by its founder and dean emeritus Fr. Joaquin G. Bernas, S.J.
The President assured the Ateneo Law School that his administration is firm in using all its power to implement reforms and bring justice to all Filipinos.
“Ipinamulat ni Fr. Bernas ang mga batas at prinsipyong ito na hindi dapat tumatalbog lamang sa apat na sulok ng silid aralan at dagdag pahina lamang sa mga makapal na libro. Tumatawid ito sa mga mamamayan at nagtataguyod ng hustisya at naghahatid ng katarungan sa tapat at matuwid na paraan,” the President said.
“Ang mga prinsiyong ito ang siya pa ring gumagabay sa kasalukuyang administrasyon dahil kung tutuusin simple at pareho lang talaga ang lahat ng mandato natin, ang isulong ang katarungan para sa lahat. Sa madaling salita, ang gawin ang tama,” he added.
He said that as practicing private lawyers they have a responsibility to provide legal assistance to the people, whether rich or poor.
The President also said that through government intervention, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has increased the Department of Justice's allotment for the employees’ salaries based on the salary standardization law.
“Ang bagong administrasyon ay nagbibigay lamang ng puwang sa tunay na may malasakit sa bayan. Binabago natin ang nakasanayang bulok na sistema at nagbibigay lang tayo sa mas makabuluhan at mas kapaki-pakinabang na pamamaraan. Binubura na natin ang kultura ng ‘just-tiis’ at pinararamdam ang kahulugan ng salitang ‘justice’,” he stressed.
Now that the administration has started the reforms in the judiciary, the President vowed that he will continue to monitor illicit activities and implement reforms in all government agencies particularly the Bureau of Correction and the Office of the Ombudsman.
On the issue of the Maguindanao massacre, the President expressed hope that the Supreme Court would open and allow the clamor of the public for the live coverage of the trial against the Ampatuan clan.
The President expects that the case will move fast and the higher court would heed the call of the people to allow the live coverage of the trial.
By doing this, the President noted that the people would be able to monitor the trial of the case, adding that it will definitely provide ease to the family of the victims who are now experiencing financial difficulties for their transportation to attend the hearings.
“Pagod na ang mga kababayan natin sa katarungang mabagal, paurong at nadadaan sa lagayan. Kaya nga tayo nandito upang maglatag ng sistemang tapat, hayag at naghahatid ng pantay na hustisya sa taumbayan,” he said.
The President also encouraged all Ateneo alumni to help his administration in its drive to provide true justice for the majority of the Filipino people.
“Wala pong duda, habang ginagampanan ninyo ang trabaho ninyo kumukonti ang ” just-tiis” sa ating mga kababayan. Sa lahat ng alumni ng Ateneo Law School salamat sa pagiging ‘man for others,’ mas lalo pa sana ninyong paigtingin ang pagsasabuhay sa propesyong ito upang patuloy kayong maging ‘lawyer for others’,” the President concluded. (PCOO)
Aquino announces appointment of Roxas as DOTC Secretary
President Benigno Aquino III appointed former senator Mar Roxas to head the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) after Transportation Secretary Jose de Jesus resigned last week.
The President made the announcement in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, adding that Roxas accepted his offer to lead the DOTC following their meeting on Monday. At the same time, the President said Roxas will also become his senior adviser for economic cluster.
The President said he was surprised by the resignation of Secretary de Jesus, who is leaving the cabinet to go back to the private sector, adding he wants to give the DOTC portfolio to people he trusts.
“Una, ang papalit, kailangang may talino at kakayahang magpatakbo ng isa sa pinakamayamang ahensya ng gobyerno. Mas mahalaga, kailangan ang isang taong kaya akong sabayan sa pagtahak sa tuwid na landas,” the President said.
Roxas can initiate reforms at the DOTC, the President said noting the importance of the department as it handles big ticket items. He said the reported huge projects at the agency, graft and corruption is also rampant and the appointment of Roxas will put a stop to these anomalies, President Aquino said.
The President said he is confident that Roxas can push reforms at DOTC, being one of the people who opposed and stopped the controversial national broadband deal during the Arroyo administration.
Several sectors have expressed positive response with Roxas’s appointment and the President said he expects the new DOTC chief will have good relations especially with the private sector.
“The business community in particular will have a very wide range of dealings with senator Mar Roxas both in a public and private capacity. So his track record speaks for of itself and I think we are very fortunate to get him on board,” he said.
Asked about the government priorities at the DOTC with Roxas at the helm, the President said it’s hard to make priorities with the long list of problems that the Aquino administration inherited from the previous administration. President Aquino said he wants everything be prioritized.
Roxas is expected to look into the controversial Philippine International Air Terminal Co. Inc. (PIATCo), the roll-on roll off (RO-RO) and the public private partnership (PPP) under the DOTC, the President said. He also wants Roxas to make sure that the railway project connecting the Bicol region and Manila is on track and ready for operation this year as scheduled.
Building more airports is also a priority, according to the President, as well as the review of the country’s domestic shipping industry.
The chief executive said he instructed Roxas to discuss the transition with de Jesus to know the situation at DOTC. Roxas also has the freedom to appoint people for the vacant positions at the department after de Jesus leaves the department. (PCOO)
Aquino receives Philippine teams competing in the Shell Eco Marathon 2011
President Benigno S. Aquino III received the members of the Philippine teams participating in the Shell Eco Marathon (SEM) 2011, an annual competition that seeks to inspire innovation and environmental responsibility on the youth of today.
The seven teams that will represent the country to the SEM paid a call on the President at the Premier Guest House (PGH) of the Malacanang Palace Tuesday morning. The teams were composed of engineering students from various prominent schools that include Don Bosco, Mapua, University of Santo Tomas (UST), Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP), De La Salle University (DLSU) and University of the Philippines (UP).
Also present during the call were Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ramon Carandang and Department of Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo.
The teams presented to the Chief Executive their respective actual vehicle creations at the PGH grounds. The cars that run on diesel hybrid, 95 octane Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and electricity, will compete in the event to be held at the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on July 6 to 9 of this year.
Now on its second Asian leg, the SEM will encourage young talented and creative Filipinos to take part in helping develop more sustainable and efficient sources of energy apart from bringing pride to the country.
The teams are challenged to design, build and drive a vehicle that can travel the farthest distance on the least amount of fuel and lowest possible carbon dioxide emission. They combined their passion and expertise in system programming, chassis fabrication, engine design and driving to create solutions to today’s growing energy challenges.
The teams will be competing in two categories – the Futuristic Prototypes for the more streamlined and aerodynamic designs and the Urban Concept which is catered for the more practical, four-wheeled design.
During their meeting with the President, the Philippine teams led by Shell Philippines country chairman Edgar Chua were represented by the leaders of each team. They were Tito Eusebio Jr. of Team UP; Johndelon Mendoza and Cyril Radovan of Team Mapua; Ericka Vicera of Team Don Bosco; Marco Fernandez of Team UST; Jeffrey Yu of Team La Salle and Carlo Angelo Flores of Team TIP. (PCOO)
Aquino administration welcomes Senate’s decision to support postponement of ARMM elections
The Aquino administration has welcomed the decision of the Senate to support the postponement of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections this August and its synchronization with the National Elections in 2013.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said: “The Senate vote for the passage of Senate Bill No. 2756 is a great step towards systemic reform in the region.”
“Beyond that, the vote also signifies the willingness of our leaders to join the people in the straight and righteous path toward genuine, meaningful change,” he said.
Lacierda said: “Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile demonstrated stalwart leadership, as did Senator Franklin M. Drilon in shepherding this bill through the halls of the Senate.”
The administration, Lacierda said, has always maintained that only through synchronization can true democracy—unencumbered by patronage and transactional politics—be felt in the ARMM where the people have been denied a chance at a dignified life.
“Now that the bill has been passed in the Senate, we can look forward to the implementation of wider-ranging reforms to enable the people’s voice to be truly heard. May this mark the dawn of development efforts taking root in the region, where progress for the benefit of all—and not merely for the powerful few—is achieved,” he concluded.
In an earlier statement, President Benigno S. Aquino III said he wanted the ARMM elections synchronized with the May 13, 2013 national and local elections "in order to level the playing field." (PCOO)
President Benigno Simeon Aquino III challenged the alumni of the Ateneo Law School to unite and join hands with the government in its efforts to eliminate the culture of “just-tiis” in society and continue to remain true to their sworn duty in upholding the law.
In his speech keynoting the culmination of the 75th anniversary celebration of the Ateneo Law School on Monday at the Ateneo Auditorium in Makati City, the Chief Executive urged all lawyers of Ateneo to continue the principle of “lawyers for others” as espoused by its founder and dean emeritus Fr. Joaquin G. Bernas, S.J.
The President assured the Ateneo Law School that his administration is firm in using all its power to implement reforms and bring justice to all Filipinos.
“Ipinamulat ni Fr. Bernas ang mga batas at prinsipyong ito na hindi dapat tumatalbog lamang sa apat na sulok ng silid aralan at dagdag pahina lamang sa mga makapal na libro. Tumatawid ito sa mga mamamayan at nagtataguyod ng hustisya at naghahatid ng katarungan sa tapat at matuwid na paraan,” the President said.
“Ang mga prinsiyong ito ang siya pa ring gumagabay sa kasalukuyang administrasyon dahil kung tutuusin simple at pareho lang talaga ang lahat ng mandato natin, ang isulong ang katarungan para sa lahat. Sa madaling salita, ang gawin ang tama,” he added.
He said that as practicing private lawyers they have a responsibility to provide legal assistance to the people, whether rich or poor.
The President also said that through government intervention, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has increased the Department of Justice's allotment for the employees’ salaries based on the salary standardization law.
“Ang bagong administrasyon ay nagbibigay lamang ng puwang sa tunay na may malasakit sa bayan. Binabago natin ang nakasanayang bulok na sistema at nagbibigay lang tayo sa mas makabuluhan at mas kapaki-pakinabang na pamamaraan. Binubura na natin ang kultura ng ‘just-tiis’ at pinararamdam ang kahulugan ng salitang ‘justice’,” he stressed.
Now that the administration has started the reforms in the judiciary, the President vowed that he will continue to monitor illicit activities and implement reforms in all government agencies particularly the Bureau of Correction and the Office of the Ombudsman.
On the issue of the Maguindanao massacre, the President expressed hope that the Supreme Court would open and allow the clamor of the public for the live coverage of the trial against the Ampatuan clan.
The President expects that the case will move fast and the higher court would heed the call of the people to allow the live coverage of the trial.
By doing this, the President noted that the people would be able to monitor the trial of the case, adding that it will definitely provide ease to the family of the victims who are now experiencing financial difficulties for their transportation to attend the hearings.
“Pagod na ang mga kababayan natin sa katarungang mabagal, paurong at nadadaan sa lagayan. Kaya nga tayo nandito upang maglatag ng sistemang tapat, hayag at naghahatid ng pantay na hustisya sa taumbayan,” he said.
The President also encouraged all Ateneo alumni to help his administration in its drive to provide true justice for the majority of the Filipino people.
“Wala pong duda, habang ginagampanan ninyo ang trabaho ninyo kumukonti ang ” just-tiis” sa ating mga kababayan. Sa lahat ng alumni ng Ateneo Law School salamat sa pagiging ‘man for others,’ mas lalo pa sana ninyong paigtingin ang pagsasabuhay sa propesyong ito upang patuloy kayong maging ‘lawyer for others’,” the President concluded. (PCOO)
Aquino announces appointment of Roxas as DOTC Secretary
President Benigno Aquino III appointed former senator Mar Roxas to head the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) after Transportation Secretary Jose de Jesus resigned last week.
The President made the announcement in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, adding that Roxas accepted his offer to lead the DOTC following their meeting on Monday. At the same time, the President said Roxas will also become his senior adviser for economic cluster.
The President said he was surprised by the resignation of Secretary de Jesus, who is leaving the cabinet to go back to the private sector, adding he wants to give the DOTC portfolio to people he trusts.
“Una, ang papalit, kailangang may talino at kakayahang magpatakbo ng isa sa pinakamayamang ahensya ng gobyerno. Mas mahalaga, kailangan ang isang taong kaya akong sabayan sa pagtahak sa tuwid na landas,” the President said.
Roxas can initiate reforms at the DOTC, the President said noting the importance of the department as it handles big ticket items. He said the reported huge projects at the agency, graft and corruption is also rampant and the appointment of Roxas will put a stop to these anomalies, President Aquino said.
The President said he is confident that Roxas can push reforms at DOTC, being one of the people who opposed and stopped the controversial national broadband deal during the Arroyo administration.
Several sectors have expressed positive response with Roxas’s appointment and the President said he expects the new DOTC chief will have good relations especially with the private sector.
“The business community in particular will have a very wide range of dealings with senator Mar Roxas both in a public and private capacity. So his track record speaks for of itself and I think we are very fortunate to get him on board,” he said.
Asked about the government priorities at the DOTC with Roxas at the helm, the President said it’s hard to make priorities with the long list of problems that the Aquino administration inherited from the previous administration. President Aquino said he wants everything be prioritized.
Roxas is expected to look into the controversial Philippine International Air Terminal Co. Inc. (PIATCo), the roll-on roll off (RO-RO) and the public private partnership (PPP) under the DOTC, the President said. He also wants Roxas to make sure that the railway project connecting the Bicol region and Manila is on track and ready for operation this year as scheduled.
Building more airports is also a priority, according to the President, as well as the review of the country’s domestic shipping industry.
The chief executive said he instructed Roxas to discuss the transition with de Jesus to know the situation at DOTC. Roxas also has the freedom to appoint people for the vacant positions at the department after de Jesus leaves the department. (PCOO)
Aquino receives Philippine teams competing in the Shell Eco Marathon 2011
President Benigno S. Aquino III received the members of the Philippine teams participating in the Shell Eco Marathon (SEM) 2011, an annual competition that seeks to inspire innovation and environmental responsibility on the youth of today.
The seven teams that will represent the country to the SEM paid a call on the President at the Premier Guest House (PGH) of the Malacanang Palace Tuesday morning. The teams were composed of engineering students from various prominent schools that include Don Bosco, Mapua, University of Santo Tomas (UST), Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP), De La Salle University (DLSU) and University of the Philippines (UP).
Also present during the call were Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ramon Carandang and Department of Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo.
The teams presented to the Chief Executive their respective actual vehicle creations at the PGH grounds. The cars that run on diesel hybrid, 95 octane Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and electricity, will compete in the event to be held at the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on July 6 to 9 of this year.
Now on its second Asian leg, the SEM will encourage young talented and creative Filipinos to take part in helping develop more sustainable and efficient sources of energy apart from bringing pride to the country.
The teams are challenged to design, build and drive a vehicle that can travel the farthest distance on the least amount of fuel and lowest possible carbon dioxide emission. They combined their passion and expertise in system programming, chassis fabrication, engine design and driving to create solutions to today’s growing energy challenges.
The teams will be competing in two categories – the Futuristic Prototypes for the more streamlined and aerodynamic designs and the Urban Concept which is catered for the more practical, four-wheeled design.
During their meeting with the President, the Philippine teams led by Shell Philippines country chairman Edgar Chua were represented by the leaders of each team. They were Tito Eusebio Jr. of Team UP; Johndelon Mendoza and Cyril Radovan of Team Mapua; Ericka Vicera of Team Don Bosco; Marco Fernandez of Team UST; Jeffrey Yu of Team La Salle and Carlo Angelo Flores of Team TIP. (PCOO)
Aquino administration welcomes Senate’s decision to support postponement of ARMM elections
The Aquino administration has welcomed the decision of the Senate to support the postponement of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections this August and its synchronization with the National Elections in 2013.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said: “The Senate vote for the passage of Senate Bill No. 2756 is a great step towards systemic reform in the region.”
“Beyond that, the vote also signifies the willingness of our leaders to join the people in the straight and righteous path toward genuine, meaningful change,” he said.
Lacierda said: “Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile demonstrated stalwart leadership, as did Senator Franklin M. Drilon in shepherding this bill through the halls of the Senate.”
The administration, Lacierda said, has always maintained that only through synchronization can true democracy—unencumbered by patronage and transactional politics—be felt in the ARMM where the people have been denied a chance at a dignified life.
“Now that the bill has been passed in the Senate, we can look forward to the implementation of wider-ranging reforms to enable the people’s voice to be truly heard. May this mark the dawn of development efforts taking root in the region, where progress for the benefit of all—and not merely for the powerful few—is achieved,” he concluded.
In an earlier statement, President Benigno S. Aquino III said he wanted the ARMM elections synchronized with the May 13, 2013 national and local elections "in order to level the playing field." (PCOO)
