Aquino to meet transport organizations on Wednesday
President Benigno S. Aquino III will meet the transport sector on Wednesday to listen to their concerns in the midst of continuous increase in petroleum prices, Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Tuesday.
But Lacierda, clarified during the regular press briefing in Malacanang that the President didn’t call for the meeting to avert an impending strike warned by major transport organizations in the country.
“Tingan muna natin ang dayalogo bukas. Kung ayaw nilang magpaawat, and I hope they are being responsible with their statement, we are very, very open to a discussion of their concerns; with their issues. Di po makikipagpulong sa kanila si Pangulo, dahil sa takot sa transport strike,” Lacierda said when asked about the strike.
“May batas po tayong sinusundan, sila po ay may hawak na prangkisa so alam nila ang obligasyon at responsibilidad bilang isang humahawak ng prangkisa. There are consequences to their actions,” he added.
Lacierda also defended the Pantawid Pasada program of the government saying that the Palace is open for a discussion with the transport sector regarding their concerns with the program.
While some drivers are complaining about not having received the government support, Lacierda said there’s a lot of transport operators who have availed of the Pantawid Pasada program of the administration.
The Palace spokesman also said he can’t tell about the possible second tranche of the Pantawid Pasada program, asking the public to wait for the result of the meeting on Wednesday that will definitely tackle the government support program.
At the same time, Lacierda said they are expecting all the transport groups to sit down with the President during the meeting including militant transport organizations, adding the administration has not favored one organization over the other.
Lacierda also said the President also met with other concerned agencies Tuesday in preparation for Wednesday’s meeting with the transport groups adding that the President wants to involve all the agencies concerned. (PCOO)
Malacañang says President has full trust and confidence on Delima
Malacanang assured that President Benigno S. Aquino III has his full trust and confidence on Justice Secretary Leila de Lima amid calls from some groups for her to step down citing failure to file charges against erring government officials specifically from the previous administration.
In a regular press briefing at the Palace on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that the President upholds confidence on the Justice Secretary as manifested by her frequent attendance to meetings in the Palace especially on legal issues concerning the government.
“The President maintains his confidence on Secretary Leila de Lima, she’s always called during meetings in the Palace,” Lacierda said.
Lacierda made it clear that Secretary De Lima is focused on her responsibilities saying that it’s just that the government is taking actions meticulously, especially in gathering sufficient pieces of evidence before filing cases against unscrupulous public officials before the Office of the Ombudsman.
“I understand the impatience of some groups but we have to be very prudent in the way we gather evidence, I can very well tell you that Secretary of Justice Leila de Lima has been hard at work, in fact she was with us in this morning’s meeting with the President,” Lacierda said.
Lacierda also said that the Aquino administration is not singling out anyone in filing necessary cases adding that such charges will be filed depending on the evidences gathered.
A group of 30 individuals led by a radio program anchor gathered in front of the Department of Justice on Monday assailing the Justice Secretary for alleged poor performance in failing to resolve graft and plunder charges against a former President. The group called for De Lima to step down from her post for alleged failure to file charges against those who have plundered the country during the previous administration. (PCOO)
Palace congratulates Shamcey Supsup for placing third runner up in 2011 Miss Universe Pageant
Malacanang congratulated Ms. Shamcey Supsup Tuesday for winning third runner-up in the 2011 Miss Universe Pageant held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, saying her feat brings honor and pride for the country.
“The humility, intellect, and grace that you exhibited during the competition embodied the spirit of the true Filipina; and, in our eyes, that is the true victory today—that the world stood witness to and found an appreciation for the ideals, values, and beauty that has long characterized our nation,” Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a statement on Tuesday.
“May this triumph serve as a way for other nations to come to appreciate not just the beauty of our people, but that of our country. On behalf of the Filipino people, we are proud of you; and we see even greater things ahead for you,” Lacierda stressed.
Leila Lopes from Angola was crowned Miss Universe Monday night. Lopes is Angola’s first winner beating 88 other competitors to win the title during the 60th anniversary of the Ms. Universe pageant. She replaces last year’s winner, Ximena Navarrete of Mexico.
The first runner-up was 23-year-old Olesia Stefanko of Ukraine, while second runner-up was Priscila Machado of Brazil and the fourth Miss China.
During the question and answer portion, Supsup answered her question without a translator when asked: “Would you change your religious belief to marry the person that you love?”
"If I had to change my religious beliefs, I would not marry the person that I love because the first person that I love is God who created me and I have my faith and my principles and this is what makes me who I am. And if that person loves me, he should love my God too," Supsup said.
Supsup also ranked first among the fans in the vote for the top five candidates and second in the swimsuit and evening gown competitions. (PCOO)
Aquino appoints Suratos as new member of BSP Monetary Board
President Benigno S. Aquino III appointed Armando L. Suratos as a new member of the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) replacing Juanita D. Amatong whose term expired on July 3 this year.
According to Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda, who made the announcement Tuesday, Suratos will stay as a member of the Monetary Board until July 3, 2017. Suratos was appointed by the President September 9, 2011.
Suratos held the position of deputy governor until December last year and was replaced by BSP Assistant Governor and General Counsel Juan de Zuñiga Jr. Suratos retired from the BSP December 5, 2010 after serving the central bank for 40 years.
Suratos, who holds a law degree from the Ateneo de Manila University, served as technical assistant at the Supreme Court before joining the central bank.
He ranked eighth in the bar examinations when he took it in 1971. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from the University of the Philippines and attended Georgetown University in Washington in 1975.(PCOO)
Aquino to keynote 1st Integrity Summit
President Benigno S. Aquino III will be the guest of honor and keynote speaker at the 1st Integrity Summit that will be held at the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City on Wednesday (September 14).
The Summit, with the theme “Cultivating a Culture of Integrity in Business and Beyond,” brings together local and global corporate leaders, anti-corruption experts, and senior government officials to present global trends in ethics compliance programs, as well as concrete ways to strengthen ethical business practices in the Philippines.
It aims to gather experts and authorities to present ways on how to strengthen ethical business practices and institutionalize them so that “business with ethics” becomes the country’s norm, rather than the exception. The event dovetails with the President’s battle cry – “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap”.
It is the first conference ever to be organized in the Philippines along this theme, and it will also analyze global trends in the fight against corruption and how countries stack up in this battle, and will provide industry and company-specific initiatives in keeping corruption at a bay.
The Summit is organized by the Integrity Initiative -- a nationwide, private sector led campaign that institutionalizes common ethical standards among various sectors of society. The Initiative is implemented by the Makati Business Club (MBC) and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), in partnership with the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham), and the Asian Institute of Management-Hills Governance Center (AIM).
As the Summit’s highlight, the private sector will launch the Unified Code of Conduct for business in the presence of President Benigno S. Aquino III.
Joining the President will be Vice President Jejomar Binay, Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima, Ramon Del Rosario - Chairman, Integrity Summit & Makati Business Club; Hubert D’ Aboville, president, European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines; Felino Palafox, Jr., Vice Chairman, Integrity Initiative and president Management Association of the Philippines; Fe Zamora, Vice President, American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and Edilberto de Jesus, President, Asian Institute of Management. (PCOO)
