Malacanang says procedure in screening
passengers at airports now more strict
The Aquino government is enforcing a stricter
procedure in screening passengers at the country's international airports
following an outbreak of a fatal respiratory syndrome affecting mostly children
in Cambodia.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in
an interview aired over government-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday that the
Department of Health (DOH) is currently monitoring the situation through its
National Epidemiology Center.
"Tinitingnan na kung ano ‘yung respiratory
disease na ‘yan," Lacierda said.
Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona instructed the
Bureau of Quarantine to be more vigilant in carrying out routine screening
procedures at all international airports.
The World Health Organization (WHO) informed the
Philippines about the disease after Cambodia reported 60 deaths among children
less than seven years.
"Although a causative agent remains to be
formally identified, all (available) samples were found negative for H5N1 and
other influenza viruses, SARS, and Nipah virus, " the WHO report said. No
sign of illness were reported among hospital staff who took care of the
patients.
"We are more vigilant in screening
passengers at the country's international airports because of this latest news
and there will be no let up until this has been contained," Ona said. (js)
Malacanang hopeful for more expeditious handling
of Maguindanao massacre in court
Malacanang welcomed the statement made by the
judge handling the Maguindanao massacre case that she remains hopeful that she
would be able to hand down the verdict before the end of the term of President
Benigno S. Aquino III.
"We are very glad. At least nagsabi na po
siya (Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court) na
mare-resolba po niya ‘yung kaso within this administration," Presidential
Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in an interview aired over government-run dzRB
Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.
The Aquino administration earlier called on the
judiciary to fast track the trial of the Maguindanao massacre case.
"Maraming mga pleadings na pina-file ang
mga akusado na ang nangyayari po, nade-delay. On the part of the judge, we will
just hope and pray that she will decide on the pleadings in a more expeditious
manner," Lacierda said.
The government, according to Lacierda, is doing
everything that justice may be served the victims of the massacre. He said the
members of the prosecution panel, under the Department of Justice (DOJ), have
been exercising all the necessary steps within their purview to be able to
expedite the whole process.
He stressed that President Aquino remains
committed to his promise to provide protection for the witnesses and the
relatives of the victims.
The government had already increased the budget
for the Witness Protection Program (WPP) of the Department of Justice in a bid
to provide better protection and benefits for witnesses, Lacierda noted.
"We have increased the budget of the
Witness Protection Program. In fact, during the last budget meeting, noong
pine-present po ni Budget Secretary Butch Abad ang budget, the President said
can we increase further the budget for the Witness Protection Program,"
Lacierda said.
The Maguindanao massacre took place on November
23, 2009 when an armed group attacked the convoy of then gubernatorial
candidate Esmael Mangudadatu, leaving 58 civilians—among them 34
journalists—killed and buried in a makeshift mass grave. (js)
Aquino wants local officials involved in illegal
logging to be held accountable
DANAO CITY: Local officials who allowed illegal
logging to continue in Mindanao and other parts of the country will be held
accountable, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Saturday during a Liberal
Party event here in Danao City.
The Department of Interior and Local Government
has asked the mayors in Agusan del Sur to explain why they should not be
administratively charged for the rampant illegal logging in their areas that
resulted to massive flooding last year causing large number of casualties and
damage to infrastructure, the President said during his speech at the signing
of the coalition agreement between the Liberal Party and Bakud Party here.
In an interview after the event, Interior and
Local government Secretary Jessie Robredo said they have six mayors being
administratively charged. All of the chief of police in the respective
municipalities involved have already been relieved from their post, he said.
"Magpapaliwanag ang mga mayors. Ang show
cause order --- hinihingi ang paliwanag why no administrative cases should be
filed against all of them. Ang pinaka-minimum nito negligence for allowing it
to happen. Kasi ang may primary accountability nito talaga ‘yung checkpoints ng
DENR. Tinanggal na lahat ‘yon—31 of them—at tuloy-tuloy po ang kampanya,"
Robredo told reporters.
"Mahigpit ang bilin ng Pangulo na panagutin
‘yung kailangang managot," he added saying they expect the numbers of
local chief executives being charged to rise as the investigation continues.
The ongoing campaign against illegal logging is
just the start, as the government widens its investigation to cover every
province in the country, Robredo said. Just recently, the government
confiscated illegally cut logs coming from Compostela Valley and Davao. There
is also a mayor in northern Luzon who was charged for a similar offense,
according to Robredo adding another incident in Isabela province involves a
DENR Cenro in cahoots with a local businessman.
Mayors being charged could be reprimanded as the
lightest punishment but could also be suspended as the harshest punishment,
Robredo noted, adding that that mayors and other elected officials can't be
removed from office even if they committed such offenses.
Aside from witnessing the signing of the
coalition agreement, the President also attended the birthday celebration of
Danao City Vice Mayor Ramon Durano III. Durano was also sworn in as a member of
the Liberal Party.
Joining the President Saturday were,
Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas, Sen. Franklin Drilon, Energy Secretary
Jose Rene Almendras, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and Interior and Local
Government Secretary Jessie Robredo. (as/3:55pm)
Aquino witnesses signing of agreement between
Liberal Party and BAKUD Party in Danao City
DANAO CITY: President Benigno S. Aquino III
attended Saturday the signing of agreement between the Liberal Party and the
Barug Alang sa Kauswagan Ug Demokrasya (Bakud) Party saying the LP has found an
ally that will strengthen the fight against corruption and help the party push
reforms.
"Importante po makahanap tayo ng mga
kasangga na talagang kasabay natin sa pagtahak sa tuwid na landas para naman
talaga ‘yung pagtitiis ng taumbayan at ‘yung pag-asenso ay mangyari ngayon at
hindi somewhere in the distant future," he said in his message during the
event.
"Simula’t sapul pa lang po, malinaw na ang
direksyong tutunguhin ng atin pong krusada sa tuwid na daan: tunay na
kaginhawaan ng nagkakaisang bayan laban sa katiwalian, kahirapan, at
kawalang-katarungan. Ngayon, pinagtibay natin ang ating pangako ng kaunlaran at
kaginhawaan at sinasabi sa ating mga boss: hindi na muling mananaig ang
kawalang-katarungan at katiwalian laban sa demokrasya at katotohanan," he
added.
The Aquino administration's pledge is to give
Filipinos a better life as a result of good governance, the President said
noting that with LP's coalition with Bakud Party, more reforms will be done for
the benefit of the people.
"Ngayon, sa paglawig ng ating samahan,
mabibigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang bawat batang Cebuano na mabakunahan,
makapasok sa paaralan, at makauwi sa bahay na may ilaw. Sinisiguro nating ang
bawat hapag ay may pagkain, ang bawat pamilya may maasahang kabuhayan, ang
bawat bayan at lalawigan hindi maiiwan sa tuwid na daan."
But the President warned that while the present
administration strives to carry out reforms, the agents of the old and corrupt
system will continue to exert their influence to disrupt the initiatives for
change. The President asked the people not to abandon the path towards
righteousness, stressing that the recently forged partnership with Bakud Party
will further strengthen the government's resolve to spearhead change.
"Sa araw na ito, binabati ko hindi lamang
ang may kaarawan po nating (Vice) Mayor Durano kundi ang bawat isa sa inyo
dahil sa inyong desisyong tumayo at lumaban para sa ikauunlad ng ating bansa.
Patunay itong dumarami ang mga Pilipinong nagnanais makibahagi sa pagpapalaganap
ng makabuluhan at tunay na pagbabago para sa buong bayan. Ito ang susi upang
tuluyan nating matupad ang mga pangako ng isang tunay na demokrasya at makamit
ang pangarap ng malawakang kaginhawaan," the President said.
Also present Saturday were Transportation and
Communication Secretary Manuel Roxas, Interior and Local Government Secretary
Jessie Robredo, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Budget Secretary
Florencio Abad and Sen. Franklin Drilon. (as/4:18pm)
Malacanang announces release of executive order
on mining next week
President Benigno S. Aquino III has already
signed the executive order (EO) on mining which aims to generate more revenues
for the government and address mining industry and environmental concerns, a
Palace official said on Saturday.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in
an interview aired over government-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday that
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. will release the new mining policy
next week.
Lacierda said Environment and Natural Resources
Secretary Ramon Paje will hold a press briefing to explain the executive order.
"Para walang agam-agam dito sa EO na ito
dahil matagal na itong inaabangan ng business (sector) specially the mining
industry at saka ng mga environmentalists, ipapaliwanag po ni Secretary Mon
Paje ang EO on mining," Lacierda said.
Lacierda stressed that the administration
conducted extensive consultations with mining stakeholders before it finalized
the new mining policy.
The government crafted the new mining policy
that would be beneficial for both the government and the mining investors.
With the crafting of the new mining policy, the
Aquino administration hopes that the new measure will generate more revenues
for the government in the face of a high demand for metallic resources. The new
EO also aims to balance out concerns on environment protection and economic
gains. (js)
