President Aquino cites role of lawyers as
guardian of the poor and oppressed
President Benigno S. Aquino III cited the role
of lawyers as guardians of the poor and oppressed as he challenged them to
restore the people’s trust in the country's laws and institutions.
"The law is the refuge of the poor and
oppressed; the people’s shield against injustice. Our nation’s lawyers act as
their guardians, ensuring that our laws serve and protect those who need them
the most," the Chief Executive said in his message to the Integrated Bar
of the Philippines Zamboanga-Basilan-Sulu-Tawi-Tawi Chapter on the occasion of
the 4th Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Mindanao Convention of Lawyers
on Monday.
President Aquino congratulated the IBP
Zamboanga-Basilan-Sulu-Tawi-Tawi Chapter for hosting the event that seeks to
promote fellowship, physical fitness, and continuing legal education among
Mindanao’s lawyers.
"For a long time, however, the judicial
system has been used and abused for the benefit of the privileged few. Just as
our people have grown cynical over our legal system, recent events have given
us fresh opportunities for the long-awaited revitalization of the legal
profession," he said.
"It is now up to you to restore our
people’s trust in our laws and our institutions, and begin the process of
healing and national transformation," the President said.
He expressed belief that the occasion would
bring forth a new era in the legal community, where integrity, professionalism,
and excellence become the new watchwords for our nation’s lawyers.
"May you join us in this time of daylight,
as the Filipino people begin reaping the fruits of change and reform, and start
realizing their goals and aspirations. Together, let us be reminded of the
duties we all bear in nation-building, and be confident that as long as we stay
on the straight and righteous path, we will lead the country towards a stable
and equitably progressive future," he said. PND (js)
Aquino government to proceed with drafting of
implementing rules and regulations of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012
The Aquino administration would proceed with the
drafting of the newly-enacted Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012's Implementing
Rules and Regulations (IRR) saying it is duty-bound to implement the law, a
Palace official said on Monday.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said
during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Monday that the executive
branch of government cannot suspend the implementation of the Cybercrime
Prevention Act of 2012 which took effect on October 3.
"There were plans by the House and the
Senate to issue a joint resolution but there has been no movement towards that.
So, in the absence of any movement or any effort to suspend the implementation,
we, as the Executive branch are duty-bound to implement the law," Lacierda
said.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) set a meeting
with the stakeholders on Tuesday for the conduct of the consultations regarding
the drafting of the IRR of the newly enacted Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
"I understand it’s open to the public.
Certainly there will be invitations to the media, to the IT community kasi
focus din dito ang cybercrime protection: how does one address the cybercrime
provisions and how does one implement those provisions," Lacierda said.
Lacierda reiterated that the government would
not suppress the freedom of the press or freedom of expression and remains
committed to uphold the civil liberties as guaranteed by the Constitution.
The Cybercrime Prevention Act was enacted by
Congress to address the legitimate concerns about criminal activities on the
Internet and the effects of abusive behavior, according to Lacierda.
The law aims to protect the public against
hackers who deprive anyone of access to the Internet or to suppress civil
liberties as exercised online," Lacierda said.
He also said that the government has taken
measures against hackers who have engaged in online vandalism, depriving the
broader public of access to much needed government information and services
online.
Lacierda also noted that the government also
recognizes the rights of the individuals who are maliciously maligned on-line.
"The subject of libel is already found in
the Revised Penal Code. Never at any time did the Supreme Court rule that libel
was unconstitutional," he stressed.
"Bottom line is: Can one sue a person for
libel on print, on radio, on TV and then exempt cyberspace if one writes
something libelous? ‘Yun lang naman talaga ang sinasabi ni Presidente," he
said. PND (js)
President Aquino lauds NGO for holding forum
showcasing Filipino innovation and entrepreneurship
President Benigno S. Aquino III lauded the Philippine
Development Foundation (Phildev), a non-government organization that advances
science and technology for social and economic development in the country, for
holding a forum that showcases Filipino innovation and entrepreneurship at the
Peninsula Manila in Makati City on Monday.
In his speech keynoting the event, the President
said that Phildev’s holding of the “Forum on Harnessing Filipino Innovation and
Entreprenuership” was a strengthening of the belief that Filipinos have what it
takes to be purveyors of innovation and development.
“It seems that everywhere you look in this
country, Filipino creativity manifests itself. You can see it in the artwork on
our jeepneys—on the sheer variety of designs; you can see it in our dancing
traffic enforcers and even prisoners, or in the names of small businesses, such
as barbershops named Scissor’s Palace, or Sylvester Salon,” the President said.
“And I am happy to see you here today, because
your presence is a sign of your belief that this creativity that literally
decorates our cities can be harnessed into a much greater force. You are here
not just because you agree that innovation is vital to the development of any
country; you are here because you believe that the ideas for innovation can be
sourced from our people, and that we need to train them to turn those ideas
into real projects,” he added.
Launched in 2010, Phildev aims to help increase
the number of researchers, scientists and engineers in the country who can
innovate, and entrepreneurs who can bring these ideas to the global market by
building an “ecosystem” of science and technology-based entrepreneurship and
innovation.
Their annual forums, both here and in the US,
have brought together key influencers and movers from the government, academe,
and private sector to work closely on an ambitious goal of not only achieving a
globally competitive Philippines but also establishing a sustainable economy to
take care of its people.
President Aquino said that his government is
ready to work with Phildev towards achieving its goals for the Filipino people.
“Through the work of PhilDev, we see how the
combination of technology, creativity, and collaboration can kick open the
sometimes stubborn doors of opportunity. Our administration is only too happy
to collaborate with you in these endeavors,” the President said.
“Today, I stand in a room full of people with
whom I share an idea: that the quickest path to progress for this country is
one in which we capitalize on our nation’s greatest asset—its people. On our
end, we have been, since taking office, taking the necessary steps to make sure
that the talents of the Filipino people will not go to waste,” he added.
Joining the President were Education Secretary
Armin Luistro, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Budget Secretary Florencio
Abad, Higher Education Chair Patricia Licuanan, and Phildev Chairman Diosdado
Banatao. PND (rck)
Government, MILF agree to form transition
commission to craft Bangsamoro Basic Law, says Leonen
The Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have agreed to form a transition
commission to craft a proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, Peace Panel Chair Marvic
Leonen announced.
The new development came after the government
and the MILF forged the historic "Framework Agreement on the
Bangsamoro" aimed at ending the conflict that has spanned two generations.
"It is a pleasure for me to report that, of
course, what has already been announced by the President, the GPH and the MILF
have agreed on the final text of what we are calling a framework
agreement," Leonen said during a press briefing in Malacanang on Monday.
"The framework agreement is the mother
agreement that is a roadmap and contains a set of principles and values that
would guide the process for the final political settlement with the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front," he said.
Under the framework agreement, Leonen said
"the new autonomous political entity will be created through an organic
act drafted by the transition commission, enacted by Congress, and effective
upon ratification in a plebiscite of all people who are affected by it."
Under the agreement, the Bangsamoro shall be
governed by a Basic Law, and the provisions of the Bangsamoro Basic Law shall
be consistent with all the agreements of the GPH and MILF parties.
The Basic Law shall reflect the Bangsamoro
system of life and meet internationally accepted standards of governance.
"The agreement also contains provisions on
power-sharing. The second would be on wealth-sharing and revenue generation. It
also contains provisions on normalization which is, of course, the process of
bringing back a more normalized life in the country," Leonen said.
In the April 2012 Decision Points, the Parties
announced their consensus to work towards the creation of a new autonomous
political entity to replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
under Republic Act No. 6374, as amended by Republic Act No. 9054.
Leonen earlier said that the agreement also
ensures vested property rights and recognizes the basic rights of citizens,
including the collective rights of the minorities and indigenous peoples, and
also the meaningful participation of women.
"In this agreement, fundamental principles
on normalization are also laid out including the commitment of the MILF to
gradual decommissioning as well as the commitment of the gradual transfer of
law enforcement functions in the area from the Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) to a reformed police," Leonen said, quoting from his closing
statement during the 32nd GPH-MILF Formal Exploratory Talks in Malaysia on
Sunday. PND (js)
President Aquino says Phildev and US-led
projects to boost information technology and education sectors
President Benigno S. Aquino III announced on
Monday that the Philippines, in collaboration with the Philippine Development
Foundation (Phildev) and the University of California in the United States, are
working together on two major projects to improve the country’s information
technology and education sectors.
In his speech delivered during the Phildev Forum
on Harnessing Filipino Innovation and Entrepreneurship held at the Peninsula
Manila in Makati City, the President said these two projects: the
Philippines-California Advanced Research Institutes or PCARI and the Thin
Client Cloud Computing project, or CloudTop would vastly improve the
government’s IT capabilities and bring the way we educate our children to the
next level, respectively.
The PCARI, which the President said costs
P1.76-billion “will guide us in establishing better a information
infrastructure here, which can improve the government’s capacities in
Information technology, effectively helping strengthen disaster preparedness,
for example, or improving the delivery of basic government services.”
“The project also involves putting up another
institute that focuses on Health Innovation and Translational Medicine, which
will further our research and development capabilities in terms of medicine and
health equipment. It will likewise push forward our efforts at telemedicine, so
that soon, perhaps, our doctors can help diagnose more Filipinos, especially
those in far-flung areas, who have for so long been left in the margins of
society,” he added.
CloudTop, on the other hand, “seeks to create a
cloud computing infrastructure that will deliver new teaching and learning
materials faster for lower level education, which can later be used in higher
levels too, and even in government.”
At a cost of P250-million, the President said
that the CloudTop project has made him “optimistic about increasing the amount
of knowledge we can pass on to the children of this country—to our future work
force.”
“Perhaps this project can equip them with the
vast knowledge they need—adding on to the strengths and skills they already
possess—so that even more Filipinos can pursue truly productive careers,” the
President said.
Fueled by this optimism, the President said that
should Phildev and its co-collaborators come up with other worthwhile projects
that will harness the qualities and resources of the Philippines, his
government would be more than ready to support such endeavors.
“Let me say: if you can come up with possible
collaborations that can benefit the Filipino people as much as the two projects
I mentioned, then our administration will always be ready to listen. I am
confident that we will see even more similar collaborations in the future,” the
President said. PND (rck)
