Malacanang appeals to Filipinos to remain
vigilant as probe into alleged misuse of priority development assistance fund
moves forward
Malacanang appealed to Filipinos to remain
vigilant and alert as the investigation into the alleged misuse of the priority
development assistance fund (PDAF) of lawmakers gets underway.
In a press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday,
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said it was the obligation of all
Filipinos to see the probe into what is also known as the pork barrel scam to
its ultimate end.
“Huwag nating kalimutan. Obligasyon ito ng ating
taong bayan because we have an engaged citizenry, let us not forget that these
things (pork barrel scam) have to be resolved,” Lacierda said.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales earlier said
it would take her and her agency approximately a year to wrap up the review of
the alleged anomalous disbursements of the PDAF after voluminous evidences were
presented to her.
Morales vowed to decide in “a year or less” the
plunder case against Janet Lim-Napoles and powerful senators and congressmen
implicated in the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam. PND (rck)
President Aquino cites Metropolitan and City
Judges for enhancing electronic, environmental justice
President Benigno S. Aquino III cited the
Metropolitan and City Judges Association of the Philippines (MeTCJAP) for its
efforts to enhance electronic and environmental justice.
"In keeping up with new paradigms regarding
communication and environmentalism, it has become even more essential to
transform our institutions into highly-efficient and economical systems that
understand and adapt to the unique demands of our time," the Chief
Executive said in his message to MeTCJAP on the occasion of its 15th National
Convention and Seminar.
The MeTJAP opened on Wednesday its 15th National
Convention and Seminar in Roxas City. The seminar will end onSept. 20.
"We live in a rapidly changing milieu, and
are given greater access to knowledge in ways unimagined by previous
generations; your role as arbiters in the modern era is to uphold the proper
use of these newfound technologies. May this gathering enable you to enhance
electronic and environmental justice as you incorporate their ideas and designs
into your working knowledge of the law," the President said.
"The path to lasting, equitable progress is
actualized as our citizens carry on their tasks with integrity and
accountability, values which are integral in restoring good governance,
empowering the vulnerable sectors of society, and retaining the trust and
confidence of our countrymen," he added.
The President hopes for a productive and
meaningful convention. PND (js)
Goverment committed to rebuilding Zamboanga City
after standoff, Palace says
Malacanang assured on Wednesday that the
government is committed to helping Zamboanga City residents in rebuilding their
city, particularly those who lost their homes.
The Aquino administration is ready to provide
the victims of the Zamboanga City violence especially people whose homes were
destroyed by the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
“Certainly, itong nangyari sa Zamboanga, in
general, kailangan nila ng ating tulong, ng ating national government. At tayo
ay handang tumulong sa kanila,” Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a
press briefing in Malacanang.
But the government can’t commit at this time on
how people could rebuild their homes because assessment has to be done to
determine the extent of the damage and the corresponding government support, he
said.
“I don’t want to commit some agency na hindi ko
pa masyadong klaro. But, in general, we have seen the damage caused to the
people in Zamboanga City and the national government is prepared to help,” he
said.
People losing their homes to the MNLF attack is
a real concern for the government, Lacierda said adding that government will
certainly address that.
On Tuesday, the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) said it has enough disaster funds to sustain the immediate
needs of the increasing number of evacuees affected by the standoff in
Zamboanga City.
The DSWD head office has released additional
P16.5 million standby funds to DSWD-Region IX for purchase of relief goods. And
since September 9, DSWD-Region IX has provided P25,501,555 as augmentation
assistance to Zamboanga City.
The assistance included packed meals, family
food packs, hygiene kits, plastic mats, blankets and kitchen utensils.
The DSWD said that as of noon Tuesday, total
number of affected families is 16,533 families or some 82,106 individuals. PND
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President Aquino declares September 27 as
special non-working day in Lobo, Batangas in celebration of its 142nd
Foundation Day
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared September
27, which falls on a Friday, as a special (non-working) day in the municipality
of Lobo, in the province of Batangas, in celebration of its 142nd Foundation
Day.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 651 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on September 5 to give the people of Lobo the full opportunity to celebrate and
participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
Originally a logging settlement, Lobo was
founded on September 27, 1871. PND (js)
Malacanang assures no compromise deal will be
given those implicated in alleged misuse of priority development assistance
fund
Malacanang assured on Wednesday that no
compromise deal would be given those implicated in the ongoing investigation of
the alleged misuse of the priority development assistance fund (PDAF), a
discretionary fund available to the members of Congress.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda sought
to allay fears that lawmakers, especially those aligned with the Administration,
who will be found to have anything to do with the P10-billion pork barrel scam
would not be prosecuted in exchange for information.
Lacierda told a press briefing in Malacanang
that once charges are filed meant that the case would be within the
jurisdiction of the courts.
“I can guarantee you that there is no compromise
because, once the charges are filed, it’s no longer with us. It is already with
the Ombudsman, and the Ombudsman will have full discretion, as to what charges
will be filed against any particular individual—both as a legislator and both
as an official of all those NGOs (non-government organization),” Lacierda said.
Charges of plunder have already been filed at
the Office of the Ombudsman against alleged pork barrel queen Janet Lim-Napoles
and powerful senators and congressmen implicated in the alleged P10-billion
pork barrel scam. PND (rck)
Aquino signs the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 to
stop acts of bullying
President Benigno S. Aquino III has signed into
a law a bill requiring all elementary and secondary schools to adopt policies
aimed at preventing acts of bullying in their institutions throughout the
country.
The Chief Executive signed on September 12 the
Republic Act No. 10627 otherwise known as the "Anti-Bullying Act of
2013."
The Act, which originated in the House of
Representatives, was finally passed by the Lower House and the Senate on June
5, 2013.
The law defines acts of bullying in schools and
direct the schools to adopt policies aimed at addressing bullying.
It empowers the Department of Education (DepED)
to impose appropriate administrative sanctions on school administrators who
fail to stop the bullying. In addition thereto, erring private schools shall
likewise suffer the penalty of suspension of their permits to operate.
Bullying is defined as “any severe or repeated
use by one or more students of a written, verbal or electronic expression, or a
physical act or gesture, or any combination thereof, directed at another
student that has the effect of actually causing or placing the latter in
reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm or damage to his property.”
It also includes acts that create a hostile
environment at school for the bully’s victim and which infringe on the rights
of the victim.
Any unwanted physical contact between the bully
and the victim like punching, pushing, shoving, kicking, slapping, tickling,
headlocks, and inflicting school pranks, teasing, fighting and the use of
available objects as weapons are prohibited.
The law prohibits cyber-bullying or any bullying
done through the use of technology or any electronic means.
All elementary and high schools would be
required to adopt anti-bullying policies and sanctions, which would apply to
prohibited acts committed within their campuses, at school-sponsored or
school-related activities, whether done on or off school grounds, school bus
stops, school buses, or other properties owned, leased or used by the school.
The law prohibits bullying at a location,
activity, function or program that is not school-related and through the use of
technology or an electronic devise that is not owned, leased or used by a
school if the act or acts in question create a hostile environment at school
for the victim, infringe on the rights of the victim at school, or materially
and substantially disrupt the education process or the orderly operation of a
school.
The law prohibits the retaliation against a
person who reports bullying, who provides information during an investigation
of bullying, or who is a witness to or has a reliable information about
bullying.
In addition to the disciplinary sanctions
imposed upon a perpetrator of bullying or retaliation, a bully would be
required to undergo rehabilitation program administered by the school. The
parents of the bully shall be encouraged by the institution to join the
rehabilitation program.
Schools are required to maintain a public record
of bullies and their offenses.
The law mandates the DepED to issue implementing
rules and regulations within 90 days from the effectivity of this Act.
The Act shall take effect 15 days after its
publication in at least two national newspapers of general circulation. PND
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