Philippines to strive to improve civil,
political freedoms, says Palace
The Philippines on Saturday vowed to improve its
standing in the international community as far as the protection of civil and
political rights is concerned.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte
said this after the US-based NGO Freedom House deemed the Philippines
"partly free."
"(K)ailangan umakyat pa rin ang ating
ranking pagdating sa civil and political rights. Siyempre demokrasya tayo at
gusto natin everybody takes full advantage of the (rigths) accorded to them
under our Constitution (We have to improve our standing when it comes to civil
and political rights. Of course we are a democracy and we want everyone to take
full advantage of their rights under our Constitution)," Valte said on
state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
She also noted the Philippines stood out among
its fellow Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members in political
rights and civil liberties.
Freedom House's "Freedom in the World
2014" report tagged the Philippines as one of 59 countries deemed
"partly free."
It gave the Philippines three points each in
terms of political rights and civil liberties on a scale of 1 to 7, with one
being most free and seven being least free. PND (jl)
Have an open mind, Palace urges critics on peace
efforts with MILF
Malacañang on Saturday urged critics of the
peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to
at least keep an open mind on the peace pact both sides are working on.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte
said there is nothing to lose if all Filipinos gave the peace process a chance
to succeed.
"Siguro doon sa mga nagdududa, ang
panawagan natin ay buksan ho natin ang ating puso’t isipan doon sa matagal ng
pinag-uusapan, pinag-didiskusyunan ng parehong panel (To those still doubtful
about the peace process, we ask you to open your hearts and minds to what the
two panels have so far achieved)," Valte said on state-run dzRB Radyo ng
Bayan.
Besides, she said everyone will have a chance to
analyze later on how the annexes to the peace pact were crafted.
"Siguro wala pong mawawala sa atin at this
point if we give peace a chance (There is nothing to lose if we give peace a
chance)," she said.
In the meantime, Valte said the government is
both confident and optimistic that there will be "good news" on the
peace process while both panels are in Kuala Lumpur.
"Kahapon medyo guarded optimism ang
nararamdaman nila. Kanina iba ang tono ng nakausap ko. Parang naramdaman na rin
ang kasiyahan na malapit na magkaroon ng good news (On Friday, there was
guarded optimism. But earlier today when I talked to some of those in the
talks, you could feel they are optimistic there will be good news)," she
said. PND (jl)
Palace: Government taking steps to prevent Phl
from becoming transshipment point for drugs
Malacañang on Saturday reassured the public the
government is taking steps to keep the Philippines from becoming a transshipment
point for drugs.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte
said President Benigno Aquino III has instructed the concerned agencies to
share information so they can work together more effectively.
"Ang huling naalala ko sinabi ng Pangulo is
to share information. Hindi lang ito law enforcement agencies ang gumagalaw
(The President ordered the agencies concerned to share information. This
applies not just to law enforcement agencies)," she said on state-run dzRB
Radyo ng Bayan.
She also noted there is now heightened
cooperation among the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, National Bureau of
Investigation, and the Philippine National Police.
What is important is heightened cooperation and
sharing of information among these agencies, she said.
Valte also noted that with authorities getting
better at thwarting drug laboratories, it is possible drug rings may have
shifted to manufacturing the drugs abroad and using the Philippines as a
transshipment point.
However, she added the sharing of information
among law enforcement agencies has already netted results, including the
interception Friday of some P1.3 billion in illegal drugs. PND (jl)
Sustain efforts to rehabilitate Yolanda-hit
areas, President Aquino instructs concerned officials
President Benigno Aquino III has instructed
Cabinet members involved in the rehabilitation of areas hit by super Typhoon
"Yolanda" (Haiyan) last year to sustain their efforts despite
criticisms from some sectors, Malacañang said Saturday.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte
said the President issued the marching orders during a meeting with Cabinet
members involved in the reconstruction.
"Isa yan sa na-emphasize din ng ating
Pangulo, na kailangan tuloy-tuloy ang efforts natin (The President emphasized
that efforts to reconstruct the affected areas should continue)," Valte
said on state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
She said the President instructed his Cabinet
members to study constructive criticisms about their efforts and incorporate them
into their efforts.
"Should we receive any suggestions or
constructive criticism, we take that in stride and incorporate that in our
plans," she said.
The government is in the midst of reconstruction
efforts in areas hit by Yolanda, which left at least 6,200 dead after battering
the Visayas and Southern Luzon last November.
For its part, the international community had
committed to help in the reconstruction efforts. PND (jl)
Palace: President Aquino appoints 2 DND
officials, reappoints several others
Malacañang on Saturday announced the appointment
of two new defense officials and the reappointment by President Benigno Aquino
III of several others in various positions.
President Aquino appointed two acting directors
of the Department of National Defense: Herbert Yambing and Lea Rosemary Liban.
The reappointed officials included those in the
John Hay Management Corp. and the Poro Point Management Corp. under the Bases
Conversion and Development Authority.
Appointed to serve until June 30, 2014 are:
Camp John Hay Management Corp. Board of
Directors: Silvestre Afable Jr. (Chairman of the Board), Jamie Eloise Agbayani
(President/CEO), Arnel Paciano Casanova, Reynaldo Agranzamendez, Catherine Mary
Biazon, Emerito Manalo, Ceasar Oracion, Gloria Peralta, Teddy Esteban, Rigoroso
Antonio, and Tengco Alexander Bangsoy, vice Felicito Payumo.
Poro Point Management Corp. Board of Directors:
Ives Nisce (Chairman of the Board), Florante Gerdan (President/CEO), Jorge
Banal, Elmer Cadano, Louis Funa-Ay, Claver Jr. Celia Guzman, Nicolas Tabora,
Mitchel Verzosa, and Vladimir Rodriguez, vice
Amparo Aspiras. PND (jl)
Palace: Consultations needed for 6-hour workday
proposal for teachers
A proposal to shorten the working hours of
teachers to six a day may need consultations among stakeholders, Malacañang
said Saturday.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte
said such a change in the schedules of teachers could impact on other sectors.
"Merong mga employers na bukas sa flexitime
pero to shorten to six hours, that will require consultations with other
stakeholders. Magkaka-impact yan sa kinikita ng ating mga kababayan (Some
employers are open to flexitime. But to shorten the teachers' time to six hours
a day, that will require consultations with other stakeholders because it may
affect other sectors of the economy)," she said on state-run dzRB Radyo ng
Bayan.
For now, she said some employers had said they
were open to a flexible schedule for workers, especially with the third stage
of the Metro Manila Skyway project having started.
Some lawmakers earlier proposed to reduce the
working hours for teachers from the standard eight hours a day to six.
A bill in the House of Representatives proposes
a six-hour workday for public school teachers and exempts them from complying
with the Civil Service's eight-hour requirement.
Lawmakers calling for the shortened work hours
said this will allow the teachers more time to rest, and in turn "innovate
and enhance classroom teaching." PND (jl)
