Remulla renews vow to go after online predators
BY Ashzel Hachero
JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday renewed his vow of an all-out war against online predators victimizing children and young people.
Remulla renewed his promise as he commended the National Coordination Center Against Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM) and other public and private partners of the DOJ in yesterday’s commemoration of the Safer Internet Day.
The NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM is a sub-structure of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), which is chaired by Remulla, with DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty serving as Undersecretary-in-Charge.
He said the DOJ and its partners, including those in the private sector, will not hesitate to go after “cyber predators” to protect Filipino kids in the digital sphere.
“The DOJ, along with our partners, will always take supreme consideration of our children’s safety, especially within the bounds of cyberspace,” Remulla said.
“I reiterate our commitment of an all-out war against cyber predators who prey on the innocent, especially children. We are watching your every move,” he added.
Presidential Proclamation No. 417, s. 2018 declared the second Tuesday of February of every year as “Safer Internet Day for Children Philippines,” to serve, according to Remulla, “as a living reminder that each and every one must take part and protect children from all forms of abuse and exploitation and create a safer cyberspace.”
Last year, Remulla warned Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that if they refused to cooperate in tracking down sexual abusers, particularly minors, the government may go after and sue them.
Remulla said that ISPs should perform their obligations under Republic Act 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 requiring them to install software that will block access to or transmittal of any form of child pornography on the internet.
The law also requires ISPs to notify authorities within seven days from discovery that any form of child pornography is being committed using their servers or facilities.
Remulla said the government’s efforts in fighting human and sex trafficking is hampered by some social media platforms and applications refusing or failing to cooperate with authorities.
Last year, Ty said the DOJ and other concerned agencies will establish a national database or registry of foreign sexual offenders as part of the overall drive to stamp out OSAEC.
Ty said there is a need for a database of sex offenders to protect and keep the public informed and which authorities can use to monitor and track them.
He added that aside from local law enforcement authorities, their foreign counterparts can also have accessible information about sex offenders in the country.
In her visit to Manila last year, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children Mama Fatima Singhateh said the Philippines has made huge improvements in tackling the problem but added there are still problems that need to be addressed.
She said among the areas where the country has made positive developments in tackling sexual exploitation of children are in “improving the policy, legal and institutional frameworks.”
However, the UN rapporteur identified some issues that made the country a source and destination country for child trafficking, forced marriage and sexual exploitation, namely, the difficulty in assessing child marriage due to lack of data, the problem of illegal adoption, economic disparities and exclusion of indigenous ethnic minority children, discrimination against LGBTQ children, as well as lack of trained officials or local workers at the barangay level to receive and assess reports of sexually exploited children.
In 2022, the country’s Special Envoy to the United Nations Children’s Fund Nikki Teodoro said the Philippines has become “number one for child trafficking, and online pornography” after cases of child exploitation rose by over 280 percent.”
In 2021, the DOJ reported that more than 370 children who are OSAEC victims were rescued by authorities even amid restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It also led to the arrest of 74 suspected traffickers.
Makabayan bloc seeks P50K monthly salary
for public school teachers
BY Wendell Vigilia
MAKABAYAN bloc lawmakers led by Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) party-list Rep. France Castro yesterday filed a bill seeking to increase the entry-level salary of public school teachers from P27,000 to P50,000.
House Bill No. 9920, co-authored by party-list Reps. Arlene Brosas of Gabriela and Raoul Manuel of Kabataan, seeks to raise the minimum monthly salary of public school teachers to P50,000, which is equivalent to salary grade 15 under the Salary Standardization Law (SSL).
“This bill proposes substantial salary increases for public school teachers to close the gap between their salaries and the cost of living. It will also address the distortion created by the doubling of entry-level pay of military and uniformed personnel,” the bill said. “It also proposes the annual adjustment of salaries to ensure that these keep pace with the cost of living.”
The bill said the latest adjustment under Republic Act No. 11466 or the SSL of 2019 “by no means addressed the disparity between the salaries of those in the low and middle-level salary grades “who comprised the majority of the civil service and those in the managerial levels and especially of top officials.
“As always, the rank-and-file are at the losing end in this set-up. As one goes lower in salary grade, clerks, administrative aides, down to the janitorial positions, the poorer he or she gets. Those who need additional finances are given loose change, for one in Salary Grade 1, an average of P483 annual increase, to be exact,” it said.
The bill said that despite the salary adjustment, the monthly pay of even mid-level personnel like public school teachers (Salary Grade 11), estimated to be about 803,272 individuals occupying Teacher 1 to Teacher 3 positions, “remains insufficient to meet the family living wage of P33,570 per month. This [amount] is the ideal for a family of five to have a decent and humane condition of living.”
However, the bill said top government officials like those under Salary Grade 31 to 33, including members of the Cabinet and Congress and the President, are given annual increases of around P5,000 up to P7,762.
“At present, their (teachers) dire financial woes only worsened, considering the COVID-19 pandemic and several slaps of increases in the prices of fuel and basic commodities,” the Makabayan bloc said, adding that teachers are left with no choice but to seek opportunities abroad.
“Teachers are given increases of a little over P6,000 spread across four years, or about P1,500 annually. They might not bear arms, but they are professionals with qualifications higher than police and soldiers.”
The bill said the “measly increases are quickly eaten away by inflation and excise taxes, especially those brought by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.”
“It must never be alleged that their qualifications, training, and fortitude are less than those of the police and the military. Indeed, how far can P27,000 take a Teacher 1 and his or her family at a time when fuel prices rise almost weekly? It must be stressed that this level of pay of the main front liners of education professionals who went through long years of academic and practical training amounts to less than the family living wage,” the bill said.
KASAMBAHAY PAY
The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) – Region III is set to hold a public hearing for the adjustment in the minimum wage rate of domestic workers in Central Luzon on February 25 in San Fernando City, Pampanga.
In a notice posted on social media, the Central Luzon wage board said it will conduct the public hearing at the office of the Department of Labor and Employment – Region III at the Diosdado Macapagal Government Center from 8:30 to 11 am.
“Parties, who intend to participate in the aforementioned public hearing, may coordinate with RTWPB-III, and/or submit a position paper,” said the Central Luzon wage board.
It said interested participants should confirm their attendance through the link: https://forms.gle/EtTeqYn1gt63XPJC8.
The Central Luzon wage board said position papers may be sent thru email at: rtwpb3@yahoo.com.ph or rtwpb3@gmail.com or rb3@produktiboatsahod.onmicrosoft.com.
Central Luzon is one of the three regional wage boards that have yet to issue a wage order for kasambahays, the other two being Central Visayas and Davao Region.
The last wage order issued by the RTWPB – III, wherein it raised the minimum wage rate of domestic workers to P5,000, took effect back in June 2022. — With Gerard Naval
Sandigan allows Jinggoy to file
demurrer to evidence in 11 cases
BY Peter Tabingo
THE Sandiganbayan Fifth Division has given Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and five of his co-defendants leave of court to file their demurrer to evidence to determine whether the prosecution presented enough evidence to support key allegations in the 11 counts of graft pending against them.
A demurrer to evidence is a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence presented during trial in support of a criminal offense charged.
If granted, it will have the effect of an outright acquittal even if the defendants have not presented a single piece of evidence since the ruling will weigh the evidence in its totality against the constitutional right to presumption of innocence.
“After a careful examination of the totality of the evidence presented by the prosecution, both testimonial and documentary, the Court resolves to grant the present motion of herein accused, to sufficiently provide them an opportunity to challenge the sufficiency of the prosecution’s evidence establishing the material elements of the offense charged to support a judgment of guilt,” the Sandiganbayan ruled.
Other than Estrada, also given leave of court were former Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) deputy director general Dennis Cunanan, former Department of Budget and Management (DBM) undersecretary Mario Relampagos, DBM specialist Rosario Nuñez, and administrative assistants Marilou Bare, and Lalaine Paule.
They were charged with 11 counts of graft for conspiracy with Estrada in the alleged anomalous disbursement of P183.79 million from the senator’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocations.
Prosecutors said the sum did not go to livelihood and agricultural assistance projects but were instead diverted to dubious private foundations created by businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles who allegedly paid the lawmaker percentage commissions or kickbacks.
In his motion, Estrada asserted that there was no proof that he committed any of the acts imputed against him, including meeting with Napoles or any of her employees, even prosecution star witness Benhur Luy.
He said that as a senator, his role was simply to choose projects to be funded by his PDAF out of a list or menu and to pick the implementing agency.
Moreover, he denied signing any document or authorized anyone to sign endorsement letters, memoranda of agreement with non-government organizations, or any of the progress or accomplishment reports.
On the other hand, the accused TLRC and DBM officials said the evidence fell short of establishing how their individual participation can be deemed irregular or how it amounted to a criminal offense.
Estrada’s graft cases will be decided by the Fifth Division, the same court that convicted him of one count of direct bribery and two counts of indirect bribery even as it acquitted him of the capital offense of plunder.
The sentence bears penalties of a total jail term of 12 to 16 years plus P3 million in fine.
DOJ sees Teves asylum bid rejected
BY ASHZEL HACHERO
THE Department of Justice yesterday said indications showed Timor-Leste will reject the application for political asylum of former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnulfo Teves Jr.
Justice Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano declined to provide details.
“I cannot speak for the government of Timor-Leste. We have only received reports on the request for asylum or application for asylum. However, for all intents and purposes, the indications lean towards the rejection of the asylum application,” Clavano told reporters on the government efforts to bring Teves home to face the murder charges filed against him in connection with the March 4, 2023 attack that killed Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and nine others.
Teves is also facing murder charges for three other killings in Negros Oriental in 2019.
In May last year, Timor-Leste authorities rejected Teves’ asylum plea, but he asked for reconsideration.
Meanwhile, Clavano said the decision of a Manila court last Friday to cancel Teves’ passport will prevent him from fleeing Timor-Leste and may even force him to finally return to Manila to face the criminal charges.
Manila RTC Branch 51 Presiding Judge Merianthe Pacita Zuraek cited several laws that provide for the impairment of travel, including the Human Security Act which seeks to restrict the right to travel of a person charged with terrorism even if the person is out on bail.
In Teves case, the court said his designation as a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council justified the revocation of his passport.
Clavano said with the passport cancellation, Teves would not be able to go to another country.
“This is a very good development for us dahil yun naman ang gusto natin (because that is what we want), for him to come back home and to face the charges like a man,” he said.
Clavano also said the DOJ will “vigorously” oppose any plan of Teves to file a motion for reconsideration of the Manila RTC’s order.
He also said the order and the murder charges lodged against the expelled lawmaker showed there is no culture of impunity in the country.
“We want to make sure that with this case, we set an example so this goes beyond just the multiple murder charges. It’s a culture of impunity that we are really trying to quell and prevent in the future,” he said.
He added that the DOJ will continue its close coordination with Timor-Leste authorities as it seeks to finally bring Teves home.
Clavano added Teves’ diplomatic passport is no longer valid after his travel authority to the United States expired in March 2023.
FDA to shorten process for approving generic drugs
BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR
THE Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday said it will shorten the process of approving generic drugs to 45 from 120 days, following the directive of President Marcos Jr. to continue streamlining drug regulatory processes.
FDA Director General Samuel Zacate, in a briefing after the sectoral meeting with the President in Malacañang, said he is set to sign a memorandum on the Facilitated Review Pathway (FRP) for generic drugs.
The FRP is an alternate registration procedure for a drug, in which the FDA uses evaluations conducted by a reference drug regulatory agency overseas when making its own assessment on whether an applying drug can be used and distributed in the Philippines.
“The generic drug, as long as they have been labelled as generic, there is no patent issue and they are approved and it has been in the market of their originating country and then the originating country has a strict regulatory agency, once they enter the country, when they are imported to the country, it will be subject only to 45 days,” Zacate said in mixed English and Filipino.
He also said there is no reduction of requirements despite the shortened processing period. He said the FDA is simply using the method of reliance or relies on assessment made by other countries such as the United States or Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency.
“If it has satisfactorily complied with the requirements of the ASEAN common technical documents, we will not repeat it,” he said.
PHARMA-ZONES
The President also ordered the establishment of pharmaceutical economic zones or “pharma-zones” to bring down the prices of medicines and ensure efficient regulatory process.
Pharma-zones are likened to economic zones being monitored by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), in which investors get certain tax and other financial incentives to bring down the cost of manufacturing.
These also consolidate companies that are engaged in all aspects of drug manufacturing including research and development, clinical testing and trials, and regulation.
Zacate said the government hopes to establish at least three pharma-zones, including in Clark, Pampanga.
Marcos said the Philippines wants to follow the practice in India which not only provides affordable drugs for its people but also exports medicines.
Inmate who escaped 25 years ago caught in Occ Mindoro
BY Ashzel Hachero
AN inmate at the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan who escaped and hid for 25 years was rearrested by personnel of the Bureau of Corrections Occidental Mindoro last Friday.
BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. identified the re- arrested fugitive as Pedrino Núñez.
He was nabbed by operatives of the BuCor’s Fugitive Recovery Team in Sitio Pandaitan, Barangay Sta. Lucia, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.
“Tulad ng sinabi ko noon na kapag kayo ay tumakas hahanapin namin kayo kahit saan kayo magtago at ibabalik namin kayo sa corrections facility at ito ang patunay (Just what I said previously, if you escape, we will hunt you down wherever you may hide and we will bring you back to the correction facility),” Catapang said, adding that Nunez’ apprehension showed that one cannot escape from the long arm of the law.
Catapang said the rearrested inmate was already living as an ordinary citizen in the village where he was apprehended.
Núñez was serving sentence at the IPPF Central sub-colony for murder where he was sentenced to suffer reclusion perpetua, or a lifetime in jail.
He was admitted at the IPPF on October 23, 1997 and escaped from detention on April 14, 1999.
