Hontiveros wants true identity of
Bamban, Tarlac mayor established
BY RAYMOND AFRICA
SENATE deputy minority leader Risa Hontiveros yesterday said a deeper investigation on the true identity of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo should be held amid reports that foreigners, most of them Chinese, have assumed Filipino citizenship to carry out their questionable activities in the country.
Hontiveros issued this statement after several questionable information came to light last Tuesday during a Senate hearing on the raid conducted on a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator’s hub in Tarlac last March.
In a press conference, Hontiveros said intelligence agencies should dig deeper into Guo’s identity amid reports that foreigners, most of whom are Chinese, have been assuming Filipino citizenship to carry out their questionable activities.
“Is Mayor Alice (Guo), like other individuals who have a mysterious past, an ‘asset’ of China who have entered our country so they can gain a foothold in Philippine politics? This is not new; there are many cases like that in other countries so we really need to get to the bottom of this,” Hontiveros said in a press conference.
During last Tuesday’s hearing, Guo, who won the 2022 elections despite having no background in politics, said she is a businesswoman engaged in hog raising like her father.
She also said her birth records were registered with the Philippine Statistics Authority when she was 17 years old, adding her mother gave birth to her in their house, the location of which she can no longer recall.
She also said she has no school records since she finished her primary and secondary education through homeschooling.
It was also discovered during the hearing that residents of Bamban, Tarlac hardly knew Guo when she ran for mayor in 2022.
“Nobody knew Mayor Guo when she suddenly emerged and ran for mayor. My staff members did some research and the people they talked to said no one knew her during the time she ran as mayor,” Hontiveros said.
It was Guo who had arranged for the papers of Zun Yuan Technology Inc., the operator of the raided POGO hub in Bamban, but claimed she did it to help her friends.
Zun Yuan’s electric bills, housekeeping bills, and a luxury SUV seized during the raid were under Guo’s name.
Hontiveros said Guo’s true identity should be established, adding: “There are similar modus operandi like that in other countries. They will eventually disguise themselves as locals of the host country. And then, they will do unpleasant things.”
She said the intelligence community should be concerned over Guo’s real identity, adding there might be several Chinese who have infiltrated the country and are now into politics.
Hontiveros said Guo lied when she denied her ties with another raided POGO hub in Bamban in February 2023 since available documents showed otherwise.
“There were several instances that she lied. The stark and shocking example (was) when she denied that she has connections with Hong Sheng Gaming Technology Inc. when it was evident in the documents presented by the municipal government (that) she heads it),” she said.
Hong Sheng Gaming Technology Inc., a POGO hub, was raided by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Sitio Pag-asa, Barangay Anupul in Bamban, Tarlac in February 2023. This was also where Zun Yuan Technology Inc. put up a POGO hub that was raided by authorities last March.
Guo admitted that she was the one who applied for a “Letter of No Objection” for Hong Sheng when it was put up last year as its representative.
Illegal gambling still PCSO’s biggest ‘foe’
By Christian Oineza
THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) could have remitted higher dividends to the government had authorities neutralized illegal gambling operations in the country.
PCSO General Manager Mel Robles issued this statement shortly after the agency was recognized recently by President Marcos Jr. for its significant contribution to the national treasury.
The recognition was given during the 2024 Government-Owned or Controlled Corporation’s Day held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
“We have been working very hard to raise as much revenue as we can so that we can hand higher remittances to the national treasury which the government could use in its socio-economic initiatives, and high-priority programs,” Robles said.
Robles explained that illegal gambling operations have a detrimental impact on the revenue generated by the agency, as the income losses deprive poor Filipinos of the healthcare and other assistance and benefits the PCSO provides.
Authorities estimate the PCSO is losing billions of pesos in potential revenue due to illegal gambling.
Robles promised to intensify their campaign against illegal lotto operators and urged the public to support the fight against illegal gambling by patronizing only PCSO-sanctioned games.
Ombudsman orders 6-mo suspension of
Cebu City mayor, other execs
BY PETER TABINGO
THE Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the six-month preventive suspension of Cebu City mayor Michael Rama and seven other ranking city officials in connection with pending administrative charges filed by four employees of the Office of the City Assessor last month.
Ombudsman Samuel Martires signed the order on May 7, 2024 directing Secretary Benhur Abalos of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to serve the suspension against the respondents.
Rama declined to comment, saying his lawyers will handle the matter.
“I cannot comment on this because I have no idea. The lawyers will be handling (this). I have no idea. I have not read anything,” Rama said in a statement posted on the Facebook page of the Cebu City government.
Aside from Rama, also covered by the suspension order were City Administrator Collin Rosell, Office of the City Assessor officer-in-charge Maria Theresa Rosell, administration legal officer Francis May Jacaban, Operations Department designated head Angelique Cabugao, Administrative Division designated head Jay-Ar Pescante, Records Management Division designated head Lester Joey Beniga, and Computer Division designated head Nelyn Sanrojo.
The complainants – two tax mappers and two local assessment operations officers originally detailed with the Assessor’s Office – said they were ordered transferred to the Anti-Mendicancy Office, the South Road Properties Management Office, the Cebu City Operation Second Chance, and the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office by separate orders from Rama dated May 17 and 18, 2023.
They objected to the assignment, citing violation of Civil Service Commission (CSC) rules.
They also said they have been constructively dismissed since the new jobs they were assigned to were menial tasks well below their supervisory positions.
Acting on the petitioners’ pleading, the CSC Region 7 issued a decision dated October 12, 2023 declaring Rama’s reassignment orders “invalid and without legal effect” with an order to restore the four to their former positions and to release payment of salaries and benefits due them.
Rama’s appeals challenging the CSC ruling were subsequently denied.
However, the complainants said they were not paid their salaries in defiance of the CSC ruling since July 2023.
In the administrative cases filed with the Ombudsman, they charged the city officials of grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming of a public officer, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, grave abuse of authority, and violations of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
“This Office finds sufficient grounds to grant complainants’ prayer for the issuance of an Order for Preventive Suspension against respondents Rama, C. Rosell, M. Rosell, Jacaban, Cabugao, Pescante Beniga and Sanrojo considering that there is strong evidence showing their guilt,” the Ombudsman said.
It added that the nature of the charges against the respondent city officials, if proven, may result in their dismissal from public office.
The anti-corruption body noted that the respondents’ continued stay in office “may prejudice the investigation,” hence their preventive suspension “to preserve documents and evidence pertaining to the case” which they may have in their custody.
In addition, it noted that evidence on record supports the allegation of discrimination and oppression of the complainants by withholding their due compensation despite the decision of the CSC. – With Victor Reyes
More ‘Lolas’ to be included in DSWD social pension program
BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR
MORE “Malaya Lolas” or former comfort women or victims of sexual slavery by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II will be included in the social pension program for senior citizens of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), a department official said yesterday.
Social Welfare Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and Attached and Supervised Agencies Elaine Fallarcuna, in a news release, said the DSWD has been providing social pension to 10 of the 18 remaining “Malaya Lolas” since 2021 while the other remaining ‘Lolas’ had been receiving some form of financial assistance even while still undergoing assessment for their inclusion in the social pension program.
Fallarcuna said the other lolas will be included in the program starting in the second semester of 2024.
The social pension is given to any elderly, aged 60 years and above, who is frail, sickly, or with a disability, and without a pension or permanent source of income, compensation, or financial assistance from his or her relatives to support his or her basic needs.
She said there were originally 24 members of the “Malaya Lolas” but the number is now down to 18 as of April 12.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian yesterday personally handed Marcosa Liwanag her P100,000 cash gift and a Letter of Felicitation from President Marcos Jr. as part of her benefits as a centenarian.
Liwanag was born on April 24, 1924, and turned 100 last month.
Gatchalian, accompanied by DSWD Field Office-National Capital Region Director Michael Joseph Lorico, visited Liwanag in her home at Paso de Blas in Valenzuela City and personally greeted her.
Under Republic Act 10868, or the Centenarians Act of 2016, elders who turn 100 years old are recognized for the milestone and are provided a cash gift and a letter of felicitation from the president. The DSWD is tasked to implement the law.
DOLE: Employers can expect annual wage adjustments
By Gerard Naval
WITH all Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) having been ordered to conduct wage reviews regularly, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday said employers can expect salaries to be adjusted annually.
In a media forum in Manila, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the directive to all regional wage boards means the minimum wage rates will likely be adjusted yearly.
“It is now clear, deliberate, and predictable that the wage process will have a movement every year,” said Laguesma.
“This will now also provide our employers the opportunity to plan properly and anticipate that, on a yearly basis, there will be (wage) adjustments,” he added.
The labor chief said this is because the wage review will entail the holding of public consultations and public hearings, among others.
“Afterwards, they will come out with their own wage orders. As to the amount, we will leave it to the RTWPBs,” said Laguesma.
Asked if such a policy would remove the necessity to file wage petitions, he answered in the negative.
“The fact that there will be timely review (of wages) does not prevent the filing of wage petitions. At the end of the day, they will also be called during public consultation and public hearings. The review will include everything,” explained Laguesma.
Last Labor Day, President Marcos Jr. ordered RTWPBs to review minimum wage rates in all regions 60 days before the anniversary date of their last wage order.
Marcos also directed the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) to review its rules to ensure a regular and predictable schedule of wage reviews, issuances, and effectivity.
CamSur has P694M worth of assets sitting idle for years,
says COA
BY Peter Tabingo
CAMARINES Sur spent P694.26 million constructing seven buildings and purchasing livelihood equipment between 2021 and 2022 that were left unused after completion or delivery.
The Commission on Audit is now asking for an explanation.
A review of various procurement and infrastructure projects undertaken by the provincial government uncovered structures whose construction was already 100 percent completed and equipment purchases that were fully delivered.
Yet after the rush of planning, funding, bidding, and construction or delivery, the multi-million-peso buildings and machinery were left unoccupied and non-operational for more than two years.
Among these were the P24.69 million Dialysis Building and the P4.15 million Diagnostic Building in Sipocot District Hospital which were completed in July 2021.
Hospital personnel told state auditors that, upon completion, the building’s design was found “not suitable” for machines and equipment provided by the Department of Health. Repairs and adjustments were made to accommodate the medical apparatuses that will be installed.
At the Caramoan Municipal Hospital, the P2.224 million X-Ray Building has stood silent since construction was finished in December 2021. The same fate was suffered by the P4.144 million Diagnostic Building in Siruma Municipal Hospital that was turned over by the contractor in August 2022.
Both buildings were found to be unsuited for X-ray machines because of a lack of power supply and lead walls as radiation shields.
The rest of the structures and equipment were erected or delivered to the Bicol Food Terminal Complex, including the P180 million coconut processing-value-added production line facility; the P170.24 million coconut juice processing and packaging equipment; the P104.22 million fruit and vegetable processing equipment; the P99.606 million trading hub; and the P49.99 million coconut processing facility.
The rest were agro-waste processing equipment and fruit and vegetable equipment, all of which arrived way back between June and December 2021.
According to the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, the equipment underwent test runs initially but only with the use of mobile generators since electricity was not yet connected to the buildings housing them. Since then, they have been unused.
The same official said the power installation was assigned to the Provincial Engineer’s Office. The proper transformer has reportedly been purchased but is awaiting approval from the Camarines Sur Electric Cooperative II.
Auditors were puzzled how the structures designed and constructed for the specific medical operation had to undergo modifications after they were already deemed completed.
“From the conception of the projects and the preparation of infrastructure plans, the design and specifications of the buildings should have been tailored to its functions or purpose. During planning and design, lead walls and doors should have been included in the construction of diagnostic and x-ray buildings,” the audit team pointed out.
Since the projects were completed but unused, auditors said this meant the residents of Camarines Sur were deprived of the expected benefits from them.
The provincial government acknowledged the audit observations and said it agreed with all recommendations, particularly on stricter monitoring and evaluation of projects for efficiency.
DMW warns caregivers against illegal recruiters
By Gerard Naval
THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) yesterday warned the public against illegal recruiters taking advantage of the Employment Permit System (EPS) between the Philippines and South Korea.
Under the pilot project, 100 caregivers will be hired to work in South Korea.
E-registration for the caregiving job is only for two days — May 9 and 10.
“To those interested to apply, don’t fall for unscrupulous individuals,” said DMW Assistant Secretary Levinson Alcantara.
“Once the 100 slots are filled up, that is it,” he added.
Alcantara said one way to make sure their application is legitimate is to visit the website https://eps.dmw.gov.ph to begin the online processing.
“To everyone interested, the only website you’ll go to is the DMW website, nothing else. The e-registration process will start there,” he said.
The DMW official also said that the application period will strictly be held for two days only.
“We want to make sure that it will only be for a short period so that we won’t be having a surplus of applicants for the 100 slots,” he said.
Applicants should be between 24 and 38 years old. They are required to present their caregiving certificate from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) NC II.
Selected applicants will, then, undergo comprehensive medical, psychological, language, and physical tests, said DMW.
