Firms told: Submit 2023 wage reports on or before June 15
By Gerard Naval
THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday reminded all private establishments to submit their 2023 Annual Establishment Report on Wages (AERW) on or before the June 15 deadline.
Based on Labor Advisory No. 3 – 2024, DOLE said all private establishments are required to submit their 2023 AERW under the Labor Code of the Philippines.
“All private establishments are required to submit an annual report on the verified itemized listing of establishments’ labor component,” said the DOLE.
“For this purpose, all private establishments are required to register and log in to the 2023 Annual Establishment Report on Wages online portal. Said portal is available from 15 March 2024 to 15 June 2024,” it added.
The Department said the AERW must include the names of their rank-and-file employees, including learners, apprentices, and workers with disabilities, who were hired under the terms prescribed in the employment contracts, and their corresponding salaries and wages.
It added that the AERW report for calendar year 2023 must be as of December 31, 2023.
DOLE said the AERW 2023 may be submitted through the link https://annualwegereport.nwps.dole.gov.ph.
Records showed 21,318 establishments complied with the 2022 Annual Establishment Report on Wages.
CA upholds life imprisonment
vs 7 Abu members over 2007 killing
BY Ashzel Hachero
THE Court of Appeals has upheld the life imprisonment sentence meted against seven Abu Sayyaf members for killing a military asset in 2007.
In a 26-page decision promulgated last March 20, the CA’s Seventh Division held that the Taguig City Regional Trial Court did not err in imposing the penalty of reclusion perpetua without the eligibility of parole against Omar Jakarin Ibno, Hiya Arabain Hapipuddin, Muadzi Aisal Jala, Najer M. Daud, Omar E. Panagas, Jemar Malpa, and Ibrahim Misuari over the killing of Jemar Bairulla.
The appellate court also modified the trial court’s decision by increasing the civil liabilities imposed against the seven — from P275,000 to P350,000 representing moral, exemplary, temperate damages.
“In synthesis, the Court finds that the guilt of accused-appellants has been established but modifies the penalties imposed by the RTC. The evidence of the prosecution was strong enough to overcome the constitutional presumption of innocence in their favor,” the CA decision penned by Associate Justice Eduardo Ramos Jr. said.
Concurring with the decision were Associate Justices Edwin Sorongon and Ruben Reynaldo Roxas.
“The defense has failed to refute the prosecution’s evidence. Hence, the accused-appellants must remain in prison for the rest of their lives unless age or sincere remorse unfasten their bonds,” it added.
Court records showed that Bairulla was murdered on August 12, 2007 at Tagbila island in Bataraza, Palawan.
The accused appellants were aboard a boat together with the victim going to Sarong, Bataraza and decided to make a stop at Tagbila.
Prosecution witness Narvin Abdulsaid Nawang, the owner of the boat, testified that all passengers disembarked on the island except him.
He testified that 30 minutes after the passengers disembarked, he heard a gunshot and saw that it was Jakarin who fired the shot.
Nawang said he also saw another accused — Darwin Abdurahman — fire another shot at Bairulla after he fell to the ground.
He also told the court during the trial that Darwin, Hapidz Abdurahman and Jakarin buried the victim.
The two Abdurahmans remain at large to this day.
Two days later, a fisherman saw a floating body near the shore of Puting Buhangin, Barangay Marangas, Bataraza, Palawan.
The body was later confirmed to be that of the victim.
The accused appellants were arrested on September 6, 2007 and taken from Puerto Princesa, Palawan to a military camp in Zamboanga City for investigation.
The accused-appellants denied the charges as well as being members of the Al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf, saying they were coerced by the authorities to admit the crime.
They added they were students at Al Farouq Institute in Siksikan, Puerto Princesa, Palawan and were arrested without a warrant.
