News Highlights: March 13, 2024

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Faithful told: Holy Week more than religious traditions

BY GERARD NAVAL

FORMER Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Archbishop Socrates Villegas yesterday reminded the faithful there is more to observing the Holy Week than observing religious traditions like Visita Iglesia, praying the Pasyón, joining processions, or doing self-flagellation during the Holy Week.

Instead of visiting seven churches during the Holy Week, the faithful may visit seven patients in the charity ward and bring them some food, he said.

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“Holy Week is not what men and women do to make these days holy. It is not about what Catholics must do, nor is it about religious traditions and pious practices done to ‘feel good’ after,” he said in a social media post.

Villegas said that in place of self-flagellation, one may go to a Philippine Red Cross office and donate blood.

Instead of walking barefoot as a form of penance, he said, one could buy a pair of slippers and give it to a child who goes to school in his torn footwear.

To those participating in the Pasyón, Villegas said it would be good to consider buying a Bible instead and reading one chapter a day with the family for the rest of the year.

And instead of looking sour and gloomy during Holy Week, Villegas said it would be good to make someone happy during the Holy Week and make someone feel loved.

“Love is our identity. This week is holy because of love. Love alone can make us holy,” he said.

The Holy Week is a religious observance for Catholics that starts with Palm Sunday. March 24, and ends with Easter Sunday, March 31.

Makati City does not have to pay towing company’s claim of unpaid service: COA

BY Peter Tabingo

A PETITION for money claim over a supposed unpaid share of collections filed by a private towing company against the Makati City government has been thrown out by the Commission on Audit for lack of proof.

In a five-page decision, the COA Commission Proper held that claimant Marial Towing Services failed to submit the required documents that would have established the city government’s obligation.

The towing firm said it was tapped by Makati City in December 2013 to provide towing services to clear its roads of illegally parked and stalled vehicles under a contract that spanned January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014, renewable on a monthly basis.

It said the towing fees were pegged at P1,000 for Class A vehicles, P1,200 for Class B, and P1,400 for Class C on a 50-50 sharing scheme payable based on the actual number of vehicles towed.

The claimant said the contract was regularly renewed by the parties through Extension Agreements but the payment of its share reportedly stopped for the periods June 1 to October 31, 2015 and January 1 to April 30, 2016 totaling P691,200.

The Makati City government countered that the claim should be denied in the absence of a contract invoking provisions of RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act and COA Circular No. 2012-001.

Likewise, it questioned the non-submission of the Motor Vehicle Inspection Reports (MVIR) signed and attested to by both parties.

The supervising auditor sustained the city government’s stand saying the claim cannot be given due course for failure to substantiate a claim and the absence of an extension agreement.

“In this case, the claimant was not able to justify its money claim. MTS (Marial Towing) was given the opportunity, through orders of this Commission, to submit copies of extension contracts ad MVIRs to substantiate its claim. There was no submission made, thus, this Commission is constrained to deny the claim,” the COA declared.

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Unless the towing company can come up with proof showing services were rendered and that the city benefitted, auditors said the principle of quantum meruit which allows payment of compensation based on the fair assessment of work accomplished, would not be applicable.

Preparations for 2025 polls to proceed pending SC ruling on Smartmatic plea

BY GERARD NAVAL

NOW that the contract between the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the joint venture led by Miru Systems has been signed and sealed, preparations for the May 2025 automated polls will proceed despite the pending petition of Smartmatic International with the Supreme Court (SC), Elections chairman George Garcia said yesterday.

In a press briefing, Garcia said they will not wait for the resolution of the petition filed by Smartmatic questioning the Comelec’s decision to disqualify it from participating in all election-related activities.

“There has been no restraining order issued so far so we will proceed with our timetable and with our plans. Whatever will be the disposition, that is part of the process. But, in the meantime, the Comelec will have to proceed,” he said.

Smartmatic has filed a Petition for Certiorari with extremely urgent application for the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order and/or Writ of Preliminary Injunction against the Comelec en banc’s decision.

The poll chief said they are hopeful that the case will ultimately be dismissed by the High Court and clear any potential roadblocks for the Comelec and Miru Systems election partnership.

“Probably, the SC recognizes the short preparation time for the Comelec for the 2025 elections,” said Garcia.

But in case the SC rules otherwise, he assured the SC and the public that the Comelec is ready to comply.

“Out of respect to our Supreme Court, whatever will be the decision, the commitment of the Comelec is that we shall comply,” said Garcia.

Last November 29, the Comelec en banc disqualified and disallowed Smartmatic from participating in any public bidding process for elections.

Subsequently, Smartmatic filed the petition with the SC against the Comelec’s decision.

On the other hand, the Comelec conducted a public bidding for the 2025 Automated Elections System (AES), which the joint venture led by Miru Systems eventually won. On Monday, the Comelec and Miru Systems joint venture signed the contract for the Full Automation System with Transparency Audit and Count (FASTrAC) project.

‘All-out war’ declared vs foreign fugitives trying to enter PH

BY Ashzel Hachero

THE Bureau of Immigration yesterday launched an “all-out war” against foreign fugitives attempting to enter or hide in the country.

Immigration Commissioner Norman issued the order hours after Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla issued an order for the BI to secure the country’s borders by enhancing its verification process and expediting the deportation of foreigners violating the country’s immigration laws.

However, Tansingco said even before Remulla’s directive, the bureau’s fugitive search unit has established close coordination with foreign governments about foreign criminals in the country.

He added the BI’s system at the ports of entry and exit are likewise connected with the Interpol to add a layer of protection against undesirable aliens attempting to enter the Philippines.

Citing its records, Tansingco said immigration officers arrested of 128 fugitives involved in different cases in their home countries in 2023.

“Majority of the arrests were South Koreans and Chinese nationals, who were reported by their authorities to be involved in cases such as fraud and other illegal activities,” he said.

The bureau also apprehended 1,085 more foreigners in 2023, including those involved in several high-profile cases such as the four Japanese fugitives involved in violent crimes in Tokyo, a Sudanese man involved in organ trafficking, and a Mongolian high official wanted for corruption.

Tansingco also said 3,300 foreigners have been denied entry after being found to be improperly documented, blacklisted, or have a doubtful purpose in entering the country as well as other immigration violations.

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to cleanse the country of these illegal aliens that abuse our people’s hospitality,” said Tansingco. “We encourage concerned citizens to report illegal aliens in your area, so we may immediately investigate them and if found to be violating immigration laws, arrest and deport them.”

To underscore the BI’s drive against foreign fugitives, Tansingco said Taiwanese Wu Jao, alias Wu Chun Hsien, was arrested last March 12, in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Citing information provided by Taiwanese authorities, he said Wu is the subject of a warrant of arrest issued by the Taipei District Prosecutors Office for Violation of Controlling Guns, Ammunitions and Knives Act of Taiwan.

“He was said to be involved in a shooting incident in Taiwan last 2022 wherein he indiscriminately discharged a firearm and hit his victim’s residence,” the BI chief said, adding the bureau also received a complaint against Wu from a Filipino victim, who alleged that a case for oral defamation and trespassing were filed against the subject in Cagayan province.

Wu has been tagged as an undocumented alien as his passport was revoked by Taiwan.

He will remain in the BI’s facility in Bicutan, Taguig pending deportation.

In his directive, Remulla said the BI should do everything to arrest all foreign fugitives in the country.

“I order the immigration officers to exert all efforts and exhaust all remedies, do not relent in pursuing these fugitives,” Remulla said, directing the BI to review and update its watchlist system to ensure timely information exchange with international law enforcement agencies and partner countries and conduct regular training for immigration officers.

“Our goal is to secure borders and prevent individuals who pose a threat to our national security or violate our immigration laws from entering or remaining in the country,” Remula said.

Navy men training to man modern warships

BY VICTOR REYES

THE Philippine Navy has started training its personnel to man one of two corvettes due to be delivered by a South Korean shipbuilder under the military’s ongoing modernization program.

In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo yesterday, Navy spokesman Commander John Percie Alcos said the training started six months ago.

The modern warship is expected on the second semester of next year.

“Warfare wise, warfighting wise, they are already undergoing training,” Alcos said of the personnel who will be handling the warship.

Next year, Alcos said, the Navy personnel will leave for South Korea to undergo training that will be provided by the ship manufacturer, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.

“We’ve been training people, we’ve been organizing them and to include the procurement of necessary equipment for them to perform effectively when the new acquisitions arrive,” Alcos also said.

The second ship is due for delivery in 2026, according to officials.

The Department of National Defense and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries signed P28-billion contract for production of the corvettes in December 2021.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries started construction of the two vessels in November last year.

The Navy earlier said the two ships, once in its inventory, “will definitely boost the naval defense capabilities of the Philippine Navy, adding value to its thrust of becoming a modern and multi-capable Navy.”

It said the modern ships will be with “state-of-the-art weapons, sensors and systems that can address various maritime security situations.”

2023 Ombudsman report card:
7 convictions for every 10 cases filed

BY PETER TABINGO

CORRUPT public officials, beware.

The Office of the Ombudsman reported scoring a conviction of at least one accused in 1,242 cases out of 1,692 resolved by different courts last year for a conviction rate of 73.4 percent.

This was a major improvement compared to the year before when the anti-corruption agency only chalked up wins in 278 cases out of 895 that were decided, or a measly 31.06 percent.

It was also more than double its 25 percent conviction set as its target at the start of 2023.

A copy of the Ombudsman’s four-page Quarterly Physical Report of Operation may be accessed at the its official website by clicking on its Transparency Seal.

Based on the per quarter figures, lawyers from the Office of the Special Prosecutor got at least one accused convicted in 234 out of 359 cases (65 percent) in the first quarter.

This improved to 696 convictions out of 784 cases concluded, or 88.78 percent, in the second quarter.

For July to September 2023, Ombudsman prosecutors won 75 of 131 cases (57.25 percent), and ended the last three months of the year by posting 237 convictions in 418 cases (56.7 percent).

The bulk of these cases were filed, tried, and decided in the regional trial courts which have jurisdiction over cases from the Ombudsman that do not allege damage to the government, bribery, or involve amounts less than P1 million.

However, the same year-end performance report showed a drop in the survivability of government cases filed against erring public officials year on year.

In the 2023 report, only 129 cases survived in 315 cases (40.95 percent) where the defense challenged the sufficiency of government evidence.

In 2022, out of 364 cases where defendants filed demurrers to evidence, the courts sustained sufficiency of prosecution evidence 164 times, or 45.05 percent.

There were also fewer complaints filed with the Ombudsman, listing a fact-finding workload of 2,500 for the whole of 2023 compared to 3,216 in 2022.

Administrative complaints however showed an uptick year on year with 2,223 case workload in 2023 from 2,089 the year before.

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