10 trafficking victims rescued in Laguna
BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR
TEN victims of human trafficking in Laguna, including seven who were rescued from “commercial sexual exploitation” activities, were rescued and are now under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Social Welfare assistant secretary Irene Dumlao said the 10 “victim-survivors of human trafficking” who were rescued during operations in Biñan and Calamba in Laguna last May 10 and 16 are currently being provided immediate protection and support by the DSWD Field Office in the Calabarzon.
Dumlao said the victim-survivors were provided with psychosocial counseling and referral support for temporary shelter placement.
She said the DSWD is also helping the victims-survivors with their rehabilitation and eventual reintegration into their respective communities.
Dumlao said three of the victims are minors who were victims-survivors of Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM), while the seven others were rescued from commercial sexual exploitation.
“The DSWD, as the co-chair of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), condemns this kind of activity. We urge the public to report any human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Let us break the ‘no touch, no harm’ mentality. OSAEC and CSAEM is a form of violence against children and punishable crime under the law,” she said.
Dumalo said the rescue operations were conducted with the help of the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) Anti-Human Trafficking Division.
She said DSWD is also closely coordinating with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to track and apprehend the perpetrators of such crimes and rescue the victims.
As this developed the DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, during the 1st National Congress on Adoption and Alternative Child Care held at the Rizal Park Hotel in Manila yesterday, reiterated his call for a stop on the illegal online sale of babies and illegal adoption of children.
Gatcahlian reiterated that the sale of children is the cruelest form of human trafficking.
NACC executive director Undersecretary Janella Estrada, in an interview with Bagong Pilipinas, said babies sold online can fetch a price between P10,000 to P100,000.
She said the eight-day old baby boy rescued last week in Cavite was sold for P90,000 with the P50,000 going to the mother and the P40,000 to the person that facilitated the online sale.
Gatchalian said the process of adoption in the country is now simpler and the DSWD, along with its attached agency, the National Authority for Child Care (NACC), is in the process of creating a digital system to make the adoption and alternative child care process in the country more innovative and responsive to children in need of alternative child care.
“We want to create an ecosystem or a network of care facilities nationwide, all tucked in the NACC database so that when a prospective adoptive parent in the Philippines or abroad wants to adopt, all our care facilities are linked into them,” Gatchalian said.
He said the system will help address the issue of child trafficking in social media platforms since all child care facilities and the services they offer, whether privately-run, national government-run, or local government-run, will be linked to the database handled by the NACC
Comelec urged: Reuse Smartmatic counting machines
in ‘25 polls
BY WENDELL VIGILIA
CAGAYAN de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez yesterday urged the Commission on Election (Comelec) to consider the proposal of Smartmatic Philippines to just reuse its vote-counting machines (VCMs) in the 2025 midterm elections polls to save billions.
Rodriguez, chairperson of the House Committee on Constitutional Reforms, noted that Smartmatic made the proposal in a letter it sent to the Comelec leadership last May 13.
Rodriguez cited the country’s economic struggles “with a ballooning public debt as well as a yawning budget deficit, which forced the national government to spend less and slowed down economic growth.”
“The Comelec should highly consider the savings to be derived from utilizing existing VCMs,” Rodriguez said. “The Comelec should act prudently and be practical in its approach. Unfortunately, the only alternative it presented is its contract with Miru, which will cost the government P17 billion, notwithstanding the company’s checkered record based on recent elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Iraq.”
Rodriguez was referring to the P17.9 billion automated vote-counting contract between the poll body and the joint venture led by South Korean firm Miru Systems Co. Ltd.
He said there is no compelling need to purchase new machines for the 2025 elections since Smartmatic has reaffirmed its commitment to honor its contract with the Comelec on the over 90,000 VCM’s leased to the body last 2015.
Smartmatic has said the 93,977 precinct based Optical Mark Readers (OMR) and the accompanying Election Management System (EMS) are still covered by the warranty which has been extended to include three subsequent national and local elections after the 2016 polls.
Smartmatic has said that Comelec still owns the Automated Election System (AES) software for EMS, the vote counting system, consolidated canvassing system (CCS) or the overall system used in the 2015 elections, which the body procured for P 402.73 million in 2021.
The Supreme Court earlier ruled that the poll body committed grave abuse of discretion when it disqualified Smartmatic-TIM from participating in the bidding for the 2025 AES contract.
However, the SC did not nullify the multi-billion contract that the Comelec has inked with Miru, which was awarded the Full Automation System with Transparency Audit and Count (FASTrAC) project.
Miru has started manufacturing the automated counting machines (ACMs) to be used in the May 2025 elections. It recently turned over 20 ACMs to the poll body for quality compliance testing.
Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice earlier filed a petition urging the High Court to cancel the contract and issue a temporary restraining order and/or writ of preliminary injunction to stop the Comelec from implementing its resolution awarding the multi-billion peso contract to Miru and its partners St. Timothy Construction Corp. and Centerpoint Solutions Technologies.
DOLE Hotline: Labor standards compliance top concern
By Gerard Naval
THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday reported that labor standards compliance is the foremost concern of workers in the country.
Citing data from its free call center facility, Hotline 1349, DOLE said the majority of the calls they have been receiving are about compliance with general labor standards.
“The Hotline said it has fielded over 126,000 calls, mostly on labor standards, from 2023 until the first quarter of the year (2024),” said DOLE.
Last year, the DOLE said hotline representatives responded to 83,683 queries on labor standards.
In the first quarter of 2024, the Department said the hotline received 24,649 calls on labor standards.
“Among the inquiries raised by callers were the release of final pay; computation of holiday pay; separation, suspension, and termination; and non-remittance of employees’ contributions to government-mandated benefits, such as SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG,” said DOLE.
The Department said other calls cover questions on local employment opportunities and the process of job hiring and placement.
For 2023, it said there were 9,177 queries on social protection and welfare; 4,171 queries on employment facilitation, including TUPAD and youth employment programs; and 1,329 queries on labor relations.
In the first quarter of 2024, the DOLE hotline received 3,100 calls on employment facilitation; 1,549 calls on social protection and welfare; and 278 calls on labor relations.
DOLE’s Hotline 1349 is mandated to provide immediate response and action on labor and employment concerns of Filipino workers.
Legazpi City lauded exceeding revenue target in 2023
BY Peter Tabingo
THE Legazpi City government earned a pat on the back from the Commission on Audit after revenue collections in 2023 hit P1.731 billion million, which was P237.51 million higher than the P1.49 billion target for the year.
Auditors noted improvement in collection from 25 revenue sources of the city, with the biggest windfall coming from Business Taxes which contributed P76.49 million to Legazpi’s coffers.
Percentage-wise, the biggest increases were recorded in the collection of Franchise Tax, tax on sand, gravel and other quarry products, fines and penalties, cemetery operations, and amusement taxes.
The audit team said the city could further increase its income by hitting projects in 10 other revenue items that did not meet the targets last year, including community taxes, tax on delivery vehicles, cand clearances and certification fees.
“We commended the Management for their continued efforts to improve their revenue forecasting system and collection effort that will ensure the realization of revenue targets, thus, funding for plans and programs …to ensure the delivery of public service,” it added.
The city government said it is conducting periodic reviews of collection performances by concerned offices to improve forecasting and collection systems.
Despite the improved revenue generation however, auditors noted a six percent drop in income year on year from P1.84 billion in 2022 to P1.731 billion in 2023.
“The significant decrease was primarily due to the decrease in the actual Share from National Tax Allotment/Internal Revenue Allotment amounting to P164,525,567,” they noted.
Likewise contributing to the decline were collections of Real Property Transfer Tax which fell by P6.19 million and the Special Education Tax P7.67 million.
Albay LGU quizzed over P198M empty, unused hospital buildings
BY PETER TABINGO
FOUR hospital buildings constructed by the provincial government of Albay to the tune of P198.47 million remain vacant more than a year after completion despite congestion in two major hospitals also operated by the local government.
Government auditors blamed poor planning and unsound asset management practices contrary to the provisions of RA 7160 or the Local Government Code.
The buildings were identified as the three-level Hospital Building at the Ziga Memorial District Hospital (ZMDH) in Tabaco City constructed at the cost of P159.55 million; and the Charity Ward (P17.99 million), the Optical/Dental Clinic (P7.95 million), and the Health Workers’ Quarters (P12.99 million) — all three at the Josefina Belmonte Duran Albay Provincial Hospital (JBDAPH) in Ligao City.
According to records, the Health Workers’ Quarters at the JBDAPH was completed way back September 3, 2020 while the three other buildings were turned over to the province between February and November 2022.
Auditors found none of the four structures has been occupied since the three-storey building at the ZMDH still does not have any furnishing while the three finished buildings at the JBDAPH are still unconnected to a power supply.
The Commission on Audit said the two hospitals are the biggest ones in the province but both have seen congestion as patients are not turned away despite exceeding available bed capacities. Existing structures at both health care facilities are already old and are in urgent need of repair.
“The three buildings in JBDAPH… are yet to be connected to a power supply source. Management explained that they are waiting for the completion of the new hospital facility for the power source, the construction of which is still ongoing,” the COA noted.
Four other buildings constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to create additional spaces at the ZMDH are also ready for occupancy except none have electricity. These are the new Infectious Disease Building, the Employees’ Quarters, the Chief of Hospital’s Quarters, and the hospital morgue.
“In summary, these facilities have been completed for years, but were not utilized immediately because they are not ready for operation. The implementation is taking too long, that the buildings and structures are already depreciating from being idle,” the COA pointed out.
In its comment to the audit observations, the provincial government assured the COA that it will undertake steps to put all the new buildings to use and improve healthcare in the province.
Pulpit panels set for Cebu homecoming
By Gerard Naval
THE four long-lost pulpit panels from the Archdiocesan Shrine of Patrocinio de Maria Santissima are set to come home to Boljoon, Cebu.
This was according to the Archdiocese of Cebu (AOC), which reported the “productive and constructive” meeting they had with the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) last Tuesday.
“The meeting between the AOC and NMP is very productive and constructive that will surely be advantageous for the valorization of the cultural heritage of the Archdiocese of Cebu, particularly in Boljoon,” the Cebu archdiocese said in a statement.
“The main point of the mutual agreements between the Archdiocese of Cebu and National Museum of the Philippines (is that the) pulpit panels will certainly be returned to Boljoon,” it added.
However, the Cebu Archdiocese said the issue over the ownership of the pulpit panels has yet to be settled.
“The issue of ownership will be settled separately due to pertinent technicalities that bind both parties that will be settled first before the issue of ownership is resolved,” said the archdiocese.
Last February, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma asked the NMP to return the four long-lost pulpit panels, saying the said sacred items were removed from the church without permission.
The appeal comes a week after the NMP announced its receipt of early 19th-century panels depicting the founder of the Augustinian Order from “private collectors” Edwin and Aileen Bautista.
Beyond the issue on pulpit panels, the archdiocese said the NMP will have additional projects with the Archdiocesan Shrine of Patrocinio de Maria Santissima.
“NMP expressed willingness to collaborate with the archdiocese when it comes to the conservation and restoration of the Boljoon Heritage complex, which covers the church, convent, museum, escuela catolica, and their adjunct structures,” said the Archdiocese of Cebu.
DOJ wants Canadian implicated in Batangas drug-bust charged
BY Ashzel Hachero
THE Justice Department yesterday recommended the filing of charges against a Canadian who has been implicated in last month’s drug bust in Alitagtag, Batangas that resulted in the seizure of 1.4 tons of shabu worth P9.68 billion.
Thomas Gordon Quinn, who is using the aliases “James Toby Martin,” “Robert Wagner,” “Steve MC Donald,” and “Jay Macallan” was apprehended last May 16 in a spa in Tagaytay City.
The DOJ wants him charged for possession of illegal drugs and use of fictitious names.
His arrest stemmed from an Interpol’s Red Notice against him in connection with a pending arrest warrant in the United States for drug-related charges.
During his arrest, Authorities confiscated from Quinn 45 grams of shabu and 81.65 grams of cocaine as well as several identification cards under different names with the same facial photographs.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said during inquest proceedings last Friday, the National Prosecution Service “found sufficient evidence” against Quinn to cause the filing of criminal information for two counts of violation of Section 11 (possession of dangerous drugs) of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002 and for using fictitious names.
An investigation conducted by the PNP-National Capital Region Police Office Intelligence Division revealed that Quinn was among those allegedly involved in the Alitagtag drug case.
Remulla said that since Quinn was implicated in the Alitagtag drug case, the NPS will conduct a further case build-up and preliminary investigation to determine his participation and the involvement of others in the case.
The recommendation to indict Quinn was related to the seizure of illegal drugs when he was arrested in Tagaytay.
Rights defender found guilty of rebellion
BY ASHZEL HACHERO
A WOMEN and child rights defender whom the Department of Justice (DOJ) said was a member of the communist New Peoples Army (NPA) has been convicted and sentenced to 10 to 17 years in prison by a Taguig city court for participating in a series of attacks against military personnel and communication facilities in Quezon province in 2005.
In a 56-page decision promulgated last 16 May 2024, the Taguig City Regional Trial Court Branch 266 found Maria Salome Crisostomo, also known as Maria Salome Crisostomo Ujano, “guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of rebellion.”
The court sentenced Ujano to suffer the indeterminate penalty of 10 years of prision mayor as minimum, to 17 years and four months of reclusion temporal as maximum.
Court records showed that Ujano on separate incidents from November 19 to 25, 2005 led attacks against security forces, resulting to the killing and wounding of several Army soldiers and police officers, while destroying communication sites and various government properties in the municipalities of Tiaong, Sariaya and Lucban.
During the trial, Ujano denied she was an NPA member and claimed that on the dates that the prosecution alleged she led the rebels in attacking security forces in Quezon, she was not in the province and that she was attending classes at the St. Scholastica College in Malate, Manila.
She said she also reported to the Women’s Crisis Center on the said dates as she is the group’s Executive Director for six years.
Ujano, who was arrested in November 2021, said she also served as the National Coordinator of the Philippine Against Child Trafficking since 2008.
But Presiding Judge Marivic Vitor said the prosecution witnesses, including several Army soldiers and police officers who figured in the series of clashes with NPA members, positively identified Ujano.
“Positive identification where categorical and consistent and without any showing of ill motive on the part of the eyewitness testifying on the matter, prevails over a denial which, if not substantiated by clear and convincing evidence is negative and self-serving evidence undeserving of weight in law. They cannot be given greater evidentiary value over the testimony of credible witnesses who testify on affirmative matters,” the court ruling said.
“For the defense, accused Ujano testified that she was reporting at WCC on November 19, 21 to 25, 2005 executing her functions as Executive Director. Nonetheless her presence in their office or elsewhere on such dates were not supported by clear and convincing evidence,” the court added.
The RTC said it is not convinced with Ujano’s alibi, adding that the Supreme Court has held in several cases that alibi and denial are are inherently weak defenses especially when confronted with positive identification by witnesses.
“Such positive identification, being categorical and consistent, could not be undone by alibi and denial in the absence of any credible showing of ill motive on the part of the identifying witnesses,” the court explained.
“In conclusion, the Court finds that the prosecution was able to prove the guilt of accused Ujano beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of rebellion,” it added.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the court’s decision is another victory in the government’s effort to fight terrorism in the country.
“We stood united once again in the face of sinister terrorists and conquered this menace by our resilience and unity. We will never back down against such evil who continue to destabilize the government and sow discord and division. This is the very guarantee we can give our country and people,” Remulla said in a statement.
He also lauded the DOJ Task Force on Counter-Terrorism and Terrorism Financing led by Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Peter Ong “for successfully prosecuting the case which led to the conviction of Ujano.”
Cacdac bows to CA deferment of appointment
By Gerard Naval
MIGRANT Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac yesterday accepted the decision of the Commission on Appointments (CA) to defer its ruling on his appointment as head of the youngest agency in the government.
In a statement, Cacdac said he submits to the wisdom of the CA regarding his confirmation as Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) secretary.
“I defer to the wisdom of the members of the Commission to have more time to consider and deliberate on my appointment,” said Cacdac.
“I humbly submit myself to this process, which, I am deeply aware, is the bedrock of our democracy,” he added.
Last Tuesday, the CA deferred deliberations on the ad interim appointment of Cacdac, who was appointed DMW secretary last April 25.
SAGIP Party-List Representative Rodante Marcoleta moved to suspend the deliberations for “lack of material time.”
Whatever the decision of the CA, Cacdac said he was grateful for the opportunity to lead the agency.
“I thank the President for his trust in appointing me as Ad Interim Secretary,” he said.
