The fifth annual International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers will be marked on 29 May 2007 at UN Headquarters in New York, as well as at peacekeeping missions and UN offices around the world. This year’s commemorative ceremonies come at a time when the services of UN peacekeepers are in greater demand then ever. There are more than 100,000 peacekeepers from 115 countries serving in 18 operations on 4 continents, with additional deployments on the horizon.

May 30, 2007 — Rev. Fr. Jessie Somosierra, Jr.

The fifth annual International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers will be marked on 29 May 2007 at UN Headquarters in New York, as well as at peacekeeping missions and UN offices around the world. This year’s commemorative ceremonies come at a time when the services of UN peacekeepers are in greater demand then ever. There are more than 100,000 peacekeepers from 115 countries serving in 18 operations on 4 continents, with additional deployments on the horizon.UN Peacekeepers Day was established in 2002 by the General Assembly, in resolution 57/129, designating 29 May-the date in 1948 when the first UN peacekeeping mission, the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), began operations in Palestine-to pay tribute to all men and women who have served and continue to serve in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

The UN Chronicle regularly covers the work of UN peacekeepers across the globe. Below are links to a number of articles that outline some of the major shifts in thinking concerning the way in which the UN system approaches peace operations and may provide the basis for understanding what directions such efforts will take in the future:

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Unauthorized

May 30, 2007 — Rev. Fr. Jessie Somosierra, Jr.

inquirer.net
Cebu Daily News
Last updated 02:09pm (Mla time) 05/30/2007

Cebu, Philippines – The transfer of Bogo town’s contested election returns (ERs) to Manila last Thursday was not authorized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) after all.

 

Instead, it was a personal decision by the fourth Special Board of Canvassers (SBOC).

 

A May 28 resolution of the Comelec’s second division directed the board, headed by Negros Oriental election supervisor Eddie Aba, to explain within three days “why, without authority from the Commission en banc or from the Commissioner-in-Charge Region VII, it took upon itself to transfer the ballot boxes involved in this case to Metro Manila.”

 

Aba and his members — Bayawan City Election Officer Ian Michael Macaraya and La Libertad Election Officer Roberto Remolano — were told to submit a written explanation.

 

The three-page decision resolution was signed by Commissioner Florentino Tuason Jr., head of the Comelec second division, and Commissioners Rene Sarmiento and Nicodemo Ferrer.

 

Aba, who furnished Cebu Daily News with a copy of the resolution, said he was taken by surprise by the commissioners’ order.

 

“It was unexpected. I want the truth to come out pero ingon ana man gyud na. We will just file our answer to the order,” he said.

 

The seven ballot boxes from the 4th district are now under the custody of the reception and safe-keeping division of the Comelec stationed at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

 

Aba took over the chairmanship of the SBOC after Veronico Petalcorin, Election Supervisor of Bohol, was rushed to the hospital after canvassing the ERs for more than 24 consecutive hours.

 

Comelec staff members brought Petalcorin to the hospital after he slumped in his chair and turned pale.

 

The canvassing of the ERs was transferred from the Capitol to the Comelec Central Visayas office in downtown Cebu City on May 22, two days after lawyer Joje Decal, a member of the legal team of 4th congressional candidate Benhur Salimbangon, tried to make a citizen’s arrest on the previous members of the BOC.

 

Decal accused then board chairman Gallardo Escobar and members Muhammad Abdul-rasheed and Sevilla Genoveva of electoral sabotage, for allegedly denying their objections to the ERs.

 

Decal and the other lawyers of Salimbangon filed a petition to declare illegal the board’s proceedings. Escobar, Abdul-rasheed and Genoveva later quit from the SBOC because they could no longer take in the pressure and were scared of their security.

 

Petalcorin then headed the new SBOC only to be replaced by Aba after he collapsed during the canvassing.

 

In their May 18 petition, Decal said that despite their timely objections before the board questioning the material entries on the ERs, the previous board continued with the canvassing.

 

Worse, they said, the SBOC did not issue any written ruling on the objections and did not make any comparison with the other copies of the ER to ensure the veracity of the entries.

 

The Salimbangon lawyers claimed in their petition that the ERs were “manufactured and spurious” and were inconsistent with other copies of the ERs and Certificate of Votes. The returns, they said, did not have any signature of the members of the Board of Election Inspectors, among others.

 

Salimbangon’s petition was acted upon by the Comelec’s second division in its May 28 resolution when it ordered the “suspension of the canvassing and/or suspend the proclamation of any candidate pending final determination of the issue of illegal proceedings.”

 

Not applicable
Aba said the Comelec second division “mis-appreciated the facts.”

 

“The petition is not applicable to us because the alleged offense was done by another board. The issue on whether the questioned ERs would be subjected for examination to check the authenticity is avoided in the resolution, na halo-halo na ang issue. We were included as if there is only one board of canvassers from the very start,” he said.

 

Aba added that he was surprised to read the petition because it was titled Benhur Salimbangon versus Municipal Board of Canvassers of Bogo, Cebu Province.

 

“Maka-libog (It was confusing) because they benefited from our move,” he said referring to the transfer.

 

Inocencio dela Cerna Jr., legal counsel of outgoing Bogo Mayor and congressional candidate Celestino “Tining” Martinez, said the Commission’s decision to direct the board to explain the transfer supported their stand.

 

The team’s lead counsel, Edgar Gica, had insisted to the board that a written copy of an order allowing the ERs’ transfer from Cebu to Manila was necessary.

 

“It supported our theory that it was a personal decision without legal basis. When a person who is given the responsibility in law substitutes his own decision, biases and prejudices, magka guliyang gyud ta (there will be problems),” he said.

 

Dela Cerna said the board was adamant about transporting the boxes.

 

“We have been pinpointing that by bringing the ballot boxes with the ERs in it, they (BOC members) are abrogating their responsibility as duly constituted canvassers,” he said.

 

He said the move of the Comelec second division would further drag the canvassing of the remaining ERs. “That is its necessary consequence.”

 

Lack of transparency
Dela Cerna also questioned the failure of Salimbangon’s camp to inform the BOC headed by Aba of the petition filed against the previous board.

 

“They were not transparent. It was incumbent upon them to inform the BOC that they have questioned the act of a previous board. They entered their appearance before the latest board validated the action of the previous board,” he said.

 

Decal, in a separate interview, said that while their petition questioning the BOC headed by Escobar was already moot and academic because of the constitution of a new board, they would still be filing their position paper.

 

“Because if the proceeding is declared illegal, we can move for the 24 ERs to be re-canvassed,” she said.

 

Martinez’ camp filed a separate petition asking the Comelec to declare the proceeding chaired by Aba as illegal after the board canvassed the votes cast for senatorial candidates and party-list groups but set aside the votes cast for the congressional race.

 

By allowing the canvassing of national positions, the legal team insisted that the board had all but put the stamp of genuineness on the contested ERs.

 

“I have suggested to the Martinezes that we will be manifesting an immediate resolution of our petition. That’s the only way to bring sanity back to this proceeding,” Dela Cerna said.

Posted in Comelec, HOTSPOTS, News. Leave a Comment »

P4-B Philhealth scam bared

May 30, 2007 — Rev. Fr. Jessie Somosierra, Jr.

By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 01:53am (Mla time) 05/30/2007

MANILA, Philippines — Some doctors and hospitals have defrauded the government’s Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) by as much as P4 billion in unnecessary or overpriced medical procedures since 1995, an official has disclosed to the Senate.

 

Dr. Madeleine Valera, PhilHealth vice president for health finance policy, said fraudulent claims included one doctor who conducted more than 2,000 cataract surgeries worth P17 million in one year. She said among the cases being investigated by PhilHealth were those involving circumcisions and toenail extractions.

 

“It would appear [from medical records submitted to PhilHealth] that a lot of Filipinos are ‘supot’ [uncircumcised] and have infection on their toenails,” she told a hearing Tuesday.

“May mga raket din ang mga doctor [Doctors also have their rackets], more as individuals than as syndicates. Some doctors are in on the scam. Many have earned millions from PhilHealth,” Valera said.

 

She said the scam involved some “scalawag” doctors treating “ghost patients,” and making “dubious claims.” Others “harvest” these patients by enrolling them in PhilHealth before they are treated.

 

Valera said that in some cases, hospital-based pharmacies were also involved. She said doctors would prescribe medicines that were not needed by the patient but only to pad the hospital bills.

 

Senator Richard Gordon, head of the Senate committee on government corporations who called for the off-session hearing, said, “The national government is the biggest violator of premium payments,” with P5 billion in unpaid PhilHealth premiums.

 

The hearing was conducted following published media reports that some hospitals were going on “holidays” as a reaction to the passage of the law banning them from detaining patients who could not pay the entire hospital bill.

Melinda Mercado, PhilHealth senior vice president for operations, admitted that PhilHealth had been late in paying for the hospital bills of their members. She explained that this was because of a new PhilHealth system that would allow verification of premium payments before hospitals were actually paid.

 

“It is not for lack of money. [The delayed payment] is an operational problem. We have shifted from a localized system to an integrated system. We are still adjusting to this centralized computerized system where all data may be checked,” she said.

 

Mercado said the delayed payment was also caused by the mass migration of doctors, who acted as evaluators of medical cases. Medical cases are evaluated to determine actual medical needs.

 

“Doctors are leaving the country, many as nurses. And we have been finding it difficult to find replacements,” she said.

 

Gordon said the hearing exposed the weaknesses in the Philippine health care system.

 

“These overcharging and harvesting of patients are a sad commentary of the times. This problem needs to be addressed by the PRC [Professional Regulation Commission] and medical associations so that these malpractices are excised and exorcised,” he said.

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Party-lists file raps vs canvassers

May 30, 2007 — Rev. Fr. Jessie Somosierra, Jr.

By Jerome Aning, Norman Bordadora
Inquirer
Last updated 05:57am (Mla time) 05/30/2007

MANILA, Philippines — Militant party-list groups Tuesday filed charges of “electoral sabotage” against the provincial canvassers of Zamboanga Sibugay for allegedly padding the votes of supposed administration-backed party-list groups United Movement Against Drugs (Uni-MAD) and Cooperative-Network Party (Coop-Natco).

 

The leaders of Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, Suara Bangsamoro and Kabataan trooped to the Commission on Elections office in Manila to file charges against Zamboanga Sibugay board of provincial canvassers chair Edmund Rey Calo, vice chair Jeric Kagaoan and secretary Manuel Muyargas for alleged violation of Republic Act No. 9369.

 

RA 9369, or the Automated Elections Systems Act of 2007, provides that election personnel who change at least 5,000 votes on one document or 10,000 votes in all other cases would be charged with a new offense known as electoral sabotage, which is penalized with life imprisonment.

 

According to the complainants’ lawyer, Neri Colmenares, the alleged tampering was done when the entries on the certificates of canvass (CoCs) from seven towns were transferred to the statement of votes (SoV). In most cases, the total number of votes written in words on the CoCs, when transferred to the SoV, were increased by adding one or more digits.

 

The CoCs covered the towns of Kabasalan, R.T. Lim, Siay, Malangas, Diplahan, Imelda and Talusan.

 

Submitted to the Comelec as evidence of the vote-padding were a copy of the SoV of Municipality No. 0000160 and copies of the municipal CoCs. The entries in the SoV did not match the figures in the CoCs.

 

Instead of the 1,723 votes in the CoCs, the provincial canvassers gave Coop-Natco 10,447 votes in the SoV.

 

Uni-MAD had 281 votes in the same CoCs but the provincial canvassers padded this to 16,194 votes in the SoV.

 

“Only members of the canvass committee and its tabulators or members of the provincial BOC could have been responsible for the tampering of votes on the SoV because [this] could have only been tampered with when it was under their custody,” Colmenares said.

 

Citing the discrepancies, Colmenares successfully moved for the deferment of the tabulation of the Zamboanga Sibugay party-list votes by the national canvassers in Manila.

 

Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, one of those who trooped to the Comelec, said the alleged vote-padding was not necessarily meant to ensure the victory of Uni-MAD and Coop-Natco but “to prevent us from winning more votes and getting more seats in Congress.”

 

Explained Kabataan president and first nominee Raymond Palatino, who came with Ocampo: “The padding increases the actual number of votes a party-list group has to get—which should be at least two percent of the votes cast for the party-list system—making it difficult for smaller party-list groups like Suara and Kabataan to win a seat.”

 

Representatives Liza Maza of Gabriela and Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis joined Ocampo and Palatino at the Comelec.

 

Among the highest “doctored” increases cited in the complaint were Coop-Natco’s votes of 182 in Malangas town and 290 in nearby Imelda, which were written on the SoV as 2,182 and 2,290, respectively.

Posted in Comelec, Party List. Leave a Comment »

Rage against the dying of the light

May 30, 2007 — Rev. Fr. Jessie Somosierra, Jr.

 

 

First posted 02:24:45 (Mla time) May 23, 2007
Conrado de Quiros dequiros@info.com.ph
Inquirer

 

MANILA, Philippines — A man once gave a boring and long-winded speech at a dinner party. When he got to the end of it — and restless murmurs and shuffling of feet could be heard by then — he said, “To make a long story short…” He never finished the sentence. Someone in the audience shouted, “Too late!”

 

That was the same line that kept coming to my mind some weeks ago when I attended the press conferences and forums of the groups, local and foreign, that aimed to stop cheating in the elections. Or that proposed to deter it with their presence and dogged monitoring. I kept thinking, “Too late!”

 

At the very least you know you’re in deep organic fertilizer when you have a situation based on the near-certainty that the people who are tasked to carry out the election will cheat and that it will be all you can do to prevent it. I remember again my experience observing the German elections in 2002, specifically asking an expert if cheating was a problem with the Germans. He found the question incomprehensible, wracking his brains for an answer till he found one. He said there was a case in an obscure town in the former East Berlin where the elections were protested because of that.

 

In this country, the opposite is true. A foreigner asks us if votes are actually counted in our elections, and we will probably find the question incomprehensible.

 

Now more than ever. Cheating, of course, has been endemic in Philippine elections. It was so even after 1986 with the other presidents — the real ones. You expected the cheating to happen as well, but you did not expect them to monumentally affect the outcome of elections. An undeserving senator or two might manage to squeeze in at the tail end, but you did not expect those languishing at the end to suddenly barge into the magic column like a dark horse doing a magical come-from-behind push in Sta. Ana. And the only reason dark horses do that in Sta. Ana and elsewhere in this country is that they share the elections’ predilection for straining credulity.

 

You did expect cheating in the past, but you did not expect wholesale, systematic, brazen cheating. Today you do. Which is why we had all those observers to begin with. Their very existence was symptomatic of the problem. This was an exercise predicated on wrongdoing. That was the case during martial law. During martial law, as now, you knew that government itself was an entire apparatus for cheating. The only question was how to derail it.

 

The other reason why I thought of “too late” was that the cheating had already been happening well before the elections. Including the worst form of cheating of all, which is the voters being terrorized. This is the only election since 1986 that conscripted the military toward that end, aimed in particular at preventing the anti-Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo party-list groups from winning. Never mind that military chief Hermogenes Esperon ordered the military rank-and-file to vote straight Team Unity, never mind that Dato Arroyo and others used the troops to campaign, mind only that. That is cheating. That is perverting democracy.

 

That is also punishable by law — except that there is no law to do that here.

 

There was one other thing that leaped to my mind at the sight of the anti-cheating groups, and that was the companion of “too late.” Which is, “too little.”

 

The reason for that is simple: The problem at least since 2004 is no longer exposing cheating, it is doing something about it. Or put another way, the problem is no longer apprising the citizens of cheating, it is getting them to get mad at it. What we more badly need are not anti-cheating groups but anti-apathy groups. The cheating is patent, it is there for all to see. It is being done openly, brazenly, systematically. The point is not to prove it, the point is to punish it.

 

To this day, we have not punished the people who cheated in the last elections. Can anything be more patent and brazen than the “Hello Garci” tape? Can anything be more patent and brazen than Joc-Joc Bolante’s fertilizer scam? Today, we have the same scale of openness and brazenness. Even without the public school teacher revealing the deviltry in the Maguindanao elections, can anyone in his right mind believe the Team Unity scoring a perfect 12 against all opposition on the strength of a near-perfect voter turnout? Can anyone in his right mind, or hairdo, believe Prospero Pichay somehow managing to revive his wilted state to jump to number 10 in Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos’ count?

 

Perfection happens only in heaven — or hell. Beelzebub goes by many names; sometimes he goes by the name of Comelec.

 

The problem is not exposing cheating, the problem is damning cheating. We know cheating has happened, is happening, and will continue to happen. We know the entire machinery of cheating is in place, particularly with the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse — Benjamin Abalos, Ronaldo Puno, the two Hermogeneses, Esperon and Ebdane — stalking the votes. We know this government has built an altar to cheating and this election is predicated on cheating. The only question is: What do you do when someone shoves a dirty finger in your face out of spite?

 

Dylan Thomas has a poem about fending off death, and what applies to physical death applies to spiritual death as well. Or to the death of democracy. Or never mind democracy, just plain decency. The famous lines there should become our anthem today: “Do not go gentle into that good night/ Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”

 

The only thing that needs changing there is the “good” before “night.” It’s one very bad night we’re falling into.

 

Posted in Articles, Democracy. 1 Comment »

Why the nation can’t move on

May 30, 2007 — Rev. Fr. Jessie Somosierra, Jr.

Inquirer
Last updated 02:58am (Mla time) 05/30/2007

Let me react to Conrado de Quiros’ column “Rage against the dying of the light.” (Inquirer, 5/23/07)

 

Frankly speaking, we Filipinos have no idea of what justice really means. No country where too many injustices are committed and its people do nothing to stop them has ever progressed. The reason for this is that, whenever an opportunity or a challenge presents itself to us to test our capabilities as a nation, we blink.

 

Our country’s violent political landscape is comparable to that of Afghanistan and Iraq, whether during election time or normal times. Every day, we always hear news of a journalist, a leftist, a police officer, or even a public official being killed or gone missing.

 

The Philippines today can be compared to America at the time of Al Capone, whose goons were deeply embedded in every fabric of society. We can’t trust the military because we can’t get over the trauma of Ferdinand Marcos’ martial law; we can’t go to the police because some of them are themselves the crime suspects; and we can’t get any help from the media because some of them have been bought by the powers-that-be.

 

Who wants help from the communists? Certainly not we who want a democratic, peaceful and just life. How about from our public servants? Most of them are hated by the people because they operate like Capone’s mafia, buying government positions and killing people to get things done.

 

De Quiros is right. Cheating, lying, stealing and killing are all around us, staring us in the face even. The question is, do we Filipinos have the balls to fight these evils? The United States went after Capone and other high-profile criminals.

 

A good start for us is to jail those high officials guilty of cheating, lying, stealing and killing. That will be the only time Lady Justice and God will start looking at us kindly.

Posted in Articles, governance. Leave a Comment »

‘Free Ka Bel’ protests hound Arroyo

May 30, 2007 — Rev. Fr. Jessie Somosierra, Jr.

By Michael Lim Ubac
Inquirer
Last updated 06:00am (Mla time) 05/30/2007

MANILA, Philippines — Before ending her visit to New Zealand, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo promised to end soon the Mindanao conflict involving Moro rebels.

 

But protests over Anakpawis party-list Rep. Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran’s continued detention and the unabated political killings followed her to Waitangi town, where she, along with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark and Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, delivered keynote speeches at the opening ceremony of the 3rd Asia-Pacific Regional Interfaith Dialogue at the Waitaha Center of the Copthorne Hotel.

 

Ms Arroyo made a strong pitch for the promotion of an interfaith dialogue to bring about lasting peace, political stability and economic growth in Asia.

 

“In Mindanao, we have taken steps to bring interfaith forces to bear upon a peace process that has resulted in a three-year ceasefire and monumental strides in economic growth,” she said, reassuring representatives of the free world that she would ensure that the human rights of even her harshest political critics would be respected.

 

She added: “I share with Prime Minister Clark a keen devotion to human rights, and I share her concern for putting an end to the political violence that has plagued the Philippines for generations.

 

“We have never condoned and we condemn the killing of journalists, party-list members, or activists. We live in a vibrant democracy that is validated through an electoral process that is free, fair and reflective of the people’s will.

 

“We welcome the assistance of New Zealand as we have Europe and the international community at large to work with us in an open and transparent way to advance human rights in the Philippines and around the world.”

 

Threatened arrest

 

In Manila, the militant labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno Tuesday warned that activist Dennis Maga, who put himself inside a cage in Wellington, New Zealand, to dramatize protests against the Arroyo administration, might be arrested by authorities when he returns home on Saturday.

 

KMU international affairs secretary Ma. Theresa Dioquino said “reliable sources” had relayed the information to the group.

 

“Obviously, Ms Arroyo was embarrassed in New Zealand. That’s why Malacañang is [preparing] to arrest Maga and further suppress the advocates of democracy,” Dioquino said in a statement.

 

Maga is the spokesperson of the Free Ka Bel Movement and the secretary general of the Alliance of Nationalist and Genuine Labor Organizations, a KMU affiliate.

 

He was among the protesters who demonstrated against Ms Arroyo outside the New Zealand parliament. He was hosted by the workers group National Distribution Union (NDU) of New Zealand, which is also calling for Beltran’s release.

 

Int’l media coverage

 

The young labor leader put himself inside a steel cage outside the parliament as his symbolic protest against the Philippine government’s continued detention of Beltran. The incident was widely covered by the international media. With a report from Jerome Aning

Posted in News, Party List. Leave a Comment »

Bagatsing backs move for new House leaders

May 30, 2007 — Rev. Fr. Jessie Somosierra, Jr.

By Norman Bordadora
Inquirer
Last updated 06:40am (Mla time) 05/30/2007

MANILA, Philippines — A newly elected congressman from one of Manila’s political clans Tuesday supported ongoing moves to change the leadership in the House of Representatives and give the lower chamber a new image before the public.

 

Manila Representative-elect Amado Bagatsing, a former three-term congressman, said the House had one of the lowest trust ratings under the leadership of Speaker Jose De Venecia.

 

“We must change this image of the House as composed mainly of traditional politicians,” Bagatsing said in a statement.

 

“Instead we should provide the public with proof that the new House will strike in a new fresh direction to tackle the new problems facing the country, instead of being shackled by past conflicts such as those arising from the Charter change proposal. What we need right now is chamber change,” he added.

 

Bagatsing, a stalwart of the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), is supporting the speakership bid of Cebu Rep. Pablo Garcia.

 

Healing wounds

 

He said many congressmen elected in the last elections want to “take new steps in the right direction to heal the nation’s wounds and craft legislation that would put the country on the road to national unity and progress.”

 

“It is time we move forward by electing a new leadership of the House that would throw overboard the heavy debris of division and recriminations in the lower chamber and convert it into an effective and forward-looking people’s assembly,” Bagatsing said.
Bagatsing said that among the reforms that should be introduced in the House is the distribution of committee chairmanships and memberships.

 

“The appointment of committee chairmen and vice chairman should be based largely on merit and qualification rather than on seniority alone,” said Bagatsing.

 

“What is important is that the committees should be made to work properly and efficiently on their assigned tasks and not flounder and become practically useless because of inept leadership,” he added.

 

Arroyo to decide

 

In Auckland, New Zealand, a Lakas official said that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would ultimately decide on the fate of De Venecia, her longtime ally.

 

Lakas-CMD spokesperson Heherson Alvarez, who is accompanying President Arroyo in her state visits to New Zealand and Australia, said the President has to resolve the leadership issue that has now polarized her key allies in the House.

 

“The final word of course may come from the President,” said Alvarez.

 

But Garcia, who is being touted by some members of Kampi as the next Speaker, believes President Arroyo will not intervene. Kampi is Ms Arroyo’s party.

 

Alvarez said the move is futile as the ruling party Lakas has the numbers and the clout.

 

Kampi managed to have 40 members elected to the House in the May 14 polls compared to 92 congressmen for Lakas.

 

Alvarez said it was unlikely that Ms Arroyo “will just let free democratic play happen in the House,” the only chamber that can block any attempt to impeach her.

 

He hinted that the speakership row could have ramifications on the possible third impeachment attempt by the new House minority.

 

“It may not be dangerous but definitely disruptive,” said Alvarez of Kampi’s challenge to de Venecia’s continued hold on power in the House. With a report from Michael Lim Ubac

Posted in News, congress, governance. Leave a Comment »

3th Congress urged to hold bicam on cheap medicine bills

May 30, 2007 — Rev. Fr. Jessie Somosierra, Jr.

By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net

Last updated 11:42am (Mla time) 05/30/2007

MANILA, Philippines — The last three plenary session days of the 13th Congress should be spent in a bicameral conference to reconcile the cheap medicine bills of the Senate and the House of Representatives, Senator Manuel Roxas II said in a statement Wednesday.

 

“This is a very important piece of health legislation. Providing quality and affordable medicines to our people is a moral imperative. It should no longer be delayed. I ask my colleagues in both houses of Congress to exercise political will and pass this bill into law before the session ends,” he said.

 

The Senate has approved Senate Bill 2263 on Third Reading on Jan. 31, 2007, while the House of Representatives has passed its version, House Bill No. 6035, on Second Reading last Feb. 20, 2007.

 

Roxas noted that next week would be the last chance for legislators who belong to the 13th Congress to address the urgent need of ordinary Filipinos for quality and affordable medicines.

 

Congress will resume on Monday, June 4, after almost a four-month break, and is expected to adjourn sine die on Wednesday, June 6.

 

Roxas, who is primary author and sponsor of the bill, also welcomed the active engagement of stakeholder groups in making sure that the landmark legislation is passed within the 13th Congress.

 

He said these groups include British aid agency Oxfam, the 3CP Net (Cut the Cost, Cut the Pain Network), Agap (Ayos na Gamot sa Abot-kayang Presyo), Third World Network, and Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD), among others.

 

“I greatly appreciate the activities being organized by stakeholders in support of this bill. These vigilant efforts are very helpful in preventing those who are blocking this bill from succeeding,” he said.

 

Roxas said consolidating the two versions would be easier as the congressional staff members are in constant communication among themselves and with the concerned sectors.

 

“Even before the bicameral meetings are held, we’ve been in constant communication with our counterparts in the House, with government agencies involved, and stakeholder groups, and our staff are doing consolidation of drafts of the bill,” he said.

 

If a quorum is reached, the House is expected to pass the bill on third reading on Monday.

 

The bicameral conference committee will then convene to iron out the disagreeing provisions of the House and Senate versions of the bill. And then the bicam report will be transmitted to both Chambers for ratification. The consolidated version will then be sent to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for signature.

 
Posted in congress, governance, senate. Leave a Comment »

Police release sketches of suspects in Panlilio ally slay

May 30, 2007 — Rev. Fr. Jessie Somosierra, Jr.

By Thea Alberto
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 01:28pm (Mla time) 05/30/2007

MANILA, Philippines — Police have released artist sketches of two suspects in the killing of a supporter of newly-elected Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio.

 

Mario “Jomar” Nulud, 48, a village chief who campaigned for Panlilio, was gunned down in front of his house by two motorcycle-riding men on Monday morning.

 

Based on the sketches, police described the supposed gunman as 5′4 to 5′6 in height, long-haired, chubby, dark brown in complexion and around 40-45 years old while the driver of the motorcycle was 5′6 in height, short haired, medium built, and dark brown in complexion.

 

The sketches were based on accounts of two witnesses, said Senior Superintendent Keith Singian, provincial police director of Pampanga in a phone interview.

 

“We are now doing our best to identify them so we can carry out the manhunt,” Singian said.

 

News reports said the two assailants rode a purple Honda motorcycle without license plates when they carried out the attack.

 

Nulud was tending to his garden when he was shot. Reports said the neighbors heard at least five gunshots.

 

Police have not established a motive for the killing, although there have been reports of possible vendetta.

 

This surfaced amid reports that alleged “jueteng lord” Bong Pineda, whose wife sought the gubernatorial seat against Panlilio, had been calling several village chiefs to meetings to make them explain where they had spent the money that he had given them and why they failed to make his wife Lilia win.

Pineda’s wife however denied these reports, saying her husband was “not a bad pers

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