NEWS UPDATE
November 27, 2012 (Tuesday)
PNoy Urged To Rest
Health Secretary Calls On President To Take A Break From Stressful Job
The Manila Bulletin, page 1
MANILA, Philippines --- President Benigno S. Aquino III should take a few days off from work and go on a vacation in his home province after his recent bouts with illness, according to Health Secretary Enrique Ona.
Concerned about the well-being of the President, Dr. Ona acknowledged that the Chief Executive deserves to take a break from his stressful job so he could recharge his batteries.
Going on vacation at least every quarter of the year is actually good for a person’s health, Dr. Ona added.
“The presidency is a very stressful job and so every often, I can sense that he is tired, stressed, and so every so often, I mentioned that. You need a break, which I think is very healthy,” Ona said in a chance interview with reporters in the Palace.
Ona explained that there was nothing irregular if Aquino goes on vacation since many foreign leaders do the same. He said US President Barack Obama and his family usually go to Camp David in Maryland or Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts for vacation.
“The mere fact that like the President enjoys Luisita, I think he should do that more often which I think he has been trying to,” Ona said. The Luisita Estate is located in Tarlac, the home province of the President.
Ona also advised the President to take regular medical checkups considering his work is taxing.
Aquino was recently diagnosed with influenza and allergic rhinitis, forcing him to cut short or even skip official engagements.
He also expressed hope that the President will eventually quit smoking to improve his health but the Chief Executive should be given “space” to do it.
“Of course, he has some allergy and that’s why every so often he has that cough. Of course, we know he smokes and of course I’m sure he’s trying his best to either reduce or even eventually to stop,” he said.
Meantime, Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad insisted that the President has no serious health ailment, saying most people catch flu, cold, and cough. But it is up to the President to consider Ona’s advice to take a vacation as well as a medical checkup, Abad said in another media interview.
“Obviously he has been working very hard contrary to what some few insinuates. He works beyond hours,” the budget chief said.
Abaya: No Improvement, No LRT 1 Fare Increase
By KRIS BAYOS
The Manila Bulletin, page 1
MANILA, Philippines --- Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya has ordered improvements of Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 facilities before any adjustment in the current fare rates is
implemented.
LRT Authority spokesperson Hernando Cabrera revealed this yesterday, saying the replacement of the 30-year-old rail tracks of the LRT Line 1 set for next year is among the various improvements government is undertaking at the facility before imposing any fare hike.
“It is Secretary Abaya’s instruction to improve first the basic station service facilities like the escalators, elevators, comfort rooms and security before implementing fare increase,” he said.
In his Twitter page, Cabrera said replacement of the LRT 1’s 23-kilometer rail tracks, which is part of the P1.062-billion safety, reliability and capacity improvement program for the mass transit system, will commence next year.
“By next year, the rail replacement project will start. This will replace the rails that are already worn out for being used for the past 30 years,” he said.
Cabrera also said the upgrading of electrical wiring and lightning system throughout the LRT 1, which runs from Baclaran in Pasay to Roosevelt in Quezon City, will be bidded out soon.
“We have just finalized the bid documents for the re-wiring and replacement of lighting system of all LRT 1 stations,” he said on Twitter.
“These systems are 30-years-old so we need to upgrade, hence the bidding,” Cabrera added.
The official added that the rehabilitation of some 21 dilapidated light rail vehicles (LRVs) is ongoing.
Once refurbished, these LRVs will be deployed to augment the current fleet capacity and reduce overcrowding of trips.
Respect Lawmakers’ Stand On RH Bill, Abad Tells Church
By MADEL SABATER-NAMIT The Manila Bulletin, page 1
MANILA, Philippines --- A member of the Liberal Party (LP) on Monday said it would be unfair for the Catholic Church to castigate politicians who are for the Responsible Health (RH) Bill.
Liberal Party Vice President and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Florencio Abad, in a press briefing in Malacañang yesterday, said that the legislators’ vote – whether pro- or anti-RH Bill – should be respected.
“First of all, if the position taken by any politician, any candidate, is on appreciation of his conscience, I think that has to be respected by anybody, including the Church,” Abad said.
Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles has been urging the Catholic faithful to use their “Catholic vote” in the 2013 midterm elections, saying that politicians who are pro-RH Bill should not be supported.
Despite Arguelles’ move, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, principal author of House Bill 4244, allayed fears gripping many congressmen of a political backlash if they decide to support the controversial RH Bill, saying the Catholic vote is for the enactment of the controversial measure.
Lagman said his claim is substantially “validated and documented” in all nationwide surveys conducted on the RH issue.
Quoting Ateneo de Manila University dean emeritus Fr. Joaquin Bernas, Abad said every politician
should make an examination of conscience.
“At the end of the day, if his conscience points him to this or that vote, I think we have to respect that and not threaten that particular candidate with dire political consequence,” Abad said.
“Congress is a legislative assembly and Congress succeeds when there is an interplay or competition of ideas and if you try to suppress contrary idea, then you will not get the best policy out of the deliberative assembly like Congress,” he said.
“I don’t think that’s fair to do because in a democracy, it’s the competition in the marketplace of ideas that brings out the best,” he added.
Abad urged members of the legislature to put a closure on the RH Bill by making a vote. (With a report from Ben R. Rosario)
Comelec Sees Ballot Box Savings
By LESLIE ANN G. AQUINO The Manila Bulletin, page 4
MANILA, Philippines --- Instead of 80,000, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will only have to bid out 20,000 ballot boxes for the May 2013 polls.
This is because the poll body expects the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) to come out with a resolution today granting their request to re-use the ballot boxes used in the election protest filed by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas against Vice- President Jejomar Binay in 2010.
Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said with the expected decision from the PET, they would be able to save millions of pesos.
“That’s 80,000 (ballot boxes) that’s worth P200 million. What we proposed is that we will take out the contents of three ballot boxes and put in just one box. If we do that we would be able to free about three-fourths or about 60,000,” he said.
“We’re going to save a lot of money because we only need to bid 20,000 new ballot boxes,” added Brillantes.
In July, 2010, Roxas protested Binay’s victory and questioned a total of 76,000 out of the more than 80,000 ballot boxes before the PET.
Leonen Attends SC Flag Ceremony
By REY G. PANALIGAN The Manila Bulletin, page 5
MANILA, Philippines --- Newly appointed Justice Mario Victor Marvic F. Leonen attended yesterday’s flag-raising ceremony as his first official act as member of the Supreme Court (SC).
He was welcomed by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno and Justices Presbitero J. Velasco Jr., Arturo D. Brion, Mariano C. del Castillo, Roberto A. Abad, Martin S. Villarama Jr., Jose Catral Mendoza, and Jose Portugal Perez, and the officers and employees of the SC.
“It’s nice to be part of the youth sector again. I believe I’m the youngest justice (49 years old) so I might represent the youth,” he said.
He said he is ready to work with the other justices in the collegial court (SC) and share with them the values of “honor and excellence, leadership and service, and passion for justice.”
“I know my place. I know that I need to participate in a collective effort in this department of our government,” he said.
“It is teamwork that matters,” he said as he expressed the hope that “my words as well as the words of my colleagues can exemplify what it can be to have a real government for our people.”
Leonen was appointed on November 21 to the post vacated with the promotion of Chief Justice Sereno on August 25. At 49, he is the youngest SC justice.
In short remarks, Justice Leonen paid tribute and expressed his debt of gratitude to those whom he had to privilege to serve and “helped me to be what I am today” -- “the indigenous peoples in various parts of our country, farmers that I helped in agrarian reform, the Bangsamoro in Mindanao, many of the private litigants that went through our court system.”
Prior to his appointment to the SC, Justice Leonen served as chair of the government negotiating panel in talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The panel successfully negotiated a framework agreement with the MILF which could pave the way for lasting peace and development in Mindanao.
Party-list Solon Supports Namfrel Accreditation
By CHARISSA M. LUCI The Manila Bulletin, page 5
MANILA, Philippines --- The report that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is considering the appointment of the National Citizens Movement For Free Election (Namfrel) as a “citizens arm” in the May 2013 polls is a welcome development, a member of Congress said yesterday.
House Assistant Majority Leader Sherwin Tugna said appointing a citizens arm to monitor to elections would promote more transparency and accountability during next year’s polls.
“It’s great that the Comelec is considering appointing another citizen arm for the coming elections. It opens up the election to even more people. And in an important event such as an election, the more people involved, the better,” Tugna said.
The Comelec is considering appointing NAMFREL as its citizen arm. A few weeks ago, the poll body through a resolution accredited the Church-affiliated Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).
“The dedication of the PPCRV and NAMFREL has been proven time and again in every election. They serve as the nation’s safeguards in making every election as fair and as clean as possible. It is an understatement to say that they have already earned enough stripes in helping the Comelec conduct elections,” Tugna said.
“It is good that the PPCRV and the Namfrel are always prepared to assist the Comelec with the daunting task of conducting a clean and honest election, as the Commission can only do so much. A little help would go a long way in making the next election a fair and peaceful one,” he said.
Tugna also noted the untainted integrity of PPCRV and NAMFREL in ensuring honest and clean elections in the previous years.
He also expressed hope that Comelec would come out with a resolution on the delineation of duties of the PPCRV and Namfrel “soon so that the two organizations can prepare.”
Measure Lists Domestic Workers’ Rights
By HANNAH L. TORREGOZA The Manila Bulletin, page 5
MANILA, Philippines --- Senate President Pro Tempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estraday yesterday said the
“Kasambahay” bill protecting the rights of household workers strictly adheres to international standards set by the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 189.
Estrada, chair of the Senate committee on labor, employment and human resources, said the Philippines officially became the second country to be a party to the ILO Convention 189 or the Convention concerning decent work for domestic workers, after the Senate concurred on its ratification last August 6, 2012.
The passage of the bill would fulfill the country’s commitment to the international community when it ratified the domestic workers convention, he said.
Article II of the Kasambahay Bill (formally titled Act instituting policies for the protection and welfare of the domestic workers) explicitly enumerates the rights and privileges of every domestic worker.
It also stipulates that:
- The employer or any member of the household shall not subject a domestic worker to any kind of abuse or any form of physical violence or harassment.
- The employer shall provide for the basic necessities of the domestic workers to include at least three adequate meals a day and sleeping arrangements that ensure safety.
- The employer shall respect the privacy of domestic worker and shall extend the same to his/her communication and personal effects.
- The employer shall grant the domestic worker access to outside communication.
- The employer shall afford the domestic workers to finish basic education and may allow access to alternative learning systems, higher education or technical and vocational training.
Estrada said domestic workers shall also be entitled to a daily rest period of eight hours and a weekly rest period of least twenty-four consecutive hours.
“A domestic worker who has rendered at least one year of service shall be entitled to an annual service incentive leave of five (5) days with pay,” he said.
It is also unlawful for the employer to place the domestic workers under debt bondage or the rendering of service as security or payment for a debt. Any violation of the act shall be punishable with a fine not less than R10,000 without prejudice to the filing of appropriate civil and criminal action.
“ILO Convention 189 is an international effort to address the exclusions of domestic workers from labor and social protection, and the occurrence of modern-day slavery. Kasambahay Bill is a concrete, crucial step toward this universal objective,” Estrada said.
Estrada is set to sponsor the bicameral conference committee report on the reconciled versions of Senate Bill 78 and House Bill 6144 before the Senate. After both chambers approves the report, the Kasambahay bill will then be transmitted to President Benigno S. Aquino for signing into law.
A palace official has assured that the President will sign the act.
“The passage of Kasambahay Bill is a fulfillment of the country’s commitment to the international community when it ratified the domestic workers convention. More importantly, this aims to protect
the welfare of more than two million househelpers, nursemaids, cooks, gardeners and laundry persons all over the country,” said Estrada.
5 Aman Futures execs surrender
But head of group that duped investors still at large
The Manila Bulletin, page 1
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the five Aman Futures directors had not asked to be considered state witnesses but were just willing to cooperate with investigators. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Fearing retribution from investors they duped of their hard-earned money, five of the six directors of the board of Aman Futures Group have surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Monday identified the five Aman Futures directors as Leilan Lim Gan, Eduard Lim, Wilaie Fuentes, Naezelle Rodriguez and Lurix Lopez, who all turned themselves in on Sunday.
They are now in the protective custody of the NBI.
Still at large is Fernando “Nonoy” Luna, a former janitor and driver who served as manager of Aman Futures, which duped at least 15,000 people, mostly in Mindanao and the Visayas, of P12 billion in just several months this year.
Aman Futures’ victims included market vendors, fishermen, civil servants, policemen, soldiers and local government officials. The firm lured investors by offering them a return of 30-40 percent in eight days and a return of 50-80 percent in 18-20 days.
Manuel Amalilio, the Malaysian founder of Aman Futures, has fled to Kota Kinabalu. Manila has asked Kuala Lumpur’s help in arresting Amalilio so he can face charges in the Philippines.
Mayor Co faces charges
In a news conference, De Lima said the NBI was also expected to file a case against Pagadian City Mayor Samuel Co for his involvement in the investment scam.
Co earlier filed a complaint against Aman Futures, saying he also lost heavily in the firm.
“He may be a complainant or he may be a victim as he claims but we can’t close our eyes to available evidence, both documentary and testimonial, pointing to his participation (in the scam),” De Lima said.
Nonbailable offense
Co is expected Tuesday to be charged with syndicated estafa, a nonbailable offense, and with violating the antigraft law, according to NBI Deputy Director Virgilio Mendez.
The five directors of the investment firm are expected to appear in Monday’s preliminary
investigation hearing of the syndicated estafa charges filed with a special panel of prosecutors that the Department of Justice has created.
De Lima said the five were “willing to cooperate and have submitted themselves to NBI jurisdiction for investigation.”
The five directors have executed sworn statements with the help of their lawyers and will file their respective counteraffidavits in today’s preliminary investigation hearing, the justice secretary said.
NBI Director Nonatus Rojas said the five Aman Futures directors surrendered so they could give their side after learning that they had been charged.
Irate investors
The five also wanted to seek protection from irate investors, Rojas added.
Some victims have taken the law into their own hands, burning the homes of relatives of certain Aman Futures executives. An agent of the firm was recently kidnapped and shot dead.
“Their surrender will be a big help in our investigation and will help us know and understand what really happened and who should really be held accountable for this scam,” Rojas said of the five Aman directors.
De Lima said the five would share their knowledge of the “flow of the investments and the … existing assets of the entity.”
Their surrender, however, does not mean that their liability will be mitigated, she said.
Ponzi scheme
The Ponzi scheme allowed Aman Futures to amass funds that it used to acquire eight planes and two helicopters. Amalilio was also reported to have acquired two units at Upper McKinley Hills Garden
Villas in Taguig City, a house in Cebu City and another one in Dapitan City.
In a Ponzi scheme, part of the deposits of new investors are paid to early investors. Thus, early investors in Pagadian City were able to build homes or buy sports utility vehicles, encouraging others to put money in Aman Futures. The scheme collapsed when the firm was unable to pay the growing number of investors.
De Lima said the five Aman Futures directors had not asked to be considered state witnesses but were just willing to cooperate with investigators.
“We will leave it up to the special panel of prosecutors who among them, if any, can be utilized as a state witness against the principal perpetrators,” she said.
Mendez said that the five directors had told the NBI that Amalilio was still in Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia because one of them had just recently spoken to him.
On Co’s case, De Lima said a complaint would be filed against him today because there was
“evidence showing or establishing (his) possible involvement” in the scam.
She said the NBI had “no choice” but to file the case because of the big number of private
complainants. As of Nov. 23, there were 9,644 complaints filed and being investigated against Aman Futures. With Tetch Torres, INQUIRER.net
Tagle: ‘Muchacho’ now a prince of the Church
By Philip C. Tubeza
Philippine Daily Inquirer, page 1
The new Filipino cardinal, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle, once worked as a muchacho (servant) in the United States.
Like many of his fellow Filipinos working abroad, Tagle had to take on a menial job when his scholarship fund dried up while he was studying in the United States in the early 1990s.
Tagle ran out of funds when Fr. Carl Peter, a prominent American theologian who had secured the scholarship for him, died during his last year of graduate studies at Catholic University of America in Washington.
He applied for and got a job as an assistant at the university’s library, according to Fr. Catalino Arevalo, SJ, the “dean” of Filipino theologians and a friend of Tagle.
Arevalo said that because Tagle did not introduce himself as a priest, he was assigned to do “dirty work.”
“He did not tell anybody and he started working as a muchacho in the library. He applied for a job as a working student and he was carrying books, doing dirty work there until they found out that he was a priest,” Arevalo said in an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
“He introduced himself as a student and they gave him a job. *When+ they found out he was a priest, he continued working. But they stopped making him carry boxes and things like that,” Arevalo said.
“When his mother found out, she cried. The Tagles are not very wealthy but they have some money.
Both mother and father worked for Equitable Bank. They could have sent him more money, or his brother who was working [in the United States] could have, but Chito did not tell his brother,”
Arevalo said, using Tagle’s nickname.
“He did his work quietly. He did not want to burden other people. Later on, while I was talking with him, he said he found it quite hard doing his studies while trying to earn the money he needed. This is the kind of person he is,” Arevalo said.
Prince of the Church
Now, 11 years later, the once lowly muchacho has become one of the six newest “princes” of the Roman Catholic Church. On Saturday, Pope Benedict XVI elevated Tagle and five other churchmen to the College of Cardinals, the body that will elect the next Pope.
Tagle completed his doctoral studies in theology and graduated summa cum laude from Catholic University of America in 1991. He is now an internationally recognized theologian and is considered a rising star in the Catholic Church in Asia.
“As archbishop of Manila, he’s very intelligent, but without any ego. Somebody else who is as intelligent and who has the credentials that he has would have had an ego and so on, but he is a man of great intelligence *and+ great simplicity and humility,” Arevalo said.
“Very few other bishops in the Philippines have that kind of competence, which is internationally recognized. It’s not just us here in the Philippines *who are+ saying he’s a great theologian,” he
added.
‘Tricked’
Yet Tagle never planned to become a priest. Although religious as a child, Tagle wanted to become a doctor—until a priest “tricked” him into taking an entrance exam for the Jesuit-run San Jose
Seminary in Quezon City.
Arevalo said Tagle wanted to go to Ateneo de Manila University after high school, but his parents were worried about the cost if he would go there and live in a boardinghouse, away from their home in Imus, Cavite.
“Now, a priest who had great affection for Chito, decided on his own that Chito should be a priest.
So he told Chito, ‘Do you want to take an entrance exam to Ateneo? I’ll take care of it,’” Arevalo said.
“But instead of giving Chito the *Ateneo+ entrance exam, he *gave him the San Jose+ entrance exam.
[Chito+ was ‘tricked.’ He passed without a problem and *he told+ his parents he had gotten a scholarship because of his very high marks *but it was for the seminary+,” he said.
“So he entered San Jose, not really because he wanted to be a priest but to try it and see,” Arevalo said.
Eventually, Tagle decided to become a priest.
Tagle never disclosed the identity of the priest, but Arevalo said he suspected it was the late Msgr.
Redentor Corpus, who, together with the late Imus Bishop Felix Perez, was believed to have been a
“major influence” in Tagle’s life.
“*Corpus+ was a close friend of his and his family. He was ‘tricked’ but it was providential. Mrs. Tagle said, ‘Looking back, we feel that God was acting in his life, as if preparing him for whatever work God wanted him to do,’” Arevalo said.
“The parents sort of realized this so they have kept everything—his compositions, outstanding papers, medals. He is not superspecial, but there is a side of him, a certain goodness that is extraordinary, and ordinary people see that in him,” he said.
Arevalo said it was the late Bishop Perez who decided to send Tagle to the United States for graduate studies.
“He really loved him as a son and while *Chito+ was studying here, Bishop Perez would often drop in and talk with us,” Arevalo said.
Arevalo said Perez sought advice on a school for Tagle and eventually settled on Catholic University of America because Fr. Joseph Komonchak, an eminent American ecclesiologist, and the late Fr.
Avery Dulles, SJ, considered the dean of American theologians, taught there.
“The fact that Father Komonchak was there, probably the best of the American ecclesiologists, the fact that Father Dulles was at the time teaching there, and the fact that Fr. Carl Peter would facilitate his scholarship were the reasons why *Chito+ went there,” Arevalo said.
Theological positions
Arevalo dismissed suggestions that Tagle’s theological positions were at variance with the Vatican because of his links to the “Bologna School” of scholars, which had been accused of promoting a
“liberal interpretation” of the Vatican II.
“Chito is neither conservative nor liberal. His main concern is pastoral and *as for] the theological controversies, he’s not interested in them for their own sake. What is important to him is their pastoral meaning,” Arevalo said.
He pointed out that Tagle shared the Pope’s belief that the Vatican II did not represent a “rupture”
or break in Catholic tradition. He blamed “politics in the Church” for attempts by some quarters to paint Tagle as a “super-ultraliberal.”
“The Pope knows Tagle personally and knew that he is not a militant superprogressive … Are his positions the same as Ratzinger’s in everything?” Arevalo said, referring to Benedict XVI, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.
“Well, I don’t think there’s any significant difference between the two,” Arevalo said.
Arevalo said that as a cardinal and archbishop of Manila, Tagle would be able to explain the Church’s position on raging social issues like the reproductive health (RH) bill not just with clarity but also with humility.
“We know we have reached a point where bishops have to be clear in their own theological positions. It was not needed for a long time, but this RH bill brings that up. They should be able to present their case and not just simply use authority, not simply say, ‘This is the teaching of the
Church, therefore you should follow,’” he said.
“*Chito+ can explain it with humility and simplicity and present the case rationally and with clarity,”
he said.
New evangelization
Arevalo said Tagle would also be able to help Rome and the universal Church in understanding the experience of Catholics in Asia and in launching the “new evangelization” on the continent.
“About two-thirds of humanity lives in Asia, with a population of roughly 4.5 billion to almost 5 billion. The population of the world is 7 billion-8 billion. Of that 4.5 billion, only 3 percent, or 140 million, are Catholics so evangelization in Asia is really needed,” Arevalo said, quoting an Indian cardinal.
“*The+ mission has not yet begun in Asia, and the two greatest countries of the future —China and India—are not Christian. The new evangelization is very important in this part of the world,” he added.
World stage
Arevalo said Tagle would now have to learn how to walk on the world stage.
“I worked with *Manila Archbishop Jaime+ Cardinal Sin for more than 20 years. Cardinal Sin practically met with every major figure in Church and state during his time. He sat down with American presidents and *European+ heads of state,” Arevalo said.
“That’s the sort of international horizon that *Chito has now+. And cardinals have passports that have the diplomatic rank of members of royal families. So in that sense, by being a cardinal, you are elevated to the ‘royal family’ of the Holy See,” he said.
Super body formed to probe extrajudicial killings
By Christine O. Avendaño Philippine Daily Inquirer, page 2
President Benigno Aquino has created a super body that will investigate old and new cases of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other grave human rights violations, with
“greater priority” to be given to those committed under the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Monday released to reporters Administrative Order No. 35 creating this body, which she said the President signed on Nov. 22, the eve of the third anniversary of the infamous massacre of 58 people allegedly by members of the Ampatuan clan and their followers in Maguindanao in 2009.
Under the AO, the President created a nine-member “Inter-agency committee on Extra-Legal Killings, Enforced Disappearances, Torture and Other Grave Violations of the Right to Life, Liberty and Security of Persons.”
No room for political violence
“The present administration declares as a matter of paramount policy that there is no room for all these forms of political violence and abuses of power by agents or elements of the state or nonstate forces,” the six-page order reads, noting that the committee aims to resolve unresolved cases.
Headed by the secretary of justice, the members of the committee include the chairman of
the Presidential Human Rights Committee, the secretaries of the interior and local government and national defense, the presidential adviser on the peace process, the presidential adviser for political affairs, the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the director general of the Philippine National Police and the director of the National Bureau of Investigation.
Serving as observers and resource persons to the committee are the chairman of the Commission on Human Rights and the Ombudsman.
The committee is tasked to conduct an inventory of unsolved cases as well as those under investigation, under preliminary investigation and under trial in its first 30 days.
After the inventory, the committee will assign special teams to investigate the cases “for the possible identification of the perpetrators.” The order says priority will be given to “high profile”
cases that were perpetrated under the Arroyo administration.
A special oversight team will monitor developments in cases under investigation, preliminary
investigation and under trial.
A special team of investigators and prosecutors will also be created to look into “new cases.”
Committee updates
The committee is expected to submit a report to the President “after six months from its creation and every six months thereafter.”
The AO supersedes AO 211, dated Nov. 26, 2007, which created the Task Force on Political
Violence tasked to undertake the prevention, investigation, prosecution and punishment of political violence.
Former President Arroyo had armed the task force with the powers and funding to stem the tide of killings of leftist activists and all other cases related to “political violence.”
The task force initially handled the high-profile murders of the following: Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar on Nov. 13, 2007; Vice Mayor Zaldy Raga of Lumban, Laguna, on Oct. 4, 2007; former Mayor Rogelio Illustrisimo of Bantayan Island on May 2, 2007; Kalinga Vice Gov. Rommel Diasen on April 7, 2007;
and Abra Rep. Luis Bersamin on Dec. 16, 2006.
Lawmakers to work on substitute RH bill
By Leila B. Salaverria, TJ Burgonio and Gil Cabacungan Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, page 3
Majority Leader Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
After months of delay and a lack of quorum, the House of Representatives on Monday managed to come up with a substitute bill meant to address the controversial provisions of the reproductive health (RH) bill.
The changes include giving priority to the poor in the provision of birth control methods, and banning contraceptives that prevent the implantation of a fertilized ovum, as this is considered abortion by some sectors.
In an interview, Majority Floor Leader Neptali Gonzales said the reproductive health bill still had other periods to hurdle, as opponents of the measure could still propose more individual amendments.
Albay Rep. and RH bill main proponent Edcel Lagman, meanwhile, assured lawmakers there was no need to worry about the so-called Catholic vote on the RH bill, citing several Social Weather Stations (SWS) and Pulse Asia surveys that showed that majority of Catholics were actually in favor of the controversial measure.
“RH advocates should not fear a negative Catholic vote because the alleged backlash has no
empirical basis,” Lagman said in a statement, amid reports that Church leaders had called on voters to reject candidates who support the bill.
Lagman, however, said that “the Catholic vote is for the enactment of the RH bill,” and cited a Pulse Asia October 2008 survey and SWS surveys on family planning in 2008, 2009 and 2010 to back his claim.
Political myth
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago also described the alleged command vote of the Catholic Church as nothing but a “political myth” and rebuked Church leaders for their “borderline violation of the constitutional principle of separation of Church and state.”
“In the past, the Catholic church campaigned against Sen. Juan Flavier because as health secretary, he freely distributed condoms. But Flavier won the elections. Thus, the so-called Catholic vote is a political myth,” Santiago said in a statement.
Santiago also pointed out that only the Catholic Church opposed the RH bill among major churches in the Philippines, including the Iglesia ni Cristo, Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, National Council of Churches in the Philippines, Interfaith Partnership for the Promotion of Responsible Parenthood, and the Assembly of Darul-Iftah of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
But Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, a vocal opponent of the RH bill, disputed Lagman’s claims, and said that the difficulty of ensuring attendance among pro-RH lawmakers was one sign of waning support for the measure that he described as “unconstitutional, coercive, morally incorrect, assaults the Catholic religion, medically unsafe and was led by an international lobby.”
Among the more controversial provisions of the RH bill are its provisions to provide information on,
and access to, all methods of contraception among the country’s poorest sectors, and sex education among adolescents through the country’s public school system.
According to Lagman, a 2008 SWS survey showed that 71 percent of Catholics favored the reproductive health bill. Among weekly church-going Catholics, the support was higher, at 73 percent, he added.
‘Catholic vote is for RH’
By Jess Diaz (The Philippine Star) page 1
MANILA, Philippines - If there is a solid Catholic vote, it is not for derailing the Reproductive Health (RH) bill but for its approval by Congress, the measure’s principal author in the House said yesterday.
“The Catholic vote is for the enactment of the RH bill. This is consistently validated and documented in all nationwide surveys for many years now,” Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said.
He was responding to the statement of Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles urging Catholics not to vote for pro-RH candidates in the May 2013 elections.
“RH advocates should not fear a negative Catholic vote because the alleged backlash has no empirical basis,” Lagman said. “Fear is bankrupt of reason and should not be allowed to deter legislation and policy making.”
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, meanwhile, yesterday warned the Catholic clergy against issuing more threats against the proponents of the RH bill in Congress, which she said could constitute a violation of the Constitution.
In a statement, Santiago said that the Constitution clearly provides for separation of church and state and the threats being issued by the clergy against the RH bill proponents constitute “borderline violation” of this provision.
“The separation principle includes what is called the establishment clause, as well as the free exercise clause. The general guide is that the government should observe neutrality,” Santiago said.
Santiago lamented that only the Catholic church, among all of the major churches in the Philippines, is against the RH bill.
She claimed that the following churches are pro-RH: the Iglesia ni Cristo, Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, National Council of Churches in the Philippines, Interfaith Partnership for the Promotion of Responsible Parenthood, and the Assembly of Darul-Iftah of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
In any case, Santiago reiterated that she does not believe in the existence of a Catholic vote.
“In the past, the Catholic church campaigned against Sen. Juan Flavier because as health secretary, he freely distributed condoms. But Flavier won the elections. Thus, the so-called Catholic vote is a political myth,” Santiago said.
Santiago is co-author and sponsor of the RH bill in the Senate alongside Sen. Pia Cayetano.
The two women senators have been pushing for a vote to be taken on the RH bill already.
Not binding
For his part, Arguelles yesterday said the argument on the separation of church and state is only binding to the state and not the church.
“The law on the separation of church and state is a law that is addressed to the state and not to the church. That is a state law. In the separation of church and state, the state should not favor any particular religion or denomination. This does not mean that the church cannot comment or speak on moral issues... The Reproductive Health bill is a moral issue,” Arguelles said.
It also does not mean that local church leaders and laity are no longer Filipino citizens, he said.
When asked if there were other bishops who support his sentiments, he admitted that he is not certain.
“But what I am sure of is that there is a few who believe in this (Catholic vote) and that it should be implemented. I just don’t know if there would be others who would openly say they are in favor of this.”
Arguelles said Catholics “should never sacrifice their faith. So if there is a politician who wants to vote against our Catholic faith, it is our sublime duty not to vote for them.”
The faithful should even take a step further and not campaign for candidates who support the RH bill
“because their policy is not good for the country,” he said.
Lawmakers changing minds
Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, one of the most vocal critics of the RH bill, believes the measure is losing support not because his colleagues are afraid of the Catholic vote “but because many moderate pro-RH congressmen are changing their mind.”
“They now realize that it violates the Constitution, is coercive in nature, is morally incorrect, it assaults the Catholic religion, is medically unsafe, and is an unsound policy for a developing economy,” he said.
“The bill will likewise waste billions of pesos for condoms and contraceptives, funds that could be used for educational and health facilities,” he said.
Lagman said surveys conducted by Social Weather Stations show that 71 percent of Catholics favor the enactment of the RH bill.
“The percentage of those in favor of the bill is even higher among weekly church-going Catholics at 73 percent, which means that the pulpit as a platform for anti-RH homilies is a failure,” he said.
He said among registered voters surveyed, 38 percent would vote for candidates supporting the proposed RH law, while only a small six percent would not vote for them.
“In predominantly Catholic communities like Cebu, Manila and Parañaque, respondents in various surveys are overwhelmingly pro-RH. A huge number of Cebuanos at 76 percent support the passage of the RH bill; in Parañaque, 84 percent of the respondents are in favor of the bill; and in Manila, a whopping 86 percent of those surveyed support the enactment of the bill into law,” he stressed.
He added that in the Catholic province of Bohol, a majority of respondents (53 percent) are in favor of the RH bill, compared to only 17 percent against it, based on a survey conducted by Holy Name University, a leading Bohol Catholic university.
Quoting Pulse Asia, Lagman said 93 percent of Filipinos consider it important to have the ability to plan their families and 82 percent believe government should inform couples about all methods of family planning.
“Faculty members of leading Catholic universities like Ateneo and De La Salle support the passage of the RH bill. Priests at the local parishes do not articulate with the same ferocity anti-RH tirades of some bishops because they are more aware of the ill-effects of the population problem on their parishioners,” he said.
“The parish priest and the political leader are natural and logical partners in addressing the population problem because they witness on the ground grinding poverty, maternal and infant mortality and the inadequacy of pre-natal and post-natal care and facilities, all of which are addressed by the RH bill,” he said.
Threat unfair
The executive branch, meanwhile, asked Congress yesterday to put an end to the RH issue as it branded as unfair the threat of Arguelles that the Catholic vote would be used against lawmakers who vote for the RH bill.
In a press briefing in Malacañang, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, also Liberal Party stalwart, said,
“First of all, if the position taken by any politician, any candidate is based on his own appreciation of his conscience, I think that has to be respected by anybody including the Church.”
“Because, you know, Congress is a legislative assembly and Congress succeeds when there is an interplay or competition of ideas. And if you try to suppress contrary ideas, then you will not get the best policy out of a deliberative assembly like Congress,” Abad said.
“So I don’t think that’s fair to do because in a democracy it’s the competition in a marketplace of ideas that brings out the best,” he said.
Asked if LP candidates would not be changing positions just because of this warning from Arguelles, Abad said it would depend also on “conscience.”
“As I said, every policymaker should examine his conscience... not threats, not rewards but ultimately I think what is best for which this policy has been introduced, which is really to address the very poor who have no means – information as well as resources – to be able to plan in a responsible way the size of his family,” Abad said.
Asked what guidance the LP could give to the House, Abad said it was the obligation of the
legislators, regardless of whether they are pro- or anti-RH, to put closure to this issue because it has become divisive. – With Marvin Sy, Aurea Calica, Evelyn Macairan
Justices welcome Leonen at SC
By Edu Punay (The Philippine Star) page 1
Associate Justice Marvic Leonen addresses employees of the Supreme Court during his first flag raising ceremony yesterday.
MANILA, Philippines - Associate Justice Marvic Leonen started work in the Supreme Court (SC) yesterday.
Welcoming Leonen at the flag-raising ceremony were Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno and Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr., Arturo Brion, Mariano del Castillo, Roberto Abad, Martin Villarama, Jose Mendoza and Jose Perez.
In March last year, the SC admonished Leonen for leading a group of faculty members of the
University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law in accusing Justice Del Castillo in 2010 of plagiarism.
Leonen, then UP law dean, and 35 other professors were warned “for intemperate language setting a very bad example to our law students.”
The statement, entitled “Restoring Integrity: A Statement by the Faculty of the University of the Philippines College of Law on the Allegations of Plagiarism and Misrepresentation in the Supreme Court,” had sought the resignation of Del Castillo, who had become a subject of impeachment proceedings at the House of Representatives.
The impeachment of Del Castillo did not progress as allies of President Aquino gave priority to the impeachment of then chief justice Renato Corona.
Speaking at the flag-raising ceremony, Leonen vowed to give the youth a voice in the judiciary.
“It’s nice to be part of the youth sector again,” he said.
“I believe I’m the youngest (justice in the current composition of SC) so I might represent the youth.”
Leonen said he is ready to work with other SC justices and share with them values of “honor and excellence, leadership and service, a passion for justice.”
“I know my place. I know that I need to participate in a collective effort in this department of our government,” he said.
Leonen said he intends to follow the “daang matuwid (straight path)” vision of the President in the SC for the next 21 years.
“I hope my words and those of my colleagues can exemplify what it can be to have a real government for our people,” he said.
Leonen thanked the indigenous peoples, farmers, private litigants, members of UP College of Law faculty and Bangsamoro, who had helped him in his legal career.
In an interview, Leonen said he has yet to complete the composition of his staff.
He vowed to abide by Sereno’s “dignified silence” policy.
Leonen told the Judicial and Bar Council in his interview for the post last month he believes the SC
“should be more than willing to be criticized by the academia and public.”
Top countries to do business: Phl ahead of China, India
By Louella Desiderio (The Philippine Star) page 1
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines placed 87th among 141 countries in the Forbes’ Best Countries for Business List, beating China and India but still behind most of its Southeast Asian neighbors.
The Forbes’ list which ranks countries based on different factors such as trade freedom, monetary freedom, property rights, innovation, technology, red tape, investor protection, corruption, personal freedom, tax burden and market performance showed that the Philippines was a better place for business than China at 96th and India at 97th.
The list showed that Singapore was the fourth best country for business, while Malaysia was 31st.
The list also showed Thailand in the 67th spot and Indonesia on 76th.
The Philippines, meanwhile, was better positioned than Vietnam at 109th place and Cambodia at 112th.
The Philippine ranking was the same as last year during which 130 countries were in the list.
Out of 11 factors considered in the report, the Philippines’ ranking in five has dropped.
In terms of tax burden, the country’s position dropped 21 places to 110th. In terms of trade freedom, the Philippines saw its ranking fall by seven places to 86th this year.
The country also fell five places to 128th in terms of red tape, while it declined two places to 112th in terms of corruption.
In personal freedom, the Philippines placed 67th compared to last year’s 63rd.
The country, meanwhile, saw its ranking improve in monetary freedom to 61st spot from last year’s 62nd.
The country also improved in terms of innovation to 62nd spot from last year’s 69th.
In terms of investor protection, the country went up three places to 105th, while it jumped 11 notches to 4th place in terms of market performance.
The country’s ranking was unchanged for property rights (84th) and technology (77th).
The 10 best countries for business this year were New Zealand, Denmark, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Finland and United Kingdom.
The countries at the bottom of this year’s list or those considered the worst for business were Cote d’Ivoire, Yemen, Mauritania, Ethiopia, Haiti, Cameroon, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Chad and Guinea.
Noy creates super human rights body
By Delon Porcalla (The Philippine Star) page 1
MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino ordered yesterday the creation of special teams that would investigate human rights abuses committed by state and non-state forces, in order to ensure a focused probe and speedy resolution of all unsolved and new cases, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said yesterday.
Ochoa said the teams would be part of an inter-agency committee (IAC) formed under
Administrative Order 35 issued by Aquino to look into the cases of unexplained killings, enforced disappearances, torture, and other grave violations of the right to life, liberty and security.
“This directive reinforces the Aquino administration’s resolve to uphold and protect the rights of the people,” he said, adding they believe this “high-level committee will be a more effective mechanism in handling, monitoring cases of human rights violations.”
In a statement, Ochoa said AO 35 is immediately executory and replaces AO 221 issued by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2007 that created the Task Force Against Political Violence.
AO 35 directs the task force to turn over all documents, data, reports, supplies, resources and its remaining budget to the IAC.
“The President envisions the administrative order to harmonize and standardize the government’s policies and action plan for resolving human rights abuses. This way we can have a focused
investigation and speedy resolution of all the cases,” Ochoa said.
One of the first tasks of the IAC is to organize special teams and a technical working group that will carry out the immediate inventory of all alleged human rights violations committed by state and non-state forces; monitor the development of cases pending in court or under investigation, and
conduct a probe into unsolved and new cases, as well as prosecute the perpetrators.
Under AO 35, the justice secretary will serve as the IAC chair, with the head of the Presidential Human Rights Committee (PHRC), the secretaries of the Departments of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and National Defense (DND), the presidential advisers on the peace process (OPAPP) and political affairs (OPAPA), the chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director as members.
The CHR chair and the Ombudsman will sit as observers and resource persons in the IAC, which is required every six months to submit to the President a progress report and a detailed inventory of pending human rights abuse cases, and accomplishment and recommendations, among others.
Aquino has asked all other government agencies and local government units to give their full support and cooperation to the IAC to make sure that AO 35’s objectives and the committee’s mandate are achieved.
The initial budget requirement of the committee will be taken from the current appropriation of the agencies comprising the IAC and subsequent funding will be incorporated in their respective regular budgets.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who was tasked to head the IAC, distributed to reporters yesterday copies of AO 35 signed by the President last Nov. 22.
The AO said the committee is tasked to conduct an inventory of all cases of extra-legal killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other human rights violations.
After the inventory, the committee is mandated to investigate unsolved cases by assigning special investigation teams to conduct further investigation for immediate identification of the
perpetrators.
The President said high profile cases perpetrated during the past administrations would be given priority.
“Whereas, there is a need to revisit these unsolved cases of grave violations of the right to life, liberty, and security of persons, whether committed as part of an apparent government policy in the past or as recurring cases of unsanctioned individual abuse of power and authority by State and non- state forces under the present,” the order
stated.
The committee is also tasked to designate a special oversight team composed of investigators and prosecutors who will monitor the development of the cases under investigation.
For new cases, the committee it will create a special team to handle the investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators.
Majority of rights victims are male
There are more male victims of human rights violations than females as reported to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) last year, according to a report released yesterday by the Commission on Audit (COA), even as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) expressed alarm over the rising number of women victims of physical abuse.
Of the 3,386 victims of rights violations reported to the CHR, 1,908 were men while only 255 were women.
The same COA report also showed that the number of male human rights violators outnumber females by a huge margin - 1,194 and 781 respectively.
In 2011, the CHR received 2,910 complaints nationwide. It also identified 3,386 victims and 3,656 perpetrators of human rights abuses.
State auditors, however, noted that the report did not indicate the gender of another 1,493 victims and 1,411 perpetrators of rights violations.
In 2011, the CHR conducted preliminary evaluation on some 2,054 complaints to determine whether it had jurisdiction over the cases and the kind of actions to be undertaken.
“Of the cases evaluated, only 250 complaints required full-blown investigation while 1,731 needed legal and counseling services,” state auditors said.
On human rights promotion, state auditors credited the agency now headed by former party-list lawmaker Loretta Ann Rosales for the conduct of 727 human rights education and promotion activities.
Meanwhile, the DWSD expressed alarm yesterday over the increasing number of female victims of physical abuse.
The agency said there are 12,948 cases of domestic violence recorded from January to August this year. – With Edu Punay, Michael Punongbayan, Helen Flores
House panel tackles FOI bill today
By Jess Diaz (The Philippine Star) page 2
MANILA, Philippines - The House committee on public information will again attempt a vote today on the controversial Freedom of Information (FOI) bill.
The measure seeks to give the public and the media wider access to government documents.
Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, committee chairman, expressed optimism yesterday that his panel could resolve four remaining contentious issues and vote on the bill.
“These are major issues which are critical components of the proposed FOI law. I hope that we can come up with a report that will uphold the bill without surrendering the mandate of the state and public officials and employees to protect national interests,” he said.
He said the four remaining issues are the proposed inclusion of a right of reply, safeguards against the exercise of the people’s right to information, exemptions from disclosure of official information and documents relating to national defense and security and national interest, and inclusion of private corporations and other entities in the coverage of the FOI bill.
It is Nueva Ecija Rep. Rodolfo Antonino who is demanding that the bill include a right of reply provision, which would compel media organizations to use the replies of aggrieved parties with the same space or airtime and prominence as the perceived adverse stories.
Authors of the FOI measure are suggesting that the right of reply be contained in another draft piece of legislation, since the FOI bill deals with giving the public and the media greater and easier access to state documents.
As for safeguards against the exercise of the people’s right to information, Evardone said it was former actress-turned-congresswoman Lani Mercado-Revilla of Cavite who suggested that these be
included in the FOI bill.
“But we have yet to agree on what those safeguards would be,” he said.
Regarding the exemption of information on national security and national interest from disclosure, he said Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño and other militant lawmakers fear that Malacañang might use this to cover up for or suppress information about human rights violations.
Evardone said the proposal to include private companies, organizations and other entities in the coverage of the FOI bill came from Camiguin Rep. Pedro Romualdo.
“If we agree to disagree on these issues, then the FOI bill will remain in limbo. We might run out of time to endorse it and for the House to consider it,” he said.
During the committee’s last meeting two weeks ago, Antonino questioned how a technical working group chaired by Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada, the FOI bill’s principal author, consolidated at least 15 FOI measures, accusing the Quezon congressman of “rejecting” his bill and “giving preference” to Malacañang’s inputs on exemptions.
Tañada responded that his panel considered Antonino’s FOI version but that it could not decide on his right of reply proposal as this was within the committee’s jurisdiction.
After sparking what seemed to be an interminable debate, Antonino moved for adjourning the meeting by invoking the House rules, which ban committees from continuing to meet when the chamber is already in session.
Comelec to raffle off list of qualified party-list groups
By Sheila Crisostomo (The Philippine Star) page 7
MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported yesterday that it would include the 11 party-list organizations placed on status quo by the Supreme Court (SC) when it raffles off the list of qualified sectoral groups to determine their places in the official ballots.
In previous polls, the lists of party-list groups were printed alphabetically but the Comelec has observed that most groups took on names beginning with either the letter A or the number 1 to be on top of the ballots.
The poll body has decided to conduct a raffle to determine how each group should be listed on the ballots for the elections on May 13, 2013.
Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said the poll body would have to include the names of the 11 party-list groups that were earlier disqualified if the SC has not issued a final ruling before the ballot printing starts.
The 11 groups are Ako Bicol; APEC (Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives); 1CARE (1st Consumers Alliance for Rural Energy Inc.); ARC (Alliance on Rural Concerns); AKMA-PTM (Aksyon Magsasaka-Partido Tinig ng Masa); KAKUSA (Kapatiran ng mga Nakulong na Walang Sala); ARARO (Alliance for Rural and Agrarian Reconstruction Inc.); ARAL (Association for Righteousness Advocacy on Leadership); Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (Anad); Philippine Guardian Brotherhood Inc. (1Bro-PGBI); Guardians Nationalist Phils. Inc (1Ganap/Guardians); Agapay ng Indigenous Peoples Rights Alliance Inc. (A-IPRA); Kaagapay ng Nagkakaisang Aguilang Pilipinong Magsasaka (Ako Agila);
and Bantay.
“If we don’t include them, it would be like violating the status quo ante order of the SC,” he noted.
Brillantes added that in the event the SC upholds the disqualification of a group whose name is
already printed on the ballots, the Comelec would not count the votes cast for them on Election Day.
The 11 groups are among the 92 party-list organizations barred by Comelec from joining the 2013 polls for having nominees that are not members of the marginalized sector and for multi-sector representation, among other reasons.
Of the 92 groups, 47 had their accreditation cancelled while 45 others were denied registration as party-list organizations.
Meanwhile, the Comelec is set to bid out not 80,000 but only 20,000 ballot boxes to be used in the 2013 polls.
Brillantes said they might be able to retrieve the ballot boxes used in the electoral protest filed by now Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II against Vice President Jejomar Binay in the 2010 vice-presidential race.
He said they expect the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, where the case is pending, to grant their request to re-use the ballot boxes.
“That 80,000 (ballot boxes) are worth P200 million. What we propose is that we will take out the contents of three ballot boxes and put in just one box. If we do that we would be able to free about three-fourths or about 60,000,” he added.
Gov’t to purchase 21 Huey helicopters
By Alexis Romero (The Philippine Star) page 8
MANILA, Philippines - The government will purchase 21 US-made UH-1 Huey helicopters to allow the military to meet the air mobility requirements for the 2013 elections, a defense official disclosed yesterday.
Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo said the Air Force has requested additional helicopters for the expected increase in air mobility requirements due to election-related operations.
The poll-related flights are on top of the military operations related to national development and disaster response.
“With the present national security condition, the acquisition of additional combat utility helicopters to augment the existing UH-1 Huey fleet is imperative,” Manalo said in a statement.
The bidding for the purchase of the 21 UH-1 helicopters will be held on Dec. 4. Six companies have so far bought bidding documents for the project.
The Air Force has recommended that the helicopters be delivered by Feb. 28, 2013 to avoid the danger of not being able to support the airlift requirements for the elections.
“Having been the workhorse of AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) tactical operations for many years, the Huey fleet has succumbed to natural attrition due to structural stress and aircraft accidents,” he added.
A defense department assessment revealed that there are only 16 mission-capable Hueys in the Air Force inventory, which is short of 51 units for the ideal number of operational combat utility helicopters.
