DT_20190729

A2 NEWS
Monday, 29 July 2019
Daily Tribune
Plea snowballs to indict Leni
Based on the 2016 vice-presidential electoral
protest still pending, Robredo’s constitutional
mandate is in question
From page A1
expressed support to the filing
of charges against Robredo and
other opposition personalities
implicated in the production of
the propaganda videos.
On 18 July 2019, the Philippine
National Police-Criminal
Investigation and Detection
Group (PNP-CIDG) filed
criminal complaints for Inciting
to Sedition, Cyber Libel, Libel,
Estafa, Harboring of a Criminal,
and Obstruction of Justice
against Robredo and 35 others.
Sloppy smear job
“I am one of those aggrieved.
I was maligned twice and was
forced to take off my clothes
twice to expose their lies. Let’s
wait for the DoJ’s filing of cases
against them,” Go said.
The senator said he seeks
justice on behalf of those who
were maliciously implicated in the
black propaganda spread through
the videos, including himself and
the First Family. He added that it
is important that those who were
responsible for these malicious
acts should be held accountable.
“The question that I want to
ask is where is the justice for
us? Justice for the First Family,
which was abused. The daughter
of the President who is still a
child was included in the black
propaganda, which they resorted
to to make themselves look good.
The question is who was behind
this operation?” Go stated.
He cited the possibility of
a Senate investigation on the
issue through an inquiry in aid
of legislation to ensure that
there will be stronger measures
in place to stop these kinds of
malicious acts.
“I am interested in finding out
who is behind this. It is the right
of the public to know the truth. I
am asking for justice,” he added.
Democratic process followed
The signature movement, which
will be submitted to the Department
of Justice, seeks to oppose a plea
started by supporters of Robredo
urging the DoJ to immediately
dismiss the sedition charges against
her and “commit to the upholding of
her constitutional mandate to serve
the Filipinos.”
The petition started by a
group called Team Pilipinas also
argued that the charges were “an
insult to our democracy.”
The counterpetition started
by a certain Rene Astudillo at
Change.org said the allegations
against Robredo are better heard
in a judicial court.
It is not the Vice President’s
or any elected official’s
constitutional mandate to
discredit or destabilize our
government.
“We disagree. The charges are
precisely part of our democratic
process: people are charged for
crimes based on preliminary
and sufficient evidence. Those
charged are given the chance to
answer the charges — in court,”
the petition read.
Mandate in question
The letter, which will be
Start em young Several parent and child pairs are refreshing sights in this annual fun run in Manila. DAVID JOHN CUBANGBANG
House, DoJ probe PCSO
The President has the authority to order the suspension and even the
termination of PCSO-licensed gaming operations
submitted to the DoJ, rebutted
point by point Robredo’s
supporters in pressuring the
department to dismiss the
charges against Robredo.
“We also believe that based on
the 2016 vice-presidential electoral
protest still pending, Robredo’s
constitutional mandate is in
question. More importantly, it is
not the Vice President’s or any
elected official’s constitutional
mandate to discredit or destabilize
our government,” it noted.
“For the DoJ to dismiss
the sedition charges against
Robredo based on several
thousand signatures to an
online petition is to disregard
our democratic process and the
From page A1
Sources are many
“I have no doubt that the
latest move of our President was
due to his information. Like what
I always say, we cannot judge
the President immediately as
he has more information than
us. He has many sources (may
it be) formal or informal. It may
be intelligence or processed
actionable intelligence,”
Cayetano explained.
“The President will not
order that if corruption is not
substantial,” the Speaker added.
“So, I hope it will be addressed
and it will come to (a) good
conclusion. But I have faith
that so far, all (the matters) the
President is focused on. Give him
enough time to fix the problem.”
The lawmaker said the
President has not briefed
Congress yet on PCSO’s closure.
Trust Rody
“We haven’t been fully briefed
yet on what the President wanted
to say but I don’t think that he
will let public service suffer,”
he said.
Cayetano said the
Philippine Amusement and
Gaming Corporation and
rule of law,” he said.
The petitioners cited trust
“in the integrity of our Justice
department.”
For the DoJ to dismiss the
sedition charges based on
several thousand signatures
to an online petition is to
disregard our democratic
process and the rule of law.
It added the petitioners
look forward to the pursuit and
resolution of these very serious
allegations that endanger “not only
our duly-constituted government,
but the very core of Filipino rights
and independence.”
The DoJ has set 9 August for
Shape up or privatize
the Malasakit Centers will
continue operating.
He added that the President’s
decision is in line with his
strong conviction against
corruption, emphasizing that
through investigation, a better
assessment can be obtained on
PCSO’s situation.
Last Friday evening, Mr.
Duterte ordered the suspension
and closure of all gaming
activities in all PCSO outlets
nationwide.
He said that “massive
corruption” in the agency forced
him to stop all its operation.
Malasakit continues
Sen. Christopher Lawrence
“Bong” Go reiterated that Mr.
Duterte prevented the further
bankruptcy of PCSO due to
corruption.
The President will not order
that if corruption is not
substantial.
“I believe that the priority
of the President is to prevent
further loss for the government
and protect the interest of
the people. He also wants to
stop corruption that’s why he
decided to temporarily stop
the preliminary hearing into the
complaint against Robredo and her
co-respondents, Justice Secretary
Menardo Guevarra said.
“The subpoenas were served.
I assure everyone of utmost
fairness in the resolution of this
case,” Guevarra added.
“The evidence, or the lack of
it, will speak for itself. In the
ordinary course of things, the
complaint shall be dismissed
as to those respondents against
whom no evidence is presented,
while those against whom
sufficient evidence is presented
shall accordingly be indicted.
Let’s wait until this process is
completed,” he said.
Chito Lozada
(the operations) to review and
investigate the activities which
were approved by the PCSO,”
he said,
Go added that the Malasakit
Centers, which the government
has established, will not be
affected by the closure of the
PCSO outlets.
“The PCSO was budgeted
for this year. That is why the
Malasakit Centers will not be
affected,” the senator said. “The
revenues collected by the PCSO
this year will be used next year.”
Direct to Treasury
Suggestions to privatize
PCSO and revenues from its
gaming activities to be directly
remitted to the Department of
Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) were also floated in
the Senate.
Senators pointed out that
proceeds from PCSO operations
should be remitted directly
to the DSWD to fund social
service programs to avoid the
mishandling of funds that should
be allocated to the poor.
PCSO is the principal
government agency mandated
to raise and provide funds for
government health programs,
medical assistance and services.
From page A1
facie proof that licensees are not faithfully
complying with their legal obligation.”
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
started a probe into the anomalies upon the order
of Guevarra.
He said such instances include the failure to
remit the correct amount of the government’s share
in revenues or that their operations are tainted by
fraud, deceit or corruption.
“It should be emphasized that a gaming license
is not a contractual right but a mere privilege that
may be revoked at any time by the state,” Guevarra
added.
House inquiry set
Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco said the
House of Representatives is ready to hold an in-depth
review of the agency.
“I don’t know the details that led to the
President’s decision, and I believe his action
should prompt a more in-depth investigation into
the gaming schemes not only to ensure that it is
free from corruption, but to also assess its impact
on the economy and the programs being funded by
the PCSO,” Velasco said.
The NBI started a probe into the anomalies
upon the order of Guevarra.
He said Mr. Duterte’s action is “consistent with
his strong stance against corruption and we are
fully supportive of this policy.”
More than 20K outlets shut
Guevarra said the government is also ready to
face legal actions and damage suits as a result of
Mr. Duterte’s order.
“Damage suits are always possible but the
government will be ready,” he said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) served
closure notices to 5,187 lotto outlets, 13,320 STL
(Small Town Lottery) operations, 2,194 PNB
(Peryahan ng Bayan) outfits and 472 lottery-like
gambling games called Keno, which are often
played at modern casinos.
I believe his action should prompt a more
in-depth investigation into the gaming
schemes.
In a statement, PNP spokesman Brig. Gen.
Bernard Banac said PNP chief Police General Oscar
Albayalde urged all other similar establishments
that have not been visited yet by police to refrain
from engaging and voluntarily close down their
business.
Restraining order
Guevarra denied the government deprived
PCSO-licensed gaming operators of due process
as a result of the order for shutting down their
operations without showing concrete evidence of
corruption and without giving them an opportunity
to refuse such allegation.
Guevarra’s order for the NBI to conduct an
investigation on the matter was precisely to give PCSO
officials and licensees an opportunity to show there
is no corruption or fraud involved in their operations.
The President may order the suspension of
operations based on preliminary information available
to him, much like a judicial restraining order, but
even more powerful because it emanates from a
constitutional duty to faithfully execute our laws,
if not from the inherent police power of the State,
Guevarra said. The NBI investigation focuses on the
Souvenirs Lotto cards became relics for now after President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to stop gambling operations due to
corruption in the agency running these.
AFP
non-remittance of the government’s share from
state-sanctioned gambling operations and the possible
involvement in corrupt practices of PCSO officials and
employees.
Guevarra said until the investigation is completed
and people responsible for cheating the government
have been unmasked, PCSO gaming operations such
as lotto and STL, which are legal, may not resume.
“The investigation that I have ordered is precisely
an opportunity where the PCSO and its licensees
may come forward and show that there’s no such
corruption or fraud involved in their operations,”
Guevarra said.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government
warned local executives against preventing or interfering
in the closure of any PCSO outlet, saying those who do
“shall be dealt with accordingly to the fullest extent of
the law,” he added.
FTW
For better, for worse Elderly couple gets busy sorting out plastic containers hoping to sell these later on to pay for their daily needs.
AL PADILLA