At first some policemen doused them with water. The next morning their heads were shaved clean and were just told that it was part of the new policy of Police Inspector Reynaldo Maclang.

Atty. Lester Patay, legal counsel of theft suspects Rico Pableo and Federico Pableo recently sent a formal complaint to the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Dipolog City denouncing the inspector’s new policy.

The suspects’s lawyer cited that what Inspector Maclang did to his clients was an utter disregard of their human rights no matter how good the intentions were. He also pointed out that such act was a violation of Article III, Section 19 of the Philippine Constitution, which states that “excessive fines shall not be imposed, nor cruel, degrading, or inhuman punishment inflected.”

In his letter complaint, he narrated that his clients, together with co-accused Justiniano Siangco and Crisanto Lastra were arrested by the Dipolog PNP on the charge that they stole the angle bars reportedly owned by ABP Construction. While detained, he said, the suspects were doused with water for no apparent reason at all.  The morning after their arrest, the lawyer narrated further, the detainees’s heads were shaven clean. He said when he went to the Dipolog PNP office to ask reason for such action; he was just told it was the inspector’s new policy.

“We’re several Police Officers who just came and went in Dipolog but this is the first time I’ve met someone whose actuations were unbecoming of a police officer,” the lawyer stressed. Atty. Patay also disclosed that he had sent the letter to the Civil Liberties Advocates Movement of the Philippines who in turn, he reported, denounced the inhumane treatment of the suspects in the hands of Inspector Maclang.

Councilor Marvelita Pinsoy, Chair, SP’s Committee on Human Rights and Councilor James Verduguez, Chair, Committee on Peace and Order would reportedly convene as early as possible to treat the case of the Pableos through their counsel Atty. Patay. (Press Freedom, Vol. XIX No. 50)

Definitely, it is because of Gov. Rolando Yebes’s big heart for the poor people and his different pro-poor programs in the province that shaped him for the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award. Some friends close to the Provincial Governor pointed out that the different indigent programs of the governor like Lando BIBO, Tabang ni Lando sa Communidad, Poverty Mapping Program, etc. in the 25 municipalities and two cities led him to the most coveted PLB Award, which he received on September 19 in Manila.

The Civil Service Commission which was tasked by PGMA to identify outstanding public servants pointed out that Yebes contributed to the development of quality health program in the province, to the upliftment of the farthest barangay through infrastructure projects alongside other projects to boost tourism.

The commission also pointed out that the provincial governor in such a short term has already received three big awards in the past to prove his sincerity in serving the people.

It also cited that his byword “Una sa Tanan ang Katawhan” has always been a consistent guide for his provincial administration. In his recent pronouncements, Yebes claimed that the presidential award he received was not an award for him alone but it was for the people of Zamboanga del Norte. He thanked all the officials and employees whom he cited as instrumental to this award.

Leon Postigo Mayor Rolando Tablezo recently sent the illegal small scale miners in Barangay Midatag, Leon Postigo a last and final notice to stop their mining operations. The mayor disclosed that the ultimatum ended on August 30, 2007 when the Sangguniang Bayan passed a resolution to this effect. He disclosed further that the SB has given them 15 days to stop their operation but due to the miners’ request to give them one-month grace period; they have extended it up to the end of August.

However, he pointed out, the miners were still stuck to the mining area despite the ultimatum given them. He also disclosed that these miners come from Zamboanga del Sur, Sibugay and from Leon Postigo as well. They have excavated about 200 pits but only six of these holes yielded gold. If these miners would not leave the mining area despite the final notice given them, the mayor said he would really drive them away using police or military personnel.

“I wish to clarify that the local government of Leon Postigo is really firm on our stand against environmental degradation,” Mayor Tablezo said. The mining site is part of the forest reserve and watershed of the municipality. The mayor pictured out the destruction posed by the miners considering the land excavated out of the mountains and the countless trees they have cut for their timbering activities in the tunnels.

Barangay Pange in Siayan, Z.N. could be the country’s poorest barangay cited in 2003 by the National Statistics Coordination Board. It could be that it has been alienated from the province due to the absence of road and the dangerous terrain in reaching there. However, last Friday, September 21 was its luckiest day as Provincial Governor Rolando Yebes, accompanied by the different heads of offices and the local government of Siayan, gave their services to the residents. “Pagkalayo kaayo, danlog ug pangpang pa gyod,” one member of the team commented, adding that they had to walk at time since the road had just been constructed and the rains continually poured.

Yebes officially launched the Hi-Green Village, which aims to provide the barangay its own nursery. He also promised Pange that he would construct a barangay hall since for the first time a road from Barangay Macasing was already constructed connecting it to Barangay Pange. Dr. Carmencita Icao of the Provincial Health Office extended health and dental services to the people as well as the Provincial Veterinarian’s Office, Provincial Nutrition Office and other government agencies.

On the other hand, Provincial Schools superintendent Habib Adzhar Sarahadil wnet with the team also and promised additional teachers for the barangay.

 Others who were with the governor were: Pro’vl Atty. Jes Gal Sarmiento, Jr. Prov’l Tourism Officer Atty. Ivan Patrick Ang, OIC Prov’l Engineer Ramon Ochotorena, CDAU Head Ronilo Pacilan, Budget Officer Mary Joy Abitona, Prov’l Accountant Marivic Carpitanos, Motorpool Chief Engineer Dennis Tenorio, Prov’l Agriculturist Atty. Bernardo Concha and Maybelle Bustaliño. 

The P1.3B coastal road project in Sibuco-Sirawai-Siocon-Baliguian towns was reportedly delayed due to the peace and order situation in these towns.  Thus, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo recently ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways to end all contracts and let the military handle the project.PGMA told newsmen at the Zamboanga del Norte Medical Center during the recent inauguration of the hospital here that she had already ordered Maj. Gen. Nehemias Pajarito of the 1st Tabak Division in Pulakan, Zamboanga del Sur to handle the completion of the road project.

The contractors allegedly blamed the peace and order situation in these towns that caused the delay in the completion of the project which was directly financed by Malacañang. “I want the people in these towns be interconnected through the coastal road and I want it to be completed soon,” PGMA stressed.

It could hurt the Zamboangueños but President Gloria M. Arroyo recently ordered the transfer of the regional seat, from Zamboanga City to Pagadian City. During the 56th Founding Anniversary of Zamboanga del Sur which PGMA attended, she had formally exhorted all government offices to move to Pagadian City. PGMA stressed the enormous amount appropriated by Malacañang for the complete transfer, yet until now some offices were still adamant to move.

Thirteen Volunteer Probation Aides (VPAs) of Dapitan Shrine VPA Association attended the Echo Seminar-Workshop on Management of Drug Cases on August 31, 2007, at the national Historical Institute, Rizal Park, Dapitan City.

The said training was designed to equip the VPAs and the Probation and Parole Officers of Dapitan City, Dipolog City and Zamboanga del Norte parole and Probation Offices, who also attended the training for them to acquire necessary knowledge and skills in handling clients who have history of drug abuse.

In a bid to avert the proliferation of substandard imported products in the local market, the Department of Trade and Industry’s Bureau of Product Standards (DTI-BPS) imposes additional guidelines on the sale of implementation of Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) Scheme. DTI Consumer Welfare and Trade Regulation Undersecretary Zenaida C. Maglaya asserts, “These additional guidelines on the sale of imported DTI-regulated consumer products intend to further protect the interest and general welfare of both consumers and business by enabling distributors, dealers, wholesalers, retailers, and/or sellers as well as consumers to easily verify compliance of products with the safety and quality standards.”

Usec. Maglaya added that the issuance of these new guidelines is in response to the numerous reports of fake/false, invalid, and/or illegitimate ICC stickers on imported products sold in the local market. DTI-BPS Director Jesus L. Motoomull explains, “The supplementary guidelines specified under the BPS MC No. 90, which was issued on 04 September 2007, requires all importers with ICC Certificates to provide their distributors, dealers, wholesaler, retailers and/or sellers a copy of their ICC certificate/s.”

“Moreover, for traceability purposes, all importers, all importers shall present evidences such as documentation or certification that the products which they are supplying to their clients are within the scope of the ICC certificate issued by the Bureau,” adds Director Motoomull. The new guidelines also urge all distributors, dealers, wholesalers, retailers and/or sellers of imported products to demand for a copy of the ICC certificate/s and proper documentation of all products being supplied to them. Furthermore, they are encouraged to post a copy of the ICC certificate/s in their establishments and make it readily available to consumers or to any authority for verification purposes.

The DTI regulates the sale of critical consumer products that greatly affect life, property and health such as electrical and electronic devices, home appliances, building and construction materials, and, chemical and consumer products, through the BPS Product Certification Scheme. Under the Import Commodity Clearance Certification Scheme, all imported critical consumer products are required to undergo tests and inspection at the BPS Testing Center or any accredited laboratory of the Philippine Accreditation Office (PAO), prior to its sale. Then, the Bureau issues the ICC certificate to the importers whose products pass the safety and quality requirements of the relevant Philippine National Standard (PNS). With the ICC certificates, the importers are then authorized to affix the ICC Mark on their products.

Usec. Maglaya underscores, “With these extra guidelines. Wherein ICC certificates and the other documentation of imported products are made readily available, consumers can easily verify the authenticity the ICC mark on the products that they are about to purchase for ensured product quality and reliability.” “Thus, the Department advises all distributors, dealers, wholesalers, retailers and/or sellers to demand for copies of the ICC certificates and other important documents from their suppliers and reject imported products  without the required documents to help the government in curbing the pervasive distribution of substandard imported goods in the country,” stresses Usec. Maglaya.

In line with the move to help RP exporters be more competitive, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has reduced the requirements needed for the importation of raw materials for the manufacture of garments that are intended for the global markets. Exporters who import raw materials for garments exports through the bonded warehouse are no longer required to apply for import licenses prior to each importation. This was contained in Resolution No. 1 Series of 2007 of the Garments and Textile Import services (GTIS) Special Committee to rationalize the GTIS procedures and to support the government’s drive to eliminate red-tape.

“The DTI will continue to look for ways that would improve the Philippine business environment, reduce transaction costs, and make our export products more competitive in the world market. The elimination/reduction of export-related fees and charges will help in reducing the time and cost of processing export documents, thereby generating savings that can make our exporters more competitive,” said DTI Sr. Usec. Thomas Aquino. The resolution also eliminated the collection of fees for the following transactions: Registration of Subcontractors – P50.00, Accreditation of Subcontractors – P100.00; Bonded Manufacturing Warehouse (BMW) Filing Fee – P500.00; Customs Bonded Manufacturing Warehouse (CBMW) – P1,000.000. The elimination of import licenses for garments raw materials and scrapping of fees for BMWs and CBMWs are part of the government’s drive to improve the efficiency of government operations.

The government has also issued a series of executive orders and other directives to improve the efficiency services through the reduction of red tape. On May 18, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued Executive Order No. 428, which directs all government departments, bureaus, offices, and other agencies, including government owned and controlled corporations to simplify rules and regulations and reduce reportorial requirements to facilitate doing business and encourage more investments in the Philippines. Executive Order No. 554 (EO 554), which President Arroyo signed 03 August 2006, directed all departments, bureaus, commissions, agencies, offices and instrumentalities of the national government, including government-owned and/or controlled corporations, to improve the country’s export sector by eliminating the fees and charges imposed on export clearances, inspections, permits, certificates, and other documentation requirements.

EO 554 however cleared that the scrapping of fees does not completely mean the abolition of export commodity clearance requirements in keeping with international commitments and preservation of national interest as embodied under Executive Order 1016 Series of 1985. President Arroyo also issued Executive Order No. 557 on August 8, 2006, which established an anti-red tape task force. The Secretary of the DTI was appointed as head of the task force. The Anti-red Tape Task Force is composed of full time members from the Presidential Management Staff, the Commission on Information and Communications Technology, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Export Development Council Secretariat, and the National Anti-Poverty Commission.

Moreover, through Administrative Order 155, the DTI Secretary was appointed as Export Enforcer, who was tasked to ensure that all export-related efforts are effectively and efficiently carried out. As Export Enforcer, the DTI Secretary has the power to act in behalf of the President on decisions reached by the Export Development Council (EDC), implement measures to lower the cost of doing business for exporters, call on all government agencies under the executive branch to implement such decisions, report on such implementation and exercise the EDC mandate of imposing sanctions on any government agency or officer or employee thereof.

Spouses Felix and Felisa Gahuman, both Volunteer Probation Aide (VPAs) of Dapitan City Parole and Probation Office, donated 60-square meter lot to Dapitan Shrine Volunteer Probation Aide Association Multi- Purpose Cooperative. Both teachers by profession, the spouses signed the Deed of Donation on September 12, 2007, out of their great concern for the rehabilitation of the probationers, paroles and pardonees; which in effect redound to the betterment of the entire community.

Dapitan Shrine VPAA through its President Margarito T. Pacilan has envisioned of constructing a two-story multi-purpose building on the donated lot, which will serve as a Community Learning Center for the alternative Learning System introduced to the clients and other community members by the Department of Education, as a Training Center of the VPAA Association/Cooperative, and as its office.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Peter B. Favila recently signed Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 06 series of 2007 entitled ‘Revised Schedule of Administrative Fines for Violations of the Consumer Act of the Philippines and some Trade and Industry Laws’ to further strengthen the implementation  of laws on consumer welfare and protection and certain fair trade laws.

DAO 06 is a result of a series of consultations attended by representatives from DTI field offices, industry groups and other pro-active consumer organizations. DAO 06 replaces DAO No. 07 series of 1999. It provides for a reasonable increase in fines imposed which is meant to effectively implement Republic Act 7394 also known as ‘The Consumer Act of the Philippines” DAO No. 06 imposes varying levels of fines as it takes into consideration the capitalization and category of establishments. For example, under the new schedule of fines, a retailer found guilty of engaging in deceptive sales practices shall be fined up to a maximum of P180, 000.00. Meanwhile, a wholesaler, distributor, manufacturer or importer found guilty of the same offenses shall be penalized up to a maximum of P300, 000.00.

The Department of Trade and Industry requested all the TV networks to submit the mechanics of its game shows. We have requested ABS-CBN management to give us a copy of the Wowowee game rule mechanics and requested them to appear next week, Undersecretary for Consumer Welfare Zenaida C. Maglaya sai. “We have also requested all TV networks to give a copy the mechanics of all the games shows that are being aired. The investigation is not only for the Wowowee game show.” The Department clarified that it is the game under investigation not the host. “We have to determine who really is responsible for the game show – who conceptualized and who implemented the game.”

Mechanics to be reviewed include transparency, how contestants are chosen, and how prizes are given, Undersecretary Maglaya said. “The DTI investigation will determine if the mechanics of game shows are followed.” Moreover, Maglaya added, the investigation will also determine if there is a need to further strengthen the provision in the Consumer Act thruamneding the Implemeting Rules and Regulation or thru legislation. If there is a need to amend the law we will ask the Senate and Congress for help. “If the need is to amend the rules which the DTI can do, then we will do it ourselves.”

The trade undersecretary cited Ruel XII, Section 10.2 of the Consumer Act thar place game shows under DTI jurisdiction: “Parlor games, whether held live during stage shows, parties, special occasions, and, and/or utilizing any form of mass media where the qualification to be a participant and/or a home partner of the winner does not require the purchase of lease of any consumer product or service of the availment of the a consumer credit facility and/or the sending or presentation of any proof thereof;”

DISMAYADO karon ang kadaghanan sa mga miyembro sa Dipolog PNP ilabina sa usa ka team nga misikop sa duha ka mga tawo nga kadudahan ug lihok nga nakuhaan ug duha ka armas ug duha ka granada. Niadtong Lunes sa udto gisikop sa nagpatrolyang polis ang duha

The idea of postponing the conduct of the barangay and the sangguniang kabataan (SK) elections to year 2009 may sound logical to some as such is anchored on savings the precious money from our national treasury. The government, the Congressmen said, will be spending much of its funds — a good waste, so to speak— for the conduct of such elections. This is certainly the reason why the Lower Chamber of the Philippine Congress has to hastily pass its bill to defer our barangay and SK elections to year 2009. However, in some instances, a Lower House-initiated bill cannot just be too effective (like the bill it passed postponing the conduct of barangay and SK elections) if it will not have its congruent bill from the Upper House. How much time do we have to pass this congruent bill coming from the Senate to proceed with the plan of postponing such elections by 2009? I don’t think we have enough time to fulfill the famous Nur Misuari’s line: “What man has done, man can undone”!

Admittedly, our Congressmen and Senators possess of an exclusive authority to draft bills for the president to sign them into laws. If they can make laws, they can also unmake laws through amendments and repeal. This is one of the quintessence of our legal system. But what if the Senate is timid enough to pass the much needed congruent bill, as it is now showing their no-interest attitude? Then that’s the end of Congressmen’s wish! Even assuming that senators would do their counterpart bill, if the president will not sign it into law, right there we cannot expect of the postponement of such elections. Override the presidential veto? Well, that’s consuming much of our time to think, much as we lack the material time to beat the day of such elections.

To most of us, holding such elections is a must. It will uphold the particulate power of our people to elect, for their greater interest and welfare, their leaders in the barangay level. Their voice should be heard this time. They should be given the authority to cast out debauched barangay officials and replace them with those whom they believed to have the rightful place to lead them. The present sets of our barangay and SK officials have already served too long a time. Our people’s voice deserves to be heard. Let’s us give them this time their right to choose their leaders.