The 2017 Surigao earthquake or 2017 Northeastern Mindanao earthquake, occurred on February 10, 2017 at 10:03 PST, with a moment magnitude of 6.5 and a maximum Intensity VII (Destructive) off the coast of Surigao del Norte in the Philippines. In the past Surigao province experienced a Magnitude 7.2 tremor in 1879 and in 1893.
#DSWD #Duterte #Surigao #SurigaoCity #Earthquake
Senator Leila de Lima said Monday she is preparing for the “worst-case scenario” as the resolution on drug-related cases filed against her is expected this week.
“I have been preparing for the worst-case scenario kasi katuparan lang ‘yan ng matagal nang inuutos ng Pangulo,” De Lima told reporters in an interview.
“Ilang beses na niyang sinasabi na he (President Rodrigo Duterte) wants me locked up in jail to suffer the fate of the former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. That is his words, not mine,” the senator added.
Arroyo, now Pampanga congresswoman, was ordered released from hospital arrest in July last year, after being detained in a Quezon City hospital since 2011 over plunder.
De Lima said the Department of Justice (DOJ) is “rushing” the filing of charges against her before a Regional Trial Court instead of the Ombudsman, which has jurisdiction over elected officials.
“Alam nila ‘yan na hindi ‘yan yung tamang pamamaraan. Pero ‘yun daw ang gagawin dahil alam nila na ‘pag nandyan na sa Ombudsman, hindi naman agad mag-prosper ‘yung kaso,” De Lima said.
She said the DOJ’s strategy is to file charges before a regular court to immediately secure an arrest warrant against her.
Aguirre denies De Lima’s claim
In a statement, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II denied De Lima’s claim that the DOJ was expediting the issuance of an arrest warrant against her.
“It is totally irresponsible of her to announce that the DOJ is expediting the issuance of such warrants. That is a blatant lie and a total misinformation,” Aguirre said.
“Senator De Lima’s motivation for saying such is beyond us. It is a totally irresponsible statement. It implies that we can control or influence our courts. We do not do that, at least in my time as Secretary of Justice. It might be what was done during her time at the DOJ but definitely it will not be done during my time,” he added.
In the meantime, De Lima said she will continue with her legislative work.
“Siyempre po. Hintayin ko na lang po ‘yun,” she said.
By KATHRINA CHARMAINE ALVAREZ, GMA News
With a report from Virgil Lopez/ALG/KG, GMA News
February 13, 2017
************************************
Senator Leila de Lima on Thursday claimed that former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, along with “one or two” senators charged over the pork barrel scam are allegedly using President Rodrigo Duterte to exact their own revenge against her.
In a media briefing at the Senate, De Lima said “powerful” personalities whom she had investigated in the past have allegedly formed political alliances to make her life difficult.
“I’m referring to personalities lalo na the powerful ones na natapakan ko nung ginagawa ko yung trabaho ko as secretary of Justice,” said De Lima, who was the Secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ) during the previous Aquino administration.
“[These involve] high-profile cases. Some people keep on blaming me until now dun sa pagharang ko nung lalabas sa bansa yung dating Pangulo (Arroyo), diba? And even the President is saying na I will suffer daw the same fate of former President GMA. In other words, I will rot in jail,” De Lima said.
The senator was referring to a 2011 incident when Arroyo, now congresswoman of Pampanga, failed to leave the country after Immigration officials barred her from boarding her flight.
Arroyo failed to leave despite a Supreme Court (SC) order stopping the government from enforcing watch list orders against her.
De Lima, already the DOJ Secretary then, had said that she ordered the Bureau of Immigration (BI) that the watch list will be enforced as the government has yet to receive a copy of the SC order then.
Senator De Lima also pointed to a lawyer of former President Arroyo and a “powerful religious bloc” who was also reportedly “angry” with her.
“Dahil nga mag-kakampi na sila ngayon, may political alliances sila, GMA forces, and then yung mga PDAF senators. Alam ko meron silang mga tao na mga inuutusan diyan to also make my life difficult,” De Lima said.
“These are the forces na may alliances na sila ngayon with the President. Nakapasok sila sa Pangulo, naka-access na sila sa kanya politically and therefore ginagamit nila yung galit sakin ng Pangulo para tulungan ang Pangulo for their own respective agenda, which is also to get back to me. Payback time ang nasa isip nila,” the senator added.
Asked whether she thinks Arroyo herself was behind the efforts against her, De Lima said: “I think so.”
PDAF senators
De Lima said “one or two” senators charged for their involvement in the multi-billion priority development assistance fund (PDAF) scam also have an axe to grind with her.
“Baka hindi yung lahat na tatlo. Baka isa o dalawa lang. That’s based on my own information but as I said I cannot validate fully or conclusively,” she said.
Three former senators — Jinggoy Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile, and Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. — have been jailed over the PDAF scam. Enrile is currently out on bail.
De Lima recalled that in a past confirmation hearing by the Commission on Appointments (CA), one of the members opposed her appointment and threatened to reveal an alleged sex video.
“Yung nagbanta na ipalabas yung alleged sex video, alam ko ginamit sa kanila nung isa sa tatlong PDAF senators…I don’t have to name him. I think you know,” she said. De Lima was referring to then Senator Estrada.
De Lima said she will maintain her innocence on the accusations hurled by Duterte and her other critics until her last breath.
Mocha Uson Blog post (February 10, 2017)
**********************
February 9, 2017
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Senator Leila De Lima said she has received information from a reliable source that she might be arrested anytime soon as the authorities are allegedly fastracking the consolidated drug trafficking cases against her.
“Ang plano na daw ngayon ng DOJ is idi-diretso nila sa regular courts para makakuha agad ng warrant of arrest,” De Lima said on Wednesday.
[Translation: The DOJ is planning to file it before a regular court so they can get the warrant of arrest.]
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, meanwhile, said on Thursday the resolution on De Lima’s cases will be out soon. He said some cases will be elevated to the Ombudsman, while some will be turned over to the Regional Trial Court, which case can issue an arrest warrant.
Consolidated cases of drug trafficking were filed against De Lima by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), former National Bureau of Investigation deputy directors Reynaldo Esmeralda and Ruel Lasala, the National Bureau of Investigation, and inmate Jaybee Sebastian.
Another case filed against De Lima is in connection with Kerwin Espinosa’s drug operations.
She said it will allegedly be submitted for resolution even if she has a pending petition with the Court of Appeals.
“So the case is submitted for reso without my counter affidavit kasi kinukwestyon ko talaga yung jurisdiction…Dapat idiretso ho nila yan sa Ombudsman and the Ombudsman will do its own prelim investigation,” De Lima said.
[Translation: The case was submitted for resolution without my counter affidavit; I’m questioning their jurisdiction, because it should be filed at the Ombudsman, which will do its own preliminary investigation.]
She has filed for an Ombibus motion to elevate the case to the Ombudsman, in order for the the DOJ to be barred from handling the case. She has yet to get a temporary restraining order from the Court of Appeals.
The senator insists she is not involved in the illegal drugs trade.
She is even considering filing a case against Aguirre before the Ombudsman for allegedly protecting the drug lords who have testified against her at the House of Representatives.
The senator said she has received verified information about the privileges extended to them when they were brought at the AFP detention cell after testifying in Congress.
“I have proof na nung binalik na nila dun after they testified sa House, nirestore nila yung mga privileges, including the use of cellphones and other communication gadgets, dahil pangako daw yun ni SOJ sa kanila when they agreed to testify against me,” she said.
[Translation: I have proof that after they testified at the Lower House, their privileges were restored, including the use of cellphones and other communication gadgets. I was told it was the SOJ’s promise to them when they testified against me.]
Aguirre denied De Lima’s allegations.
He also pointed out her use of the term “restores,” which, he said, means the senator is admitting to wrongdoing.
“She must be referring to her stint as Secretary of Justice when such privileges abounded and were tolerated in the NBP,” he said.
CNN Philippines correspondent Cecille Lardizabal contributed to this report.
MANILA – Theoretically, Senator Leila De Lima is not immune from arrest if the Court issues a warrant on supposed drug charges to be filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ), Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said on Wednesday.
In an interview, Pimentel said that all senators including him and De Lima enjoyed immunity from arrest if the punishment on the case is not more than six years imprisonment.
“Okay, eto theoretical na lang, if a senator has a criminal case, a pending criminal case filed before the Prosecutor’s Office, before the court, the court issues a warrant of arrest, which involved imprisonment of more that six years, no exemption,” Pimentel explained.
Pimentel said that the Constitution does not speak of their exemption from arrest even if they enjoy some immunity and privileges under the law.
“But then even the privilege from arrest we do not enjoy if it’s beyond six years,” Pimentel said.
Pimentel further stressed that a senator cannot be arrested while Congress is in session.
“So kahit na six years and below (ang punishment sa kaso mo), and we are on break, puwede. Siyempre, di kami exempted from criminal liability ah. Wala sobra na yun. Yun lang yung mga kaunting concession ng State for legislators,” he stressed.
De Lima confirmed that a warrant of arrest may be issued by a court against her for the drug charges, which is not bailable, to be filed by the DOJ before a regular court, and thus, bypassing the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan.
“Very possible. Kaya nga I need to tell you that because I’ve been receiving information also, credible information from inside DOJ, na binibilisan na nga daw, minamadali na yung resolution na yan,” De Lima said referring to the two separate cases against her.
“I’m sure they will find a way to make it non-bailable. In fact, they were emphasizing the drug trafficking angle yesterday (Tuesday) to make the case fully cognizable by the regular court,” she added.
De Lima was talking about the four consolidated cases, filed by Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) together with former National Bureau of Investigation officials Reynaldo Esmeralda and Ruel Lasala and New Bilibid Prison inmate Jaybee Sebastian, which were consolidated by the DOJ.
The second set of cases, De Lima said, was about the accusation made by Kerwin Espinosa against her regarding the drug payola and campaign funds she received before she ran for senator.
De Lima said that she has no immunity from arrest since the case/s that will be filed are for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
“Walang immunity. It is in the Constitution, I am sure of that. There is a minimum penalty and certainly itong mga so-called charges sa akin na drug trafficking kuno, violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act kasi mixed na cases yan,” De Lima said.
With this, De Lima expressed hope that the Court of Appeals will issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) questioning the jurisdiction of the DOJ over her alleged cases.
In her petition for prohibition and certiorari, De Lima urged the CA to stop the proceedings at the DOJ and nullify the actions of the panel of prosecutors which she said are tainted with grave abuse of discretion.
In her petitions filed last Jan. 13 and 30, De Lima noted the obvious bias of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre as she sought the transfer of the cases to the Ombudsman, which has exclusive jurisdiction over cases against incumbent and former government officials.
“Well, I’m really hoping na makakuha na ako ng TRO. I already filed two motions, two successive urgent motions to resolve my prayer for TRO. Wala pa. Na-transfer na nga from one division to another yung kaso ko. Meron atang mga nag-i-inhibit na justices so I’ll wait for that eventuality and see what my lawyers can file again kapag nandyan na yan kapag finile na nila yung information in an RTC and then seek for an issuance of warrant of arrest. Non-bailable,” De Lima said.
She said that her legal team is already preparing for any eventuality, whatever would be the appropriate pleading to be filed, either with the Regional Trial Court, the Court of Appeals and even to the Supreme Court.
“So there are, I think, still available remedies but ang pinaka-tama sana is yung aksyunan na ng Court of Appeals yung two motions ko na to resolve my prayer for a TRO because I raised very substantive and valid grounds,” she said.
“Pero bakit hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring aksyon sa TRO? A prayer for TRO is deemed urgent and in-emphasize naman namin dun sa prayer for TRO na anytime soon, baka i-resolve na,” she added.
She said it is very clear under the Ombudsman Law and Sandiganbayan Law, and the Memorandum of Agreement between the DOJ and the Office of the Ombudsman that if one of the respondents is a public official whose Salary Grade is at least Grade 27, the Sandiganbayan has the primary jurisdiction. A Cabinet Secretary has a Salary Grade 31.
“The case would be under the exclusive jurisidiction of the Sandiganbayan. Kapag Sandiganbayan, Ombudsman dapat ang nagpi-PI, nagpi-preliminary investigation,” she said.
By: Ernie Reyes, InterAksyon.com
February 8, 2017
InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
Dalawa ang focus ng war on drugs: ang pigilan ang pagkalat ng droga sa bansa at ang drug rehabilitation, pero ano-ano nga ba ang mga nagiging balakid sa war on drugs:
1) Matigas na ulo ng ilang mga drug pusher at adik. Kahit sa dami ng sumuko sa gobyerno, marami pa rin ang hindi natatakot at patuloy pa rin sa ilegal nilang gawain. Paano natin irerehabilitate ang mga ayaw sumuko?
2) Narco politicians at mga tiwaling pulis. Marami ang mga nasa gobyerno mismo na involved sa kalakaran ng droga na maaaring ginagamit nila ang kanilang posisyon upang kalabanin ang war on drugs o patahimikin ang mga magtuturo sa kanila. Isang posibilidad na hindi na tinitignan ng iba dahil tila mas pabor sa kanila ang sabihin na kagagawan ng gobyerno ang mga patayan. Ang tanong ay bakit kaya?
3) Biased media. Nakikita naman natin ang mga hindi balanseng pagbabalita ng ilang media at nahahalata na rin natin na meron silang partikular na imaheng gustong ipinta sa Pangulo at dahil dito hindi balanse ang mga balitang nakukuha natin kaugnay sa mga ginagawa ng gobyerno sa war on drugs. Dahil sa hindi balanseng pagbabalita, marami ang nabibiktima lalo na sa international community na hinuhusgahan na agad ang ating gobyerno dahil sa mga patayan ngunit hindi napapansin ang mga proyekto ng gobyerno para sa rehabilitasyon.
MANILA, Philippines – Environment Secretary Gina Lopez yesterday said the mining closure order she issued to 23 mining firms has nothing to do with politics.
“I don’t do things because of politics. I don’t do things because I’ll get confirmed. It’s always for the common good (of the people) that is on my mind,” Lopez said.
She added she is not against mining but just wants people not to suffer.
She denied that due process was not followed when she issued an order regarding the closure of the mining companies for committing environmental violations.
“They were given a chance to explain and conduct remediation measures. I even flew in the subject areas but they failed.”
“We are not concerned with these business interests prompting extractive activities thus, affecting our water supply. Water is life,” Lopez said, referring to those doing activities near or along the watershed.
Last Thursday, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced the closure of 23 mining operations in several areas in the country.
The DENR chief said the firms could still appeal the decision before the Office of the President.
“The closure becomes final when the President says it is,” she said.
By Rhodina Villanueva (The Philippine Star) February 7, 2017
Environment Secretary Gina Lopez on Thursday announced an order for the closure of 23 mines, mainly for ruining watershed areas and “indiscriminate mining.”
“It is time for social justice. You cannot run your business and affect our farmers and fishermen. This is not acceptable under the Duterte administration and not acceptable under the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources),” Lopez said.
She also suspended five mining firms.
Following the mining industry’s disruption that involved some firms related to several publicly listed companies, the mining and oil index fell by 1.65 percent on Thursday. Shares of Benguet Corp. and Oriental Peninsula Resources Group Inc. slid by 10.38 percent.
Appeal to the President
Lopez said the mine operators could appeal the closure or suspension order to the President.
In a speech on Thursday, President Rodrigo Duterte said he had told Lopez to be fair and legal.
Four of the Zambales mines set to be closed are extracting nickel in a functional watershed, Lopez said.
Three mines in Homonhon in Eastern Samar province, she said, caused the “siltation of coastal waters (and) destruction of the watershed” on the island.
Lopez also ordered the closure of seven mines on Dinagat Islands.
Social injustice
“What happened in Dinagat is social injustice, the mountain was denuded,” she said. “Did you know that there is a natural bonsai forest in Dinagat? We can put an eco-lodge there. I want Dinagat to rest and maximize the bonsai forest for ecotourism.”
She also wanted shuttered seven mines in Surigao del Norte province.
The mines are operating mostly in a watershed and have caused siltation of nearby waters, she said.
“Water is life. To have any kind of mining operations in watersheds—not just proclaimed watersheds, even functional watersheds—is unacceptable. You cannot have any kind of mining operation in a watershed. That’s like saying, ‘The gold or nickel is more important than the water our people drink.’ We will not allow the water of our people to be at risk for any business interest,” she said.
“Especially in 2030, our scientists are telling us we’re going to have a water shortage. Our water levels are going down, climate change is coming,” she added.
She noted that Hinatuan Mining—part of Nickel Asia—caused the “destruction of the island” of the same name.
Half of PH nickel output
Of the mines facing closure, 17 are involved in nickel production. These firms altogether represented about half of the country’s annual nickel output, Lopez said.
The Philippines has been the world’s biggest supplier of nickel since 2012, following Indonesia’s ban on mineral exports.
In the wake of the mine closures, the environment chief said she was considering an “area development approach” in the affected communities, which largely entails developing ecotourism and natural resource-based industries.
Rehabilitation funds
She said she planned to use the mine rehabilitation funds from the closed mines for that venture.
Lopez reiterated that she was not opposed to mining but was against the suffering of people in communities that hosted mines.
“I don’t care about the money. I just care that our people should not suffer,” she said.
“Why should they suffer? So that the stock market goes up? What’s more important—the stock market or the well-being of our people?” she added.
Marcventures Holdings (MARC) president Isidro Alcantara Jr. said that while his company’s operations in Surigao del Sur were purportedly in a watershed, “our MPSA (mineral production sharing agreement) gives us ‘prior rights’ under the law.”
He added that “our operations are responsible and the waters in all rivers within MARC are clean.”
Lepanto said it had not violated any environmental laws. —WITH REPORTS FROM DORIS DUMLAO-ABADILLA AND ALLAN NAWAL Philippine Daily Inquirer February 03, 2017
Mocha Uson supports the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) under the leadership of Secretary Gina Lopez. Watch this video. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas. https://www.facebook.com/GinaLopezPH/videos/1653791634647822/ #Environment #DENR #GinaLopez #NoToMining
Mocha Uson Blog – Ano’ng masasabi niyo dito mga ka-DDS?
“The officials of the (CBCP) are apparently out of touch with the sentiments of the faithful who overwhelmingly support the changes in the Philippines – turning the nation into a safer place for families, working people, especially young night shift workers, far from the ‘terror’ the bishops paint rather dramatically,”— Presidential Spokesperson Sec. Ernesto Abella
News Philippines 