A lawmaker suggested that Vice President Sara Duterte’s
reaction to the Philippine National Police (PNP) reducing her
security detail was an attempt to divert attention from the
criticism she faced for traveling to Germany during the
onslaught of Typhoon Carina.
Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua dismissed the idea that politics were involved, saying the controversy over the Vice
President’s security detail could be a strategic move to shift focus away from her actions during a critical time.
“On the contrary, tingin ko wala namang pamumulitika akong nakikita. Baka mamaya dina-divert lang niya ang issue dahil naalala ninyo sumagot siya tungkol dito nung pumutok ang
issue na siya ay nagpunta sa Germany sa kasagsagan ng bagyo,” Chua said during a press conference at the House of Representatives.
Chua was reacting to the Vice President’s open letter to PNP chief Gen. Romel Francisco Marbil, accusing him of lying about the reasons for pulling out
her security detail.
Marbil had earlier ordered the transfer of 75 police officers from Duterte’s personal protection detail to other assignments, particularly in Metro Manila.
Chua expressed support for the PNP’s decision as he underscored the need to respect its judgment and >>>PAGE 2
To elevate the safety standards in the country's tourist destinations, the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Department of Health (DOH), and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), have officially partnered to establish the country's first Tourist First Aid Facilities.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, Jr., and TIEZA Chief Operating Officer (COO) Mark Lapid, represented by Assistant COO Atty. Joy Bulauitan, ceremonially signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) held in Makati City on Monday (July 29).
DOT Assistant Secretary Judilyn Quiachon, TIEZA ACOO Atty. Karen Mae Sarinas-Baydo, and DOH Undersecretary Dr. Elmer
Punzalan served as witnesses.
Emphasizing the importance of prioritizing tourist safety, the tourism chief said: “It is with immense gratitude that the Department of Health, under the leadership of Secretary Ted Herbosa, has accepted our proposal for a convergence to prioritize tourist safety. With the infrastructure to be built by TIEZA, we shall tap the expertise of the Department of Health in the operation of healthcare facilities, as well as the experience of their
personnel in handling emergencies and providing immediate intervention to safeguard the lives of our tourists.”
According to Frasco, the United Nations Tourism has declared health, safety, security, and hygiene crucial for tourism sustainability and competitiveness.
“If our tourists become ill or injured during a trip to any of our island destinations, >>>PAGE 2
SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Tuesday swiftly mobilized his colleagues to help thousands of fisherfolk in four provinces affected by the recent oil spill in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to bring immediate aid to the people affected by calamities.
“Hindi na natin hihintayin na humingi sila ng tulong sa atin. Tayo na ang lalapit sa kanila para alamin kung ano ang tulong na kailangan nila sa atin at sa gobyerno,” he said.
"The livelihood of our fisherfolk is at stake. We >>>PAGE 2
MANILA 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua on Tuesday urged former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque to be honest about his ties to two foreign nationals arrested in a house in Tuba, Benguet, owned by a company where he is an incorporator.
“Bilang dati pong opisyal ng gobyerno, tingin ko dapat din ay maging honest siya at sabihin niya talaga kung ano ang kanyang kinalaman po dito," Chua said in a press conference at the House of Representatives.
Roque admitted during a recent Senate hearing that he had an “interest” in the corporation that owns the property where two
Chinese nationals linked to an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Bamban, Tarlac, were arrested for alleged visa violations.
The house was raided after the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission received information that a Chinese woman, wanted in connection with the Bamban raid, was there.
"Iyong pagkakasangkot po ni Secretary Roque dito sa Benguet raid, alam niyo po nakakalungkot dahil unang-una dapat talagang imbestigahan dahil iyong mga ganitong klaseng aktibidad dapat po talaga ay sinusuri natin dahil ang integridad ng ating gobyerno ang nakukwestyon po dito," Chua pointed out.
THE findings of the House Committee on Human Rights could serve as evidence in the International Criminal Court (ICC) probe into alleged crimes against humanity by former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and other officials of his administration.
Executives from Manila Electric Company (Meralco) said the Philippines should embrace nuclear energy beyond the proposed micromodular reactors (MMRs) and adopt conventional nuclear reactors to hit its energy goals of 1,2000 megawatts of nuclear power by 2022.
Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez gave this assurance during Monday’s hearing of the committee’s inquiry into the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) related to the Duterte administration’s controversial war on drugs.
“The outcome of this investigation can be used in filing in different courts, and can be used also as evidence in the ICC,” Fernandez said, after former senator Leila De Lima—who testified before the committee for the first time—expressed concerns about thoroughness and impact of local investigations into the bloody drug war of the previous administration.
Fernandez’s assurance also addressed recent comments by Duterte’s former police chief, now Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who questioned the House panel’s authority to conduct the probe.
“We are an independent body, and we are discussing this thoroughly. It will be dependent on the chairman what to do with the committee report. And that can be used by anybody, particularly those victims of the [war on drugs],” Fernandez said, indicating willingness to cooperate with international bodies, potentially diverging from the executive department’s >>>PAGE 2
In a press briefing, Meralco executive vice president and chief operations officer Ronnie Aperocho said the 1,200 MW nuclear energy target is too ambitious for MMR technology alone but should include larger nuclear reactors in the mix.
“If the government has this plan to have 1,200 MW of nuclear (power) by 2032, micro modular (reactor) is not enough. We need to look into SMR and maybe conventional nuclear,” Aperocho said.
Under the Department of Energy (DOE) Clean Energy Scenario (CES) 1, the country is projected to have installed 1,200 MW of nuclear capacity by 2032, an additional 1,200 MW capacity by 2035, and another 2,400 MW by
2050. Aperocho said nuclear energy technologies should be included in the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) review. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. urged lawmakers to revisit the law to address the country’s high electricity rates.
“Talking about EPIRA, supporting BBM’s (Bongbong Marcos) mandate to build infrastructure, we think that (the) nuclear power plant is part of that infrastructure for us to really address the power problems in the country,” he added.
Meralco chairman and chief executive officer Manuel V. Pangilinan also told reporters that with the complexity of developing MMR and SMR, the deployment of these >>>PAGE 2
THE House of Representatives is confident in approving the 2025 national budget before the October recess, as promised by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, citing the early submission of the National Expenditure Program (NEP) and the vigorous efforts of its members.
In a press conference on Tuesday, House Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe and Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. emphasized the importance of adhering to the timeline to ensure the Senate has ample time to review the measure.
"Every budget process is very challenging. As much as possible, we want to work on deadline and transmit it before the October break,” Dalipe said.
“Our counterparts in the Senate also have to work on it, so we are aiming to approve the House General Appropriations Bill (GAB) on third reading by the third or fourth week of September,” added the representative of Zamboanga City’s 2nd District.
According to the legislative calendar, Congress will be on recess from September 28 to November 3.
Dalipe said the >>>PAGE 2
LEADERS of the House of Representatives on Tuesday assured that ample support will be given to the defense of the country’s territory and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the proposed P6.352 trillion 2025 national budget, saying that lawmakers will provide sufficient funding for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
During Tuesday’s daily press briefing, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. and House Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe both said budget deliberations on the National Expenditure Program (NEP) will be reflective of the desires of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in his recent SONA.
“The policy is always being set by the President and we take guidance from his SONA, and everyone in the House (of Representatives) knows how the President gives importance on defending our national territory and integrity,” said Dalipe.
“So, we in the House of Representatives take cue from the pronouncement of President Bongbong Marcos and no doubt,
I think each member of the majority bloc would be in full support of the President in giving more support to the Philippines Coast Guard and all other agencies that would help protect … especially our fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea,” he said. “So, susuportahan po namin yung pronouncement ni Presidente.”
The House of Representatives is set to deliberate next week on the 2025 NEP submitted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) three weeks before the constitutionally mandated deadline.
Gonzales echoed the statements of Dalipe, saying that House members led by Speaker Ferdinand >>>PAGE 2