PRRD impresses Saudis as gov't scores better terms for OFW

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, April 13 (PNA) -– President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a resounding success in terms of improving the lot of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and strengthening the Philippines’ ties with the Middle East country.

This is the assessment of cabinet secretaries who were part of the delegation during a press briefing held at the Marriott Courtyard yesterday.

Aside from Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar and Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella, ACTS OFW Party-list Rep. Aniceto Bertiz III, Department of Foreign Affairs Acting Secretary Enrique Manalo, Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III , and Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez attended and faced the Filipino media.

Cabinet members stressed that members of the Saudi government were singularly impressed with Duterte’s governance style and were receptive about the prospects of expanding business ties with the country.

“We can explain the President’s visit here in three aspects: people, progress and partnership,” Secretary Manalo said as he stressed that Saudi Arabia is the top employment destination for Filipinos and is a major producer of fuel consumed in the Philippines.

“We also consider this trip as something aimed at creating progress, that is to draw investors to the Philippines by showing potential investors that the Philippines is a viable destination for doing their business, and the fact that we also have a huge and fairly young population in the Philippines, ” Manalo added.

Manalo pointed out that the delegation hopes to engage Saudi investments to Mindanao especially and particularly “its sectors of halal food security, energy security and tourism."

“We believe the ties will greatly benefit the Philippines and the Filipinos, and will strengthen counter-terrorism, combatting illegal drugs as well as economic partnership.”

For his part, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said his counterpart in the Saudi government also agreed to negotiate on new rules to improve working conditions for Filipino overseas workers.

“We are meeting with the Minister of Labor regarding the bilateral agreements that we signed yesterday. Basically, these agreements refer to the labor standards that provided our OFWs with rules on better wages, protection from maltreatment, working hours and other labor issues,” Bello said.

Bello announced that his request that more than 160 runaway workers who are stranded in shelters in Saudi be allowed to return to the Philippines has been granted by the Saudi government and will be allowed to fly home in time for the President’s return.

Strong earthquake damages properties in Bukidnon, Lanao del Sur

By Jigger J. Jerusalem

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 12 (PNA) – Several properties were damaged as a Magnitude 6 earthquake jolted parts of Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur provinces early Wednesday morning.

Initial reports coming from the local governments of Wao in Lanao del Sur and Kalilangan in Bukidnon said residential structures and public buildings were damaged by the tremor that struck at around 5:21 a.m. on Wednesday. One person was reported slightly injured.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) first reported the earthquake’s epicenter in Kalilangan but later changed it to Wao.

Francis Garcia, chief of the Wao Municipal Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO), said in a phone interview Wednesday morning that based on their initial assessment, about 30 houses were partially damaged in the villages of West Kili-kili, Extension Poblacion, Serran, Panang and Balatin.

In Panang, two mosques were damaged while a portion of the national highway had slight cracks.

The walls of some buildings at the Kili-kili National High School also cracked due to the quake, which Phivolcs said was of tectonic origin.

Panang barangay chairman Arsenio Delos Reyes said in an interview that 40-year-old Jorie Sagon was slightly wounded when a hollowblock fell on her right foot.

Garcia said the people went back to their homes after the earthquake, except for the families living in four houses made of light materials, who temporarily sought shelter at their relatives.

In Kalilangan, the municipal government building was damaged.

Jennie Tamano, Lanao del Sur provincial information officer, said the quake also caused power outages across the province. Electricity was restored later in the morning.

Tamano said patients in the upper floor of a still unnamed hospital were evacuated to the ground floor when the tremor started.

Based on the Phivolcs report, the earthquake at Wao and Kalilangan was felt at Intensity 7.

Intensity 4 was felt in Cagayan de Oro City, Cotabato City, Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental, Matalam in North Cotabato and Davao City.

Intensity 3 was recorded in Kabacan, North Cotabato; Maramag, Quezon and Don Carlos in Bukidnon; and Lebak in Sultan Kudarat.Intensity 2 was felt in the cities of Kidapawan in North Cotabato and Koronadal in South Cotabato.The quake was also felt in Camiguin and Misamis Oriental provinces (Intensity 1). (PNA)

Ex-FG Mike Arroyo asks Sandiganbayan to allow him to travel to Europe

MANILA, April 12 (PNA) -- Former First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo has asked the Sandiganbayan to allow him to travel for one month to seven countries in Europe in May.

In his motion filed before the Sandiganbayan's Seventh Division, Arroyo asked permission to travel to Spain, France, Denmark, Norway, Hungary, Czech Republic and Italy from May 15 to 17, 2017.

He said that he was previously allowed to travel to other countries and that he never failed to return to the Philippines on the scheduled date.

Arroyo added that his family was also in the Philippines, as well as his business interest.

"Accused-movant humbly submits that, while facing charges before this Honorable Court, he continuously enjoys the right to be presumed innocent until proven otherwise," Arroyo's motion said.

Arroyo is facing graft charges for his alleged involvement in the irregularity in the purchase made by the Philippine National Police (PNP) of two helicopters in 2009.

The Office of the Ombudsman (Ombudsman) has filed graft charges against Arroyo and 19 others, including former PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa, for the purchase of Php 34.6-million worth of "second-hand" helicopters which were sold to th

Duterte fires Palace Usec over rice importation controversy

By Cielito M. Reganit

MANILA, April 5 (PNA) -- President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said he has just fired an Undersecretary for allegedly attempting to reverse a National Food Authority (NFA) decision to put rice importation activities on hold while the harvest season is in full swing.

In his speech during a harvest festival in Talavera, Nueva Ecija, the President said he was ‘appalled’ on learning that a female Undersecretary reviewed the decision of (NFA administrator) Jaon Aquino denying the importation of rice.

“Eh istorya-istorya na gustong magbigay. And it was appealed doon mismo sa Malacañan. So part of the Office of the President ‘yan. May isang undersecretary na babae, hold over ‘yan, pagusapan namin sa chopper kanina,” he said.

“Sabi ko, ‘Anong mukha ko na iharap sa mga farmers?’ na why would we allow importation to compete with the local product? Hanggang ngayon, hindi ko mabasa anong ginawa nilang rason. Of course hindi natuloy kasi binara ko. Subsequently, sabi ko stop. Open market na tayo, but you know you have to protect the Filipino,” Duterte said.

The President said he gave the order to dismiss the official upon landing in Nueva Ecija.

“Kaya sabi ko kanina papunta ako dito, pa-landing sabi ko tawagan mo Malacañang, sabihin mo she’s fired,” he said.

He added that at least five more officials will be axed within the week.

“Pangalawa siya. May isa pa, may dalawa pang undersecretary. So bale at the end of the day, mamaya meron ng mga lima in a week. Eh hindi ako magdadalawang isip, maski kaibigan kita,” Duterte said.

Later in the sidelines, Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol identified the fired official as Undersecretary Maia Chiara Halmen Reina Valdez of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary.

Piñol told reporters that Valdez was fired for overruling Aquino's decision to suspend rice importation as it is still harvest season in the Philippines. (PNA)

Federalism to result in peace in Mindanao -- Pimentel

MANILA, April 4 (PNA) -- Although the adoption of a federal system of government would take time, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said this would eventually result in peace in Mindanao.

Pimentel stressed this point during the recent 136th Interparliamentary Union Assembly noting that “some rebel groups therein have been clamoring for decades for some kind of autonomy rule."

He pointed out federalism would act as "chosen weapon to fight the inter-generational problems of poverty, inequality, and the societal instability” and urged other legislators to be open to this type of change.

"Let us be open to challenging the status quo and make the attitudinal change of entertaining outside of the box solutions to inter-generational problems," Pimentel said.

Aside from resulting in peace, he said that the shift to federalism would also encourage the preservation of the culture, language, and other practices and beliefs of the country's numerous ethno-linguistic groups.

Moreover, he said the Philippines continued to grapple with "the wealth gap."

"The Philippines is too familiar with this wealth gap, especially the gap which exists within the country. Last year, our economy again posted a strong 6.6 percent growth in GDP, following steady growth in the previous years -- but it has yet to be truly felt by the majority of our citizens, especially the poor that still comprise a little more than 1/4 of our population,” Pimentel said.

He said that contributing to this problem was the fact that the Philippines is a unitary state, with more than 60 percent of its GDP generated in Metro Manila and the areas near the national capital.

"…The poorest and least developed areas of the Philippines are found in the far south of the capital, in the island called Mindanao. In short, the richest areas in the Philippines are the capital and those closest to it. The poorest are those farthest from the capital," he noted.

He further said that the shift to federalism would involve the regions in national decision making and accelerate the economic development of regions.

Under the proposed federalism plan of President Rodrigo Duterte, the country will be divided into 11 regions.

The country’s adoption of federalism is one of the major thrusts of President Duterte, who is also the first president from Mindanao. (PNA)

Sacking of Sueno shows Duterte's zeal for trustworthy gov't

MANILA, April 4 (PNA) -- The summary dismissal of Interior Secretary Ismail Sueno from the Cabinet just shows that "President Rodrigo Duterte is very serious in restoring public trust in government," a Malacañang official said Tuesday.

In a Palace briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the dismissal of one of the President’s close allies served as a warning that Duterte would not countenance any questionable or legally untenable decisions by any member of the Cabinet.

“But I think, more than the details of the situation, I think we need to take into more serious account the implication of this thing that it was done in a sense publicly in front of all the Cabinet members. And also that the President has allowed a public explanation of the matter,” the Palace official said.

He said that Duterte has kept on repeating that one of the problems of the Philippines is that the Filipinos have lost trust in the government.

“But by addressing it so firmly and so with decisiveness, it just goes to show how deeply invested the President is in nation building,” he said.

“The Secretary (Sueno) had, in fact, been instrumental in convincing the President to run for election, but this did not deter the President from pursuing his drive for a trustworthy government by addressing issues like corruption,” Abella said.

Earlier, the Palace Spokesperson confirmed the dismissal of Sueno and said that the Cabinet official was dismissed by Duterte due to “loss of trust and confidence.”

He said that the dismissal was announced toward the end of the 14th Cabinet Meeting on Monday night.

Abella said that Duterte talked with Sueno at the start of the meeting and asked some questions regarding certain activities.

When pressed on what really led to the dismissal, Abella said that “the President has done due diligence and so he has checked into the matter and apparently he has taken note of several legally untenable situations.”

He also refused to bare the details, saying only that “Duterte has apparently some insight into the situation.”

Sueno is the second major Cabinet official to be dismissed due to allegations of corruption.

Just last month, Peter Tiu Laviña, who served as Duterte’s campaign spokesman, was sacked as head of the National Irrigation Administration.

In the meantime, Abella said there was no replacement yet for Sueno, (PNA)

CIELITO M. REGANIT

Duterte calls out critics for making a fuss over 'oxygen converter'

MANILA, March 30 (PNA) -- President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday called out his critics for seemingly making a big fuss about the “oxygen converter” found in his bedroom stressing that it is nothing new since he had already disclosed his health woes when he ran for the Presidency.

In his speech during the oath-taking ceremonies for newly-appointed government officials, the President scored critics for taking potshots over his supposed use of the contraption.

Earlier, photos of the "oxygen converter" beside Duterte's bed on Wednesday has fanned speculations about his health on social media.

“Kagaya nung picture sa ‘yung birthday ko -- kasi ‘yung na-picturan ‘yung kuwarto ko may converter sa oxygen, karami na namang ano,” he said.

But he said the contraption should not be an issue anymore since everybody knew beforehand about his afflictions.

“Di ba sinabi ko sa inyo, I never lied. Tinatanong ako doon sa debates: anong sakit mo? Sabi ko Barrett dito sa inom pati ano, Buerger’s because of smoking,” the President said.

During the campaign, Duterte admitted that he had Barrett’s esophagus and Buerger's disease.

Because of these, the President said he has long been using the ‘oxygen converter’ whenever he sleeps to promote circulation.

“So ang circulation ko hindi maganda, lack of oxygenation. Ako gagamitin ko ‘yun kasi ang brain ko daw suffers lack of oxygenation. Matagal ko nang ginamit ‘yan. When I said that I -- wala akong tinago eh. May nakita nila ‘yung parang oxygen. It’s not really an oxygen, it’s a converter. Wala naman akong tinago,” Duterte said.

He said that the oxygen converter is even used as a beauty product and proceeded to tease the women in the audience to use it.

“If you want to remain beautiful, use it, it’s good. Totoo. That’s sinabi ng mga doctor. Sabi ng mga doctor, use it kasi kung babae ka para gumanda ka lalo,” Duterte said. (PNA)

CIELITO M. REGANIT