Pamunuan ng SM Malls, ipinatawag sa mandatory conference ng DOLE

Ipinatawag ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) sa mandatory conference ang pamunuan ng SM Malls dahil sa umano ay mga paglabag nito sa labor standards. Ayon kay DOLE Undersecretary Dominador Say, bukas isasagawa ang mandatory conference, kung saan inaatahasang humarap ang pamunuan ng SM Malls.

Ito ay makaraang makitaan umano ng mga paglabag ang SM sa labor standards.

Hindi naman na inisa-isa ni Say ang mga paglabag ng SM, pero isa sa binanggit nito ang aniya ay maghapong pagtayo ng mg saleslady sa lahat ng branch ng Mall.


Sinabi ni Say na sa kabuuan ng duty ng mga saleslady o salesman, sila ay maghapong nakatayo at hindi nakakaupo.

Kaugnay nito, sinabi naman ni DOLE Sec. Silvestre Bello III na unti-unti ay tumutugon naman na ang SM sa mahigpit na pagbabantay ng pamahalaan hinggil sa pagpapatupad ng contractualization o end of contract (ENDO) ng mga kumpanya.

Katunayan ayon kay Bello, umabot na sa 4,800 na mga manggagawa ang ni-regular sa mga SM Malls.

Tiniyak naman ni Bello na bagaman unti-unti ay nagreregular na ang SM ng kanilang mga manggagawa, hindi naman isasantabi ng DOLE ang mga makikitang paglabag nito sa labor standards.


Una nang sinabi ng labor group na Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) na ang SM ang number one violator kung ang pag-uusapan ay ang security of tenure ng mga manggagawa dahil mayroon itong 34,000 contractual employees nationwide.

BREAKING: Philippines’ extrajudicial violence traces roots to Aquino admin according to The New York Times

A New York Times article has confirmed what some of us have been saying all along – that the root of the problem in the Philippines that the current government is facing today can be traced to former President Benigno Simeon Aquino. It is funny though how it had to take foreigners to validate what Get Real Post writers have been writing about for six years. This is what they had to say about the previous administration:

But the true roots of the problem can be traced to the administration of Mr. Duterte’s predecessor, Benigno Aquino III. That is because, experts say, the true cause of this kind of extrajudicial violence is the public’s loss of confidence in state institutions and its turning instead to more immediate forms of punishment and control. Mr. Aquino, elected in 2010 on promises to support the rule of law and human rights, failed to fix the Philippines’ corrupt and ineffective justice system. His administration also faced a series of security-related scandals, including a hostage crisis in Manila in 2010. And, perhaps most critical, Mr. Aquino was perceived as lazy and soft, unwilling to take the necessary steps to solve the country’s problems. Frustration with the government’s inability to provide basic security led to rising public demand for new leaders who would take more decisive action to provide security.

It is also ironic that while BS Aquino’s supporters share the New York Times article because it is mostly critical of President Rodrigo Duterte’s policy on illegal drugs, they gloss over the part where the NYT writer blames the former President for his failure to crack down on the drug trade and his failure to fix the slow justice system. BS Aquino’s supporters also turn a blind eye to the fact that the drug problem became an epidemic during his term. His government was given a list of politicians and members of the military and police who were involved in drug trafficking but they just sat on it. They also tolerated the way convicted drug lords continued to operate inside the prison walls.

 More importantly, BS Aquino also set a precedent for denying due process to his political enemies, which is why ordinary Filipinos have become frustrated with the Philippines’ justice system. They would now rather take matters into their own hands. This was what I wrote prior to BS Aquino stepping down:

The application of selective justice in the Philippines is the reason why Filipinos are getting increasingly frustrated at the current government. BS Aquino’s Daang Matuwid or so-called “straight path” only works for his friends and allies. No wonder Duterte’s vigilante style of justice has become acceptable to a lot of people. If the justice system is broken anyway, people think it is better to take matters into their own hands. They are tired of politicians like BS Aquino and Mar Roxas who say they are “decent’” but do not have any qualms about destroying people who get in their way. Corona was never found to be guilty of corruption by a real court. His only offence was in the discrepancy in his Statement of Assets and Liability Net Worth (SALN), which by law, government officials are allowed to correct whenever discrepancies are found. Most public servants would be guilty of that but they are spared from the persecution Corona was subject to under BS Aquino and his minions. BS Aquino keeps bragging about being the first President to impeach a sitting Supreme Court Chief Justice. He couldn’t have done it without the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) and pork barrel funds and a corrupt Congress.

It doesn’t take a genius to understand why majority of Filipinos approve of Duterte’s brand of justice. They waited for six years for BS Aquino to do something about the increasing violence in the country but they were disappointed. The media is only highlighting the killings now but incidence of drive-by shootings had become more brazen in recent years even before Duterte came to power. The people have become angry and helpless reading news about victims of rape, assault and robbery even in broad daylight perpetrated by drug gangs. To a lot of Filipinos, it is better that drug dealers and pushers be dead than innocent people, which is why they do not feel sorry hearing of people dying during police operations or in the hands of unidentified suspects. Some Filipinos even cheer when they find out drug dealers and pushers are killing each other.

People would accuse me of giving the situation my seal of approval. They are wrong. I am merely giving my own observation of what is happening in the country. I saw it coming. I am not entirely surprised that people are dying on the streets. Duterte did warn everyone that he would go after drug traffickers while he was still campaigning. Besides, life has always been cheap in the Philippines. The violence was ignored in the past because it involved mostly the lower classes. It is part of Filipino culture to ignore what is happening to others if it doesn’t involve members of their inner circle of family and friends. In the Filipino vernacular, it is called kanya-kanya.

 It is only now that there is outrage coming from so-called “civil society” because some members of the upper classes are now getting killed or caught in the middle of Duterte’s war on drugs. In other words, some folks were in denial there was a problem to begin with. Again, that is the fault of BS Aquino who made people believe everything was under control. He was good at hiding problems or pretending there was none. This is why the news that there were city mayors who were coddling drug lords came as a rude shock to everyone. Even celebrities were not spared in the naming and shaming. If there is one thing positive about Duterte’s drug war, it appears that it doesn’t discriminate or favour anyone, rich or poor. Everyone involved in the drug trade is getting equal treatment.

The New York Times is saying that a culture of vengeful punishment is taking hold in the Philippines. This is nothing new. It has always been like that in the Philippines. It is still a primitive country pretending to be civilised. Most people don’t even understand the concept of rule of law. If they did, they wouldn’t have tolerated how BS Aquino treated his political enemies even back then.

BREAKING NEWS : Two Africa President Magufuli and Mugabe,Praise Duterte,say he is a 'hero' and he is the most influential leader in the world.

Duterte instilled courage in our social and academic spheres of Africa,two Africa President have said."

If it were not for his(Duterte's)culture of revolution and economic freedom we would not have understood the need to fight for economic freedom in our countries.

He indeed,instilled courage in us,"said President John Magufuli of Tanzania."Rodrigo Duterte is the most influential leader in the world.I can attest to this,"Magufuli added.

On his part,Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe described Duterte as "the most courageous man who will not allow neocolonialism in his country.

"He congratulated him for his unrelenting efforts on war against drug.Mugabe said he has known Duterte since he was Mayor of Davao City,a highly urbanized city on Mindanao Island in the Philippines.Mugabe criticized the United States President for meddling in Philippines politics,"Obama should deal with the issues affecting US because America has more challenges than Philippines.He should leave Duterte alone.

" The two African Presidents spoke while attending the Africa United Summit (AU)in Cameron,West Africa.

The effect of drugs on the brain

This story is a supplement to Philstar.com NewsLab's special report on Duterte's war on drugs.

MANILA, Philippines — On the day he was sworn into office, President Rodrigo Duterte gave a speech to a crowd in a Manila slum in which he called on ordinary citizens to kill drug addicts in their own community.

Almost three months later, more than 3,000 suspected drug offenders were reported killed in the government’s “Double Barrel” drive—both from legitimate police operations and vigilante-style or unexplained killings.

The rising body count has shocked the world and sparked alarm among global human rights groups, including the United Nations. Irked by criticisms, Duterte took pains to explain why drug users are dangerous, especially meth or shabu users who usually resist arrest by fighting back at police officers.

“You must remember that those who are already in shabu for almost one year, they are dead. They are the living walking dead. They are of no use to society anymore,” he said.

But what’s in illegal substances that makes it difficult to quit? The answer, according to health experts, lies in the brain.

“In a very layman’s explanation, it (drugs) really destroys the brain. Tinutusta 'yung utak,” said Jerome Go, a psychiatrist at the Chinese General Hospital and the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center.

Under the influence of drugs, users could do some things that are not really their own willing or not properly calculated.

“Yes, it could result (in) something destructive or disastrous,” the psychiatrist added.

Dr. Alfonso Villaroman, chief of the Bicutan Treatment and Rehabilitation Center, said, however, that there should be a distinction between drug users and drug addicts. These categories should not also be equated with drug dependents.

Those falling under these latter categories, he said, should be treated as patients because there is a road to recovery.

DENR spares 11 firms in massive mining audit

The government has spared only 11 companies of the country’s 41 operating metallic mines as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) released the results of its audit aimed at putting an end to irresponsible operations in the Philippines.

 

In a briefing Tuesday, Environment Undersecretary Leo Jasareno, head of the mining audit team, said only 11 did not get recommendations for suspension while 20 will be given seven days to address the audit findings. Operations of the 10 companies earlier suspended will remain suspended.

 

“So far, we have suspended 10. Eleven passed the audit and 20 need to get their acts together,” Environment Secretary Gina Lopez said.

 

Among mining operations spared are:

 

• Pangilinan-led Philex Mining Corp. 
• Nickel Asia Corp.'s Rio Tuba Nickel Corp., Cagdianao Mining Corp. and Taganito Mining Corp. 
• Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corp.
• Techiron Resources Inc.
• Platinum Group Metals Corp.
• Philsaga Mining Corp.
• Greenstone Resources Corp.
• Apex Mining Co. Inc.
• Pacific Nickel Philippines Inc.

 

“They are running their operations much better than the others. However, in efforts to get better, even if they passed, I still want to talk to them and push them a little better,” Lopez said.

 

Meanwhile, companies that are on the verge of total suspension include:

 

• Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co.
• MarcVentures Mining and Development Corp.
• OceanaGold Philippines Inc.
• Filminera Resources Corp.
• Strongbuilt Mining Development Corp. 

 

Meanwhile, AAMPhil Natural Resources Exploration and Development Corp.,  Adnama Mining Resources Corp., Minimax Mineral Exploration Corp., Carrascal Mining Corp., Century Peak Corp. and CTP Construction and Mining Corp. have been asked to respond to the DENR's audit findings.

 

The DENR will also suspend:

 

• SR Metals, Inc.
• Hinatuan Mining Corp.
• Wellex Mining Corp.
• Krominco Inc.
• Libjo Mining Corp.
• Norweah Metals and Minerals Co. Inc.
• Oriental Synergy Mining Corp.
• Sinosteel Phils HY Mining Corp. 

 

Jasareno said majority of the reason for suspension of the companies include discoloration due to siltation, soil erosion, lack of social development and rehabilitation projects, destruction of the forest, no tree cutting permits and inadequate preventive measures on the mining areas. 

 

Mining companies involved are yet to issue their official statement regarding the department’s recent orders. 

 

As most of the mines eyed for suspension are nickel mines, Jasareno said it constitute 55.5 percent of the country’s total nickel production value based on last year’s data. 

 

The 20 mining companies will be given seven days to answer and then a final decision will be made.

 

“Each mine will be provided a report. They will be given one week to respond then the department will review their explanation once we receive them,” Jasareno said.

Chamber laments findings

On the other hand, the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) decried the mine audit results which recommended for the suspension of eight of its members which include Filminera Resources Corp., Marcventures Mining and Development Corp., Agata, CTP Construction and Mining Corp., Hinatuan Mining Corp., Benguet Corp., Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corp. and OceanaGold Philippines Inc.

 

The Chamber lamented how the whole mining audit was done in a punitive manner rather than objectively. 

 

“When you suddenly change the rules of the game, there should have been an earlier dialogue between companies and the DENR given that the audit report was already finished in August. As early as August, the alleged violations could have already been addressed instead of setting a trap for suspension,” COMP Vice President for Policy Ronald Recidoro said. 

 

Since the start of the audit, 10 mining firms had been suspended including all operations in Zambales – Benguet Corp. Nickel Mines Inc., Zambales Diversified Metals Corp., LNL Archipelago Minerals Inc. and Eramen Minerals Inc. – for breach of environmental standards.

 

Other firms that were suspended include the country’s only iron-producing mine Ore Asia Mining and Development Corp., Samar-based operations Mt. Sinai Exploration Mining and Development Corp., EMIR Mineral Resources Corp., Berong Nickel Corp., Claver Mineral Development Corp., and Citinickel Mines and Development Corp.

 

Lopez reiterated that any decision that the department will make will be based on what is best for the greater majority.

 

“Resources of the country must be utilized in a way that benefits the greater majority. I want the DENR to be not regulatory but developmental,” she said.

 

“I’m not against mining. I’m vehemently against the adverse effect that may happen and are happening. I want us to be better than Canada and Australia,” Lopez added. 

 

While some miners questioned the mining audit process, Jasareno emphasized that it was a compliance to the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte himself to determine adequacy and efficiency of environmental protection measures; identify gaps in environmental protection measures; and determine penalties in case of violations.

 

The audit team was composed of the DENR central and regional offices, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Environmental Management Bureau, third part experts including the Departments of Health and Agriculture and civic society organizations. 

 

The audit’s checklist focused on safety and health, mine environmental management, social development, mining tenement, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Hazardous Waste and Solid Waste.

 

Next month, the DENR will start the audit of 65 operating non-metallic mines.

Zamboanga City on alert for arms shipments to Abu Sayyaf

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Security forces have stepped up monitoring for war materiel that someone might try to slip to the Abu Sayyaf group in Sulu and Basilan.

 

This, after police intelligence agents arrested three suspects and seized a cache of rifle grenades, high-powered rifles and ammunition in a village beside the Philippine National Police headquarters in San Juan, Metro Manila.

 

The weapons and ammunition, which have been traced to the Government Arsenal, were supposed to go to the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu, police said.

 

Chief Inspector Helen Galvez, spokesperson of the Zamboanga City Police Office, said they are in close coordination with the military and port security to monitor and thwart attempts to sneak war material to the bandit group, which has been the target of intensified military operations.

 

“We have intensified our monitoring in the port areas even in the finger wharves that are loosely operated,” she said.

 

Galvez said police are also validating information passed to the presidential hotline on guns and ammunition being smuggled to the Abu Sayyaf through Zamboanga City.

 

The interception of the arms cache was the result of cooperation between the police and the military.

 

“We shared intelligence reports. Malaki ang tulong ng pulis sa ating intensified police and military operations,” Maj. Tan said.

AFP: We will crush Abu Sayyaf supporters

Tan stressed that the military will not tolerate anyone providing support to the Abu Sayyaf.

 

“With our previous pronouncement, since the suspect is said to be a former politician, nagbigay kami ng statement before na kahit sino pa ‘yan sasagasaan yan ng AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) as long as ganoon ang ginagawa nila,” he said.

 

He said security forces have been working together to find the source of the Abu Sayyaf's weapons and ammunition and stop the flow of war materiel to the group.

 

“We are very concerned [because] the Abu Sayyaf group is not running out of supply of guns and ammunitions despite the series of encounters [and the ] recovery of their armaments,” he said.

 

Tan also said the military is concerned because the Abu Sayyaf seems to be using weapons from the Government Arsenal.

 

“Iyan ang pinakamasakit na gawin mo sa kapwa mo sundalo. We are angry and we don’t tolerate it,” Tan said.

Ombudsman finds Honasan, 9 others liable in PDAF scam

The Office of the Ombudsman on Monday found probable cause to hold Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II and nine others liable for the alleged misuse of P29.1 million from the scrapped Priority Development Assistance Fund.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has ordered the filing of Informations against Honasan and the following officials:

• Political Affairs/Project Coordinator Chief Michael Benjamin
• National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Secretary Mehol Sadain
• Acting NCMF Chief Accountant Fedelina Aldanese
• NCMF Director Galay Makalinggan
• NCMF Chief Sania Busran
• Acting NCMF Chief Aurora Aragon-Mabang
• NCMF cashier Olga Galido
• Focus Development Goals Foundation Inc. officers  Giovanni Manuel Gaerlan and Salvador Gaerlan

Honasan and the nine officials will face cases at the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court for allegedly violating the Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019).

The Ombudsman, through its investigation, discovered that, in April 2012, the Department of Budget and Management released P30 million as part of the Honasan’s PDAF with the NCMF as implementing agency.

The money was intended to finance small and medium-scale enterprises and livelihood projects for the benefit of Muslim Filipinos in communities in the National Capital Region and Zambales.

The Ombudsman said that documents from June 2012 show that Honasan endorsed Focus Development Goals Foundation, Inc. as partner NGO for the project without complying with procurement requirements. A disbursement voucher and a check allegedly shows that Honasan and the other respondents facilitated the payment via two tranches amounting to P29.1 million.

“The check, dated 30 May 2012, and disbursement voucher approving the payment were prepared by public respondents in favor of Focus even before (1) the NGO was informed that it was found qualified to undertake the project on 04 June 2012; (2) the MOA was signed by the Office of Senator Honasan, NCMF and Focus; and (3) Honasan authorized the release of funds to Focus,” an excerpt of the Ombudsman’s resolution approved on Sept. 21, 2016 read. 

Honasan also failed to submit his counter-affidavit during the investigation despite the issuance of an order to do so.

“The repeated illegal transfers of public funds to the NGO, resulted in the quantifiable, pecuniary losses to the government, thus constituting undue injury within the context of Section 3(e) of R.A. No. 3019,”Morales said. 

In August 2015, the National Bureau of Investigation also filed malversation, bribery and graft complaints against Honasan for the alleged misuse of PDAF in illegal transactions with suspicious NGOs linked to alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles’. Honasan was accused of taking home P1.750 million kickback.

Honasan, in January, called the allegation ridiculous. He said that the kickback that he supposedly received from the scam was so small that he could have gotten more money had he asked his friends for cash.

The senator, who ran for vice president in the May elections, has denied the allegations as early as 2013.

“All records regarding use of development funds being managed by my office are subject to accounting and auditing procedures according to law,” Honasan said then. 

 

“Any allegations, insinuations of irregularity must be backed up by evidence in the proper courts of law subject to due process and not politically motivated, suspicious or malicious trial by publicity,” he added.