DUTERTE’S ‘DRUG WAR’ REVIEW ORDER BEFORE UN ONLY REITERATION OF ONGOING DOJ-LED EVALUATION

MANILA — In the face of an investigation by the International Criminal Court, President Rodrigo Duterte told state leaders at the United Nations that he ordered a review of the “war on drugs,” but it remains unclear whether this is a new directive from the chief executive.

“I have instructed the Department of Justice and the Philippine National Police to review the conduct of our campaign against illegal drugs. Those found to have acted beyond bounds during operations shall be made accountable before our laws,” Duterte said in his speech for the UN General Assembly during its 76th session.

There is already an ongoing review of “drug war” operations that resulted in deaths, led by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra who told the UN Human Rights Council in June 2020 of his undertaking.

Two reports so far were submitted to Duterte. The first covered operations that resulted in deaths in Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog regions, and in major cities. The second reviewed 52 administrative cases against cops in deadly “drug war” operations.

Duterte, also noted that the Philippines has “recently finalized with the United Nations our Joint Program on Human Rights,” which was signed in July.

“This is a model for constructive engagement between a sovereign Member State and the United Nations,” he added.

DUTERTE KINASTIGO 'PAGKUKULANG' NG UN SA MISMONG GENERAL ASSEMBLY NITO; REPORMA HININGI

MANILA — Hindi napigilan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterten na pukulin ng ilang kritismo ang United Nations habang nagsasalita sa kanilang asembilya, ito habang hinihiling ang mga pagbabago sa naturang asosasyon ng mga bansa.

"[W]e face multiple crises that demand effective global governance. Yet, our institutions, including the United Nations, have proven to be inadequate," wika ni Digong sa ika-76 sesyon ng UN General Assembly ngayong Miyerkules ng umaga (oras sa Pilipinas).

"The UN is a product of an era long past. It no longer reflects the political and economic realities of today."

Pagdidiin ng presidente, lagi't laging inuusal ang mga salitang "demokrasya" at "transparency" sa loob ng apat na sulok ng UN, gayunpaman, kabalintunaan daw na nilalabag ng Security Council nito ang mga naturang konsepto.

Ang UN Security Council ay may responsibilidad na imintena ang "international peace and security," at siyang binubuo ng 15 miyembro. Inaasahang susunod ang lahat ng UN member states sa mga mapagdedesisyunan ng Konseho pagdating sa mga "banta sa kapayapaan" o mga "agresyon." Pwede itong magpataw ng parusa o gumamit ng pwersa para panatilihin o pabalikin ang seguridad.

"It is neither democratic nor transparent in its representation and processes. Many member states have spoken firmly and we agree: This simply is not right," dagdag pa ng kontrobersyal na pangulo.

"If the UN is to lead the world out of the many crises we face, things need to change. The UN must empower itself, by reforming itself. Therein lies the hope for humanity."

DUTERTE ASKS RICH NATIONS TO DELIVER ON CLIMATE FINANCE PLEDGES

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte called on wealthy nations to fulfill their financial assistance to developing countries like the Philippines to help them bolster their defenses against the catastrophic impacts of the climate crisis.

In a speech during the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, Duterte called for urgent climate action, “especially from those that can truly tip the balance.”

“The greatest injustice here is that those who suffer the most are those the least responsible for this existential crisis,” the chief executive said.

“Developed countries must fulfill their longstanding commitment to climate financing, technology transfer, and capacity-building in the developing world. This is a moral obligation that cannot be avoided,” he added.

Share of responsibility

Duterte also told world leaders that the Philippines “accepts its share of responsibility and will do its part to avert this collective disaster.”

The country committed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 75% in 2030. But only 2.71% of the target is unconditional, which means it will be undertaken without international funding and assistance.

DUTERTE: NO COUNTRY ‘CAN DIMINISH’ IMPORTANCE OF SOUTH CHINA SEA ARBITRAL AWARD

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday told the United Nations that no "willful disregard" by any country "can diminish" a 5-year-old arbitral award that junked Beijing's sweeping claims to the South China Sea, including parts of Philippines waters.

Duterte said the 2016 ruling by the UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration and the 1982 UNCLOS that recognized states' exclusive economic zones "provide a clear path towards a just, fair, and win-win solution for all."

"The award must be seen for what it is — a benefit across the board to all who subscribe to the majesty of the law," the Philippine leader said in a recorded message to the UN General Assembly.

"No amount of willful disregard by any country, however big and powerful, can diminish the arbitral award’s importance," Duterte said in his 15-minute speech.

Duterte told the General Assembly the South China Sea needed to remain "a sea of peace, security and prosperity."

"We must resolve disputes peacefully," said the President.

"The Philippines is one with the ASEAN and other stakeholders in ensuring that the South China Sea remains a sea of peace, security and prosperity," he added.

"The 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 arbitral award of the South China Sea provide a clear path towards a just, fair, and win-win solution for all.

In last year's General Assembly, his first, Duterte had rejected what he called attempts to undermine the Philippines’ arbitral victory.

DUTERTE AGAIN CALLS FOR ABOLITION OF KAFALA SYSTEM

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte renewed his call to abolish the kafala system, which he said allows the “exploitation and oppression” of migrant workers.

In a recorded address shown at the 76th United Nations General Assembly, Duterte described the kafala system as a “behemoth that chains the weak, the desperate, and the voiceless to an existence of unimaginable suffering.”

“Nothing can justify the continued existence of this unjust system,” Duterte said. “While reforms have been made, the kafala system must be dismantled — sooner rather than later — in the name of justice and basic decency.”

The kafala system, which is in place in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, requires migrant workers to be sponsored by a citizen or company in the host country. Saudi Arabia previously used the kafala system, but abolished it in March.

Sponsors have nearly total control over workers’ employment and immigration status, leaving them prone to abuse and exploitation.

'SELFISH ACT': DUTERTE CRITICIZES RICH NATIONS' COVID-19 VACCINE BOOSTER TALK

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte criticized the plan of wealthy nations to start administering COVID-19 booster doses, calling it a “selfish” act when low-income countries like the Philippines are still struggling to get vaccine supplies.

In his last address before the United Nations General Assembly, Duterte said there is a “man-made drought of vaccine ravaging poor countries.”

“Rich countries hoard life-saving vaccines, while poor nations wait for trickles. They now talk of booster shots, while developing countries consider half-doses just to get by,” the chief executive said.

“This is shocking beyond belief and must be condemned for what it is—a selfish act that can neither be justified rationally nor morally,” he added.

Duterte called on wealthy nations to fully support the global vaccine sharing COVAX facility.

“The plain fact is—this pandemic will not end unless the virus is defeated everywhere. Vaccines are key to achieving this,” he said.

In the Philippines, health authorities have yet to approve the use of booster shots, following calls to administer extra doses to healthcare workers.

HOUSE PANEL OKS SENIORS’ INCOME TAX EXEMPTION BILL

MANILA — A committee of the House of Representatives approved yesterday a measure that will exempt working senior citizens from income tax payments being deducted by the Bureau of Internal Revenue from their monthly salaries.

The House committee on senior citizens, led by Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes of the party-list group Senior Citizens, approved House Bill (HB) 8832, the “Income Tax Exemption for Senior Citizens Act,” which would amend the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.

The bill provides that individuals who are still employed at the age of 60 and above shall be exempt from paying income tax.

Ordanes, who authored the bill, said that based on data submitted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Filipino retirees have only about 3.6 months’ worth of income for their retirement.

HB 8832 also provides that holiday pay, overtime pay, night shift differential and hazard pay received by the elderly who are still working in companies should likewise be exempt from income tax.

HOUSE OKS BILL TO INSTITUTIONALIZE UP-DND ACCORD

MANILA — The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a measure that would institutionalize the 1989 accord between the University of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense.

A unanimous vote by 179 members of the lower chamber brought House Bill 10171 closer to passage. A similar proposal had been filed and remains pending in the Senate.

The Duterte administration early this year nixed the said accord with UP on unproven claims that the state-run institution is aiding the armed communist movement through recruiting its students.

Signed in 1989, the deal barred entry of government troops to any UP campus without prior notifying school administrators.

Critics of the move have since warned that the abrogation could harm academic freedom in the university, as well as shrink spaces for expressing dissent.

"Our work is not done," said the Office of the UP Student Regent. "Let us continue to achieve unities and strengthen our calls."

Apart from prohibiting state forces' entry without prior notification, some of the bill's provisions include mandating university officials, when requested by law enforcers, to "extend the necessary assistance in law enforcement within the premises of the campuses."

It also disallows subjecting students, faculty members, or employees to custodial investigation without prior notice to the university president, chancellor or dean.

COMELEC SETS EXPRESS LANES FOR FRONTLINERS

MANILA — Medical frontliners need not set an appointment and may avoid joining the lines intended for regular registrants for the May 2022 national and local elections as the Commission on Elections has opened express lanes for them, Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said yesterday.

In a post on social media, Guanzon said medical frontliners, police officers, persons with special needs and pregnant women should proceed to the Comelec offices if they would submit their applications for voters’ registration and queue at the express lane.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said those waiting in line for the voters’ registration should expect long lines as there are only eight days left before the registration ends on Sept. 30.

In a related development, Guanzon said the Comelec en banc would deliberate on the Senate resolution that urges the poll body to extend the voters’ registration for one month or until Oct. 31.

“Now that there is a Senate resolution, the Comelec can no longer ignore it since our budget relies on it. I’m sure (Chairman Sheriff) Abas will schedule that tomorrow,” Guanzon said in a radio interview.

FDA TO APPROVE MORE OXYGEN PLANTS

MANILA — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to give the green light to a company and hospitals for the manufacture of medical oxygen to ensure its sufficient supply amid the high number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

“With regard to our oxygen supply, fortunately we have not reached the critical point where people are scrambling for oxygen. But just to be sure of the supply, we are now expediting the approval (of) the oxygen plants so that we can manufacture more,” FDA director Eric Domingo told President Duterte during a meeting on Monday night.

Domingo said the FDA will soon grant a license to a big company based in Calamba, Laguna to increase the supply in Luzon.

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GRACE POE WAS ISKO MORENO CAMP'S FIRST CHOICE FOR VP: CAMPAIGN MANAGER

MANILA - Senator Grace Poe was the first choice of Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso's camp for the vice presidential race, his campaign strategist said Wednesday.

Domagoso and Doc Willie Ong will announce their candidacy later Wednesday morning at the new housing project of the mayor in Baseco community, according to campaign strategist Lito Banayo.

"'Di namin tinatago na talagang first choice namin si Grace Poe. We tried very hard...but she didn't agree principally because I guess one the personal relationship between her family and Senate President Tito Sotto. We did not want to enter into a political marriage," he told ANC's Headstart.

"No, Isko is not like that. Once he makes up his mind, he sticks to it. That's a done deal, Doc Willie is our vice presidential candidate," he added when asked if Poe would later substitute for Ong.

Ong was originally a top candidate for Domagoso's senatorial slate but the mayor said the doctor was vice president material after meeting with him, Banayo said.

"He said 'Ano tingin mo? Puwedeng vice president ah.' Sabi ko actually ganun din ang feeling ko," he said.

"Isko and Doc Willie Ong are peas of the same pod."

Domagoso had assured Ong that they would "win this as a tandem," Banayo said.

"People want to vote for a tandem now, probably seeing the tragedy that happened in the last 5 years between President Duterte and Vice President Leni," he said.

"People want a team, a tandem. You just have to market them as a team, as people who will work together for the benefit of the greater number of people."

Banayo, who was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as chairman of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, said he quit his post as he cannot support a political dynasty in the national level.

MEDICAL, PHARMA FIRMS TO SET UP SHOP IN PH ECOZONES: PEZA

MANILA - A number of international medical and pharmaceutical firms will invest and will soon set up shop within the country's economic zones, an official said Wednesday.

Due to the influx of investments in the field, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has developed the country's first pharmaceutical ecozone called the First Bulacan Business Park in Malolos, City, PEZA director-general Charito Plaza told ANC.

One firm will invest P571 million in the country while other Israeli and Indian pharmaceutical companies are in the process of getting their permits approved, she said.

"Coming in mostly medical are pharmaceutical companies. We are now asking these new investors on medical and pharmaceutical firms to prepare documents so we can approve this immediately in the PEZA board," Plaza said.

"It’s a miracle on the side of PEZA because we never played hostage to COVID, to the pandemic," she said.

DOLE WARNS VS FAKE SEPARATION CERTIFICATES

MANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday warned the public of fake certificates of involuntary separation being issued to displaced workers.

The certificate is one of the requirements in claiming unemployment benefits with the Social Security System (SSS).

In an advisory, the DOLE’s Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) said it received reports about the fake documents, supposedly issued by DOLE regional offices.

The fake certificates bear the letterhead and electronic signatures of concerned DOLE officials.

“Any person or entity found conducting illegal reproduction of the aforementioned document shall be dealt with the full extent of law,” the BLE noted.

The bureau added that SSS members may file for certification directly with the DOLE regional office that has jurisdiction over their workplace, free of charge.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

‘WE MUST NEVER FORGET’: A REMINDER FROM ‘ALONE/TOGETHER’ ON MARTIAL LAW

MANILA — Black Sheep released on Monday a script-to-screen look at an important scene from its 2019 film “Alone/Together,” in time for the 49th anniversary of the Martial Law declaration by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

The scene shows Liza Soberano as Tin, as she tours high school students around The National Museum, stopping at the famed Spoliarium painting by Juan Luna.

“Our history is tragic. But no matter how tragic the past is, we must not forget,” she says.

In a moment where Tin appears to break the fourth wall, she looks directly at the camera to emphasize, “We must never forget.”

“To forget is to deny the present any significant meaning,” she continues telling the students.

The clip echoes Tin’s statement, with a reminder to its viewers to #NeverForget, and to stand firm to #NeverAgain allow a brutal dictatorship to grip the country.

Soberano, who has been vocal about her advocacies and national issues, has credited “Alone/Together” and writer-director Antoinette Jadaone for helping her “own her voice.”

“Alone/Together” followed the love story of Tin, a museum guide and art enthusiast, and Raf (Enrique Gil), a doctor, who meet again five years after they broke up.

Martial Law lasted for more than a decade until the dictator was ousted by the People Power Revolution in 1986. It resulted in thousands of human rights violations and deaths, during which the Marcos family plundered an estimated $5-10 billion.

SPORTS

GILAS WOMEN FLY TO JORDAN FOR FIBA ASIA CUP

MANILA — The Gilas Pilipinas women's squad headed to Jordan to see action in the FIBA Women's Asia Cup set to unfurl September 27.

The Filipina ballers left the country Tuesday evening after breaking their training camp in Batangas.

The team is currently on a stopover in Dubai before heading to Jordan.

Once in Jordan, the Gilas women will be bracing for a tough competition as they face World No. 7 China and No. 3 Australia in their first two games of the tournament on September 27 and 28, respectively.

They will take on Chinese-Taipei the next day.

Headlining the team are veterans Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos, Andrea Tongco, Chack Cabinbin, Clare Castro, Mar Prado and Ria Nabalan.

Meanwhile, making their senior team debuts are Ella Fajardo, Camille Clarin, Ann Pingol, and Kristine Cayabyab.

The team will need to stay out of the bottom of their Group in order to avoid being on the chopping block for relegation to Division B.

Otherwise, Gilas will need to fend off a fellow last placer in Group A, comprised of Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and India, in a final game to stay in Division A.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. - Annie Dillard