MORALES ON GRENADE: I AM NOT AFRAID / SENATORS
BACK TO LEGISLATIVE WORK
MANILA,
JUNE 1, 2012 (BULLETIN) The
Muntinlupa Police are reviewing the CCTV footage of the house of Ombudsman
Conchita Carpio-Morales at Camella Homes 2 in Barangay Putatan where a
fragmentation grenade was discovered last May 30.
But Carpio-Morales said that she was not affected at all by the discovery of
a grenade outside her house. "I'm not afraid."
Security has been tightened at the house of Carpio-Morales and surrounding
areas after security personnel found the grenade just outside Carpio- Morales'
home last Wednesday afternoon.
Muntinlupa Police chief, Senior Supt. Ramiro Bausa said that they are still
reviewing the video footage provided by the security personnel and no suspect
has been identified yet.
The grenade, with the pin still intact, was placed inside a canister, Bausa
said. The grenade was found with a note that says, "Pang densa CCM, malakit." He
suspects that the grenade was placed to scare the Ombudsman. The police are
looking at different angles on the case.
Chief Supt. Benito Estipona, chief of the Southern Police District, said that
additional policemen have been sent outside the house of Carpio- Morales. Police
patrol vehicles were also sent near the house to provide extra security for her.
Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo
also directed the National Capital Region Police Office to investigate the case.
(With reports from Francis Wakefield and Czarina Nicole Ong)
FROM PHILSTAR
Senators back to legislative work after Corona trial
By Marvin Sy (The Philippine Star) Updated June 01, 2012 12:00
AMComments (0)
MANILA, Philippines - After close to five months of sitting as an impeachment
court, senators resumed legislative work yesterday and are confident of passing
many bills before the adjournment on June 7.
Three bills – witness confidentiality act, authorizing the city or municipal
civil registrar or the consul-general to correct clerical or typographical
errors in the birthday or sex of a person without need of a judicial order, and
the revival of the observance of Arbor Day – were approved on third reading
yesterday.
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago (photo), principal author of Senate
Bill 1537, said witnesses and victims of crimes are discouraged from testifying
freely and truthfully for fear of reprisals from offenders, who could get their
contact numbers and addresses during a trial or hearing.
Under Santiago's proposed measure, victims and witnesses shall not be
required to provide their residence or place of business and telephone number
"unless the court determines that there is a clear need for such disclosure
because the information is necessary and relevant to the facts of the case or
the credibility of the witness."
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile lauded the passage of the bill, saying the
protection of witnesses and victims is essential in the fight against
criminality.
"We hope that with the passage of SB 1537, more witnesses and victims in
criminal cases will be encouraged to testify against offenders. We also expect
an increase in the rate of conviction with the passage of the bill," Enrile
said.
Eleven other bills were approved on second reading, including SB 3206 or the
proposed early years act; SB 107, requiring all public servants to submit a
waiver to allow the Ombudsman to look into all their bank deposits; SB 3209,
defining and protecting the use of the Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Crystal
emblems; SB 3164 or the revised AFP modernization program; Senate Joint
Resolution 14 or the extension of the life of the congressional oversight
committee on dangerous drugs; and House Bill 5608 or the reapportioning of
Palawan into three legislative districts.
Six other House bills granting franchises to Wi-Tribe Telecoms, Inc.,
Reliance Broadcasting Unlimited, Inc., Telecommunication Technology Solutions,
Inc., TV Maria Foundation of Davao del Sur, Inc., Cultural Foundation of Davao
del Sur, Inc. and Nueva Vizcaya State University were also passed on second
reading.
Under SB 107, which was filed by Sen. Francis Escudero in 2010, any
government official or employee who fails or refuses to submit a waiver for the
opening of their financial assets shall not be allowed to continue exercising
the functions of their office.
"Those who refuse to sign are free to go to the private sector because
working in the government is a privilege and not a right," Escudero said.
However, for the protection of the civil servant, the bill stipulates that
only the Office of the Ombudsman may obtain or use the written permission or any
other information obtained from it.
"This waiver and any information obtained from it shall be used exclusively
only for investigating a duly signed and verified complaint before the
Sandiganbayan. We don't want any witch-hunting using this," Escudero said.
Privilege speeches were delivered by Sen. Pia Cayetano calling for action on
the proposed Reproductive Health bill, and Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy
Estrada commending Enrile and the rest of the senators for their work in the
impeachment trial of former chief justice Renato Corona.
Several other bills were listed in the agenda for yesterday's session but
were not tackled, as most of the senators left the session hall by the time
Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III called for adjournment.
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
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