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#nationataglance
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION AND CENTRAL LUZON: PAMPANGA
Bonifacio Day protests: RevGov, jeepney modernization top agenda
RALLIES ARE set today, Nov. 30, as the Philippines observes a national holiday for hero Andres Bonifacio, one of
the founders of the revolutionary movement KKK (Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak
ng Bayan) that
fought for inde-
pendence from Spain.
Separate statements issued by
the various protesting groups indicate
that the demonstrations will center on Presi-
dent Rodrigo R. Dutertes pronouncements on es-
tablishing a revolutionary government (RevGov), the
transport modernization plan that will phase
out old diesel-fueled jeepneys for more
environment-friendly e-vehicles, and
human rights violations.
Protest sites include
the Liwasang Boni-
facio, Mendiola,
and Clark in
Pampanga.
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION: QUEZON CITY
QC declares 2,539-sqm Tuazon property
as socialized housing site
QUEZON CITY Mayor Herbert M. Bautista
has approved an ordinance declaring
three parcels of land in Barangay
Pansol as a socialized housing site.
In a statement released yesterday,
the city government said the 2,539-square meter (sqm)
area in Sitio Kaingin 1, registered under the name of
Antonio Tuazon, is located within the area for prior-
ity development and has been forfeited in favor of
the city government. The ordinance was authored by
Councilors Franz S. Pumaren and Marivic Co-Pilar. It is
high time that the concern for affordable and decent
housing at Kaingin 1 and 2, Barangay Pansol, District 3,
Quezon City be developed to address their struggle for
security of land tenure, the ordinance reads. The local
government cited that Republic Act 7279 or the Urban
Development and Housing Act mandates that lands
within existing areas for priority development shall be
covered in socialized housing programs and should be
on an on-site development if found more practicable
and advantageous to the beneficiaries.
CENTRAL VISAYAS:
BAYAWAN,
NEGROS ORIENTAL
Karapatan, CPP
condemn killing of
2 human rights
BAYAWAN
fact-finding mission
members in Negros
Oriental
THE COMMUNIST Party of
the Philippines (CPP) added its voice to
condemning the killing of two members
of a human rights fact-finding mission
in Bayawan, Negros Oriental. The CPP
condemns the most recent killing of two
human rights defenders on a fact-finding
mission in Negros Oriental as well as
illegal mass arrests and continued harass-
ment of activists and groups in the past
week. These incidents, and numerous
incidents before them, clearly illustrate
Dutertes dirty war against the people in
the guise of an all-out war against the
revolutionary movement. He will be made
responsible for these crimes, the CPP
said in its official twitter account @prwc_
info. Human rights alliance Karapatan
reported that on Nov. 28, Elisa Badayos of
Karapatan Central Visayas and Elioterio
Moises, a barangay tanod and member
of local peasant organization Mantapi
Ebwan Farmers Association, died after
being fired at by still unidentified men.
Another 23-year-old Kabataan party-list
member remains in critical condition, the
group said. The attack on human rights
defenders are becoming more rampant,
more brutal, more fearless Fact-finding
missions are a mechanism for human
rights organizations to confirm reports of
PHilSTAR FilE PHOTO
abuses, and this incident has only proven
how fascism works to outrightly kill those
who dare to question, said Karapatan
Secretary General Cristina Palabay in a
statement.
Duterte wants Grace Poe to be president someday if...
THURsDay, NOVEmBERTHURSday,
The
30, 2017 NOVEMBER 30, 2017 Nation
Nation S1/9
The
NATIONWIDE ROUND-UP
former police chief Garbo, wife face ill-gotten wealth charges
THE NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday filed ill-gotten wealth charges against former police direc-
tor-general Marcelino P. Garbo, Jr. and his spouse, lawyer Rosalinda S. Garbo, before the Office of the Ombudsman.
NBI Director Dante A. Gierran, in a statement, said the investigation spearheaded by the NBI-Anti Graft Division
showed the couple amassed assets way beyond their legitimate income and for non-declaration of said assets in
his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN), which by law is required for all public officials and employ-
ees. andrea louise E. san juan
>> See full story on https://goo.gl/Sko1bC
The Bonifacio monument lacson bats for pension inclusion in salary increase of uniformed personnel
in manila SENATOR PANFILO M. Lacson is pushing for the inclusion of the increase in pension of retired soldiers and policemen
in the joint resolution authorizing the increase in base pay of the governments uniformed personnel. Im appealing to
(Senator Gregorio B. Honasan II, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense and security), said Mr. Lacson,
noting that the Senate could adopt the measure and just leave it to the bicameral conference with the House of Repre-
sentatives if it would be rejected, or the President if he chooses to veto it. arjay l. Balinbin
>> See full story on https://goo.gl/F6DR9M
PHl stresses dialogue as North Korea fires another missile
THE PHILIPPINES reiterated its stand for meaningful dialogue as it called on North Korea to stop its provocative
actions after it fired another ballistic missile early Wednesday, Nov. 29. We call on Pyongyang to commit to mak-
EDD GUMbAN/PHilSTAR
ing meaningful progress towards the peaceful resolution of the issues facing the Korean Peninsula, Department of
Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano said in a statement issued yesterday. arjay l. Balinbin
>> See full story on https://goo.gl/2j5u41
BoC files smuggling raps vs broker, importer of P7.8-m misdeclared luxury cars
THE BUREAU of Customs (BoC), through the Bureau Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS), filed yesterday,
Nov. 29, smuggling charges against the broker and owner of Juljerjac Trading for P7.8 million worth of misde-
clared luxury cars, consisting of two sport utility vehicles. In the five-page complaint filed by BoC X-ray inspector
Alexander DG. Ugay, he pointed out the obvious intent to conceal the vehicles, which were in containers declared
as auto parts. He said the misdeclared goods have a total dutiable value of P4,164,240.28 and an aggregate
amount of customs duties, fees, and taxes in the amount of P3,641,672. andrea louise E. san juan
SOCCSKSARGEN: GENERAL SANTOS CITY
Gensan joins UsaIDs Cities
Development Initiative
GENERAL SANTOS (GenSan) City Mayor Ronnel C. Ri-
vera and United States Agency for International Devel-
opment (USAID) Mission Director Lawrence Hardy
II signed a Memorandum of Understanding
on Nov. 27 for the citys inclusion in the
agencys Cities Development Initiative
(CDI). Under the program, USAID
works with city governments
outside Metro Manila for bW FilE PHOTO
inclusive, sustainable, and GENERal saNTOs CITy is known as the tuna capital of the
resilient growth. Todays Philippines.
signing demonstrates both
parties commitment and mutual responsibility to pursue inclusive and resilient economic
growth in the city and surrounding localities, said Mr. Hardy in a statement released
yesterday by the US Embassy in Manila. Apart from GenSans economy, the CDI will also
focus on the improvement of health and education, and strengthen environmental re-
siliency. Aside from the benefits of receiving assistance on the most urgent needs of
the city, we now have a partner who will provide a progressive perspective to help us
achieve inclusive and resilient growth for General Santos City, Mr. Rivera is quoted in
the statement. Other USAID CDI partner cities are Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo,
Legazpi, Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran, and Zamboanga. Meanwhile, Mr. Hardy also
signed agreements with three higher education institutions in GenSan and South
Cotabato for joint research activities for biodiversity conservation in Mindanao. The
USAID official also met with the Department of Environment and Natural Resourc-
es Regional Protected Area Management Board to identify new ways, including
through private sector engagement, to conserve and manage the regions natural
resources. Mindanao Bureau
CALABARZON: PATNANUNGAN, QUEZON
stranded whale rescued in Quezon
AN 11.9-meter whale, which was spotted seemingly stranded in the waters
off Patnanungan, Quezon, was rescued on Nov. 28 by a joint team of the
CENTRAL VISAYAS: METRO CEBU Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Municipal Agriculture Office, and the Bureau
VECO assures no disruption in services as labor union threatens to go on strike of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Region 4A office in the town. The PCG
MEMBERS OF the Visayan Electric Company, Inc. (VECO) Employees Union have threatened to go on strike if Sub-Station Patnanungan reported that upon ocular inspection, the marine
no compromise is reached on salary increase. Meanwhile, VECO, in a statement, assured customers and mammal, which could not be immediately verified to be sperm whale, had
stakeholders that the ongoing labor issue between the management and its employees union will not af- bruises and wounds in different parts of its body. The whale was success-
fect operations and services. Rolando Jimenez, union president, told The Freeman on Tuesday, Nov. 28, that fully guided towards open water.
negotiations on their collective bargaining agreement started in March this year and it was initially agreed
that economic provisions like free hospitalization, one sack of rice monthly, and insurance coverage, among
others, be given to the union members. However, negotiations on the salary increase are still ongoing. Mr.
Jimenez said VECO declined their request for a 9% increase, or P9,100 staggered for five years. A 4% increase
is now on offer, he added, but the union is haggling for 5.5%. He warned that if the deadlock is extended,
the union, which has 157 members composed mainly of linemen and other rank-and- file employees, has no
other recourse but to go on a strike.
VECO Chief Operating Officer Anton
Mari G. Perdices, on the other hand,
said the management offered a reason-
able salary and benefit package that is
above what other companies normally
give employees. Mr. Perdices said no
matter the outcome of the mediation,
the companys services would be unaf-
fected. VECO, owned by Aboitiz Power
Corp. and Vivant Corp., is the second-
largest utility in the country covering
major cities and four towns in Cebu.
The Freeman PCG PHOTO
Businessworld GRaPHICs: WOWIE M. DULLER