News Roundup 23 May 2023
May 23, 2023 • 5 min Read
Napoles cleared in one pork barrel case but convicted in another | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan cleared businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles of 16 counts of graft in connection with the alleged anomalous use of Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.’s pork barrel fund, but convicted her on separate charges for the misuse of a former Davao del Sur lawmaker’s discretionary fund.
The decisions, promulgated separately by the anti-graft court’s first and second divisions, were made public at the same time on Monday afternoon.
Napoles is presently serving multiple sentences at the Correctional Institution for Women from two earlier convictions in relation to the pork barrel scam, including life imprisonment imposed by the Sandiganbayan in 2018 for plunder.
In the 223-page decision in the Revilla case, Napoles was found innocent after state prosecutors failed to prove her guilt beyond reasonable doubt in all 16 charges of violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The case accused Revilla of allocating P224 million from his Priority Development Assistance Fund to bogus nongovernment organizations (NGOs) owned by Napoles. He was one of many lawmakers who reportedly allotted their discretionary funds to ghost projects in exchange for kickbacks.
Full Story at: Napoles cleared in one pork barrel case but convicted in another | Inquirer News
Hontiveros links hiked sugar prices to ‘cartel behavior’ | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros has attributed the ongoing high sugar prices to “cartel behavior.”
Hontiveros said that the market price of sugar should have decreased after the government permitted the importation of 440 metric tons of sugar.
“So ibig sabihin, di yan ang totoong layunin or, merong ginagawa yung ibang mga players na minamanipula ang presyo. Ito ang cartel behavior. Common sense, kung mas maraming supply daw, dapat bababa ang presyo, e bakit di bumababa ang presyo di ba?” Hontiveros remarked.
(It means this is not the real intention or that some players are manipulating the prices. This is cartel behavior. It is common sense that with the abundant supply, prices should have gone down, but why is it not declining?)
Hontiveros also questioned the government’s decision to allow only three companies to import sugar. She pointed out that previous sugar orders issued by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) allowed 10 to 30 sugar importers to participate.
“Nabawasan ang bilang ng mga importers. Sa mga nakaraang sugar orders, maraming importers ang isinama doon. May isang order 10, may isang order, 30. Nagulat po ang lahat. Bakit dito, tatlo lamang? At ano ang epekto ng ganitong klaseng practice? Pangalawang sugar fiasco na po ito,” she expressed.
(The number of importers has been reduced. In previous sugar orders, many importers were included. There was one order with 10 importers, and another order with 30. Everyone was surprised. Why are only three here? And what is the effect of this kind of practice? This is the second sugar fiasco.)
Full Story at: Hontiveros links hiked sugar prices to ‘cartel behavior’ | Inquirer News
‘War on drugs’ victims’ kin ‘unanimously’ support ICC investigation | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Families of the victims of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs” unanimously support an investigation by the International Criminal Court into alleged crimes against humanity committed in the country.
The ICC’s Victims Participation and Reparation Section (VPRS) has submitted to the Appeals Chamber a report on May 22 on victims’ representation on whether the investigation into the Philippines should be confirmed, amended or reversed.
Drawing from five victim representation on behalf of 350 individual victims and 165 families, the VPRS said it found that “victims unanimously support an ICC investigation into crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the context of the [“war on drugs”] in the Philippines.”
“As a result, victims request the Chamber to confirm the Article 18(2) Decision,” it said. The chamber recently denied the Philippines’ request to suspend the international court’s investigation on the drug war.
Principal counsel for the victims Paolina Massidda has earlier echoed the request of ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan in asking the Appeals Chamber to dismiss the Philippine government’s plea and uphold the Pre-Trial Chamber’s decision to resume investigation into the Philippines.
Full Story at: ‘War on drugs’ victims’ kin ‘unanimously’ support ICC investigation | Philstar.com
Delivery service Maxim caught illegally ‘taking in passengers’ during Senate hearing | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Riders from courier service Maxim were caught red-handed for taking in passengers during a Senate hearing on the possible legalization of motorcycles-for-hire, even if the company is only allowed to deliver packages.
In a public hearing of the Committee on Public Services this Tuesday, Sen. Raffy Tulfo pointed out the issue after being made aware of it in the news. The staff of Sen. Grace Poe and some resource persons then tried booking a ride right there and confirmed the veracity of the reports.
“The app is very deceiving. We don’t know for sure if it will take passengers or delivery. It doesn’t state in the app, if I’m not mistaken,” said Poe.
“My staff tried Maxim right now. The rider said that they could ferry passengers.”
Currently, only Angkas, Joy Ride and Move It are permitted to operate motorcycle taxi services in the country amid a pilot study being conducted by the government before the total legalization of motorcycles as a form of public transportation.
A quick look at Maxim’s app on Google Play describes the service as a “taxi booking service and delivery” application. Some of the resource persons also pointed out that the app also offers very low prices, which could result in “unfair competition.”
Full Story at: Delivery service Maxim caught illegally ‘taking in passengers’ during Senate hearing | Philstar.com
