News Roundup 24 May 2023
May 24, 2023 • 4 min Read
Lagman urges Romualdez to bare details of supposed ouster plot | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Rep. Edcel Lagman (Albay, 1st District) on Wednesday urged House Speaker Martin Romualdez to reveal the details of the supposed plot to unseat him from his position after Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (Pampanga) denied accusations that she was behind the move.
In a statement, the Liberal Party president said that Romualdez should bare the “inculpatory details” of the plan to remove him from the post after what he described as Macapagal-Arroyo’s “abrupt, unceremonious, and humiliating demotion” from senior deputy speakership.
“I am certain Speaker Martin Romualdez has the incriminatory details and evidence regarding the plot to oust him,” Lagman said.
“However, Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo denied the accusation and said that her political objectives do not include becoming Speaker again. In other words, she no longer covets the Speakership,” he added.
Without naming Macapagal-Arroyo nor elaborating, Romualdez in a statement on Sunday said “occasional moves to destabilize the House should be nipped in the bud.”
Macapagal-Arroyo earlier said that there is no truth to allegations that she crafted a plan to oust—and replace—Romualdez as House speaker.
Full Story at: Lagman urges Romualdez to bare details of supposed ouster plot | Philstar.com
CHR: Minimize trauma in investigations, interventions involving children | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Government intervention in orphanages and other institutions for child care should be done with minimal disruption and trauma, the Commission on Human Rights reminded agencies on Wednesday after a center in Quezon City was ordered shuttered over alleged violations.
The commission also said it would monitor the case and the welfare of the children who were pulled out of the center.
The CHR noted that there had been reports on social media that “[Department of Social Welfare and Development] and police officers who came to retrieve the children the night of [May 22] were armed, causing distress among the children.” The National Authority for Child Care has rejected the reports as “libelous and unacceptable” while the DSWD has stressed that the cease order against Gentle Hands Inc. is for the welfare of the children in its care.
“As the country’s independent national human rights institution, we underscore the importance of putting primacy on the best interest of children. While we affirm that the serious concerns raised must be acted upon expeditiously, we also stress that it must be dealt with in a manner that is conscious and sensitive to the needs of the children,” the commission said.
Full Story at: CHR: Minimize trauma in investigations, interventions involving children | Philstar.com
Gentle Hands orphanage renovates facilities to address DSWD concerns | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines— Gentle Hands Inc., a private orphanage in Quezon City, has begun renovations to address overcrowding, ventilation, and fire safety concerns raised by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as grounds for its shutdown.
Conversion of triple-bunk beds into double-bunks, repainting, and clearing emergency exit ways are among the remedial measures carried ou, said Gentle Hands staff member Jelo Rivera in an interview with Inquirer.net.
Rivera also noted that the orphanage actually began converting its bunk beds three weeks prior to the closure order, emphasizing that Gentle Hands had kept constant communication with the DSWD regarding its infractions before the cease-and-desist order was issued.
Full Story at: Gentle Hands orphanage renovates facilities to address DSWD concerns | Inquirer News
Solon raises concern over private sector control over NGCP | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — A House of Representatives panel probe on Wednesday revealed that the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) could cut off power in most parts of the Philippines, should it choose to.
The State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) has a 40 percent stake in the NGCP, triggering national security concerns from both chambers of Congress. The NGCP is the country’s sole power grid operator.
Antipolo City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop heads the House committee on transportation and asked NGCP officials if they could theoretically cut off energy for most parts of the country.
“If you want to cut off all the power by stopping all the transmission, then the way I understand it, then the country will not have any power,” Acop said during a House probe into the May 1 Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3 power outage.
Ryan Embradura, NGCP’s RCC Grid Dispatch Manager, said such is possible.
Full Story at: Solon raises concern over private sector control over NGCP | Inquirer News
