News Roundup 04 June 2023
Jun 04, 2023 • 4 min Read
Serious errors committed in approving Maharlika bill – Escudero | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — In its rush to pass legislation for the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF), both houses of Congress committed serious procedural and substantial legal errors that may nullify the law from the start, Sen. Francis Escudero said on Saturday.
The errors, as shown in the enrolled bill, are remediable, Escudero said, but fixing them will require that the Senate and House of Representatives admit to making a congressional boo-boo yet again.
“I believe that the errors cited are not matters of style and correcting them cannot just be a ‘perfecting amendment,’” Escudero said, pointing to the law’s approval, which did not comply with constitutional requirements.
Escudero made the statement two days after the Senate and the House of Representatives convened for what was described by Congress leaders as a “pre-bicameral conference committee” meeting.
Conflicting provisions
But no bicameral conference committee report came out of that meeting because Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said there was no need.
There were also conflicting provisions on the prescriptive period of crimes punishable under the Maharlika law, as exposed by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III.
Full Story at: Serious errors committed in approving Maharlika bill – Escudero | Inquirer News
Negros Occ. political detainee seeks CHR help on daughter’s disappearance | INQUIRER.NET – BACOLOD CITY — A female political detainee at the Negros Occidental District Jail on Tuesday, May 30, called on the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to conduct an “immediate and impartial” investigation on the disappearance of her daughter and two motorcycle-for-hire drivers from La Castellana town last April 19.
Rossine Enyong, in a letter dated May 20, informed the CHR that her 28-year-old daughter Lyngrace and motorcycle-for-hire drivers Renel de los Santos and Denald Mialen went missing after they were reportedly abducted somewhere in the Aranda-La Castellana road in Hinigaran town.
“As a mother, I could not help but feel worried about my daughter’s safety. That is why I call your (CHR) office to conduct a probe on the incident,” Enyong said.
“Even after 40 days since my daughter’s disappearance, we continue to hope that we will still see her alive,” she added.
Aside from the CHR, Enyong also sent a copy of her letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross for proper action.
Full Story at: Negros Occ. political detainee seeks CHR help on daughter’s disappearance | Inquirer News
UNESCO condemns killing of Oriental Mindoro broadcaster Cris Bundoquin | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — International condemnation for the killing of Oriental Mindoro broadcaster Cresenciano “Cris” Bundoquin last Wednesday continues to mount as UNESCO called the murder part of a “concerning trend” for freedom of expression.
Bundoquin — ‘Bunduquin’ in some reports and statements but ‘Bundoquin’ on his Facebook account and in other media — a Calapan City-based broadcaster who hosted shows on local radio DWXR 101.7 FM and online was shot dead by two gunmen on a motorcycle before dawn on May 31. UNESCO said he had also been reporting on local environment issues and had been receiving death threats related to his work.
“I condemn the killing of Cresenciano Bunduquin and urge the authorities to pursue those responsible and ensure they are brought to justice. The continued targeting of journalists reporting on environmental issues represents a particularly concerning trend for freedom of expression,” UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said in a statement released Saturday.
Full Story at: UNESCO condemns killing of Oriental Mindoro broadcaster Cris Bundoquin | Philstar.com
Escudero: Maharlika bill prohibits investments from SSS, GSIS but… | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — While the bill for the Maharlika Investment Fund prohibits the use of pension funds for the contentious fund, that provision may be problematic in the future, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who still has doubts about the bill that the Senate passed past midnight last Wednesday.
Asked on Super Radyo dzBB whether this clashed with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s pronouncement that while the Social Security System and Government Service Insurance System cannot be used for the seed fund, pension funds can be invested into Maharlika later on, Escudero said the provision will stay if it is in the version signed into law.
“They can no longer sneak something in, that would be falsification,” he said in Filipino. He said, however, that he doubts whether the provision is legally sound because the prohibition may go beyond what the bill creating the Maharlika Investment Corp. that will manage the fund is supposed to do.
“That may be interference with the charter of the pension funds on what they can and cannot do,” he said, especially if the investment actually makes money as its proponents project.
“So, pension funds will be prohibited from investing in a fund where they can make a bigger profit than in a regular investment? When that happens, will we need to amend the law?” Escudero said. He said he had advised colleagues to consider amending the charters of the SSS and GSIS.
Full Story at: Escudero: Maharlika bill prohibits investments from SSS, GSIS but… | Philstar.com
