News Roundup 12 October 2023
Oct 12, 2023 • 4 min Read
Ex-pres. Duterte’s statements a direct threat to Rep. Castro’s life — group | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — A progressive group has accused former president Rodrigo Duterte of issuing statements that are a clear threat to ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro’s life.
In a statement on Thursday, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) said Duterte’s comments against Castro, a vocal critic of the confidential funds (CF) lodged with the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd), revealed his fascistic tendencies again.
Castro and the rest of the Makabayan bloc’s crusade against the CF turned out to be successful as the House leadership decided to remove the secret funds of five agencies, including OVP and DepEd, from the proposed 2024 budget.
The OVP and DepEd are headed by Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.
“The statements of Rodrigo Duterte, who has been a fascist and an executioner since then, have been revolting. It is clearly a direct threat to the life of Rep. France Castro and progressive groups and individuals who are only fighting for legitimate concerns and people’s rights,” ACT chairperson Vladimer Quetua said in Filipino.
“It is also clear that the state has used and will use confidential and intelligence funds forced into the budget of their agencies to wage abuses, brutality, and killing of ordinary Filipinos,” he added.
Full Story at: Ex-pres. Duterte’s statements a direct threat to Rep. Castro’s life — group | Inquirer News
Lagman seeks explanation on House’s 2024 ‘extraordinary expenses’ | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker has asked for more explanation on how the House of Representatives plans to utilize funds for extraordinary expenses under the proposed 2024 budget, as past guidelines have limited the use of such allocations.
Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman said this on Wednesday after House officials clarified that the P1.6 billion in the 2024 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) are not confidential funds (CF) as a blogger pointed out, but are meant for extraordinary expenses.
According to appropriations senior vice chair and Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo, the extraordinary expenses were meant for unforeseen circumstances like calamities. But Lagman noted that such allocations are not for calamities.
“Consequently, ‘extraordinary expenses’ are neither huge amounts nor can they be used for calamity response,” he claimed.
Lagman further explained that under the 2023 national budget or the General Appropriations Act (GAA), the use of extraordinary expenses was delimited by Section 51.
Full Story at: Lagman seeks explanation on House’s 2024 ‘extraordinary expenses’ | Inquirer News
Bishop David elected to Vatican Synod communication body | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, the leader of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), has been elected to the communication body of the Vatican Synod.
According to a report of CBCP News on Thursday, the Caloocan bishop will represent Asia in the Commission of Information at the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.
“Including David, assembly delegates voted for seven representatives of geographic regions out of 17 commission members. The body is led by Dr. Paolo Ruffini, the lay head of the Vatican’s communication dicastery,” the report said.
Accompanying David in the Philippine delegation are Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara and Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula.
Also included is female theologian Estela Padilla, who was one of the Asian lay members chosen by Pope Francis to participate in the synod.
Full Story at: Bishop David elected to Vatican Synod communication body | Philstar.com
Increased degassing activity monitored in Taal — Phivolcs | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported Thursday an increase in degassing activity from Taal Volcano in Batangas.
In an advisory, Phivolcs said that Taal Volcano emitted 9,762 tons of volcanic sulfur dioxide per day Thursday. This was the highest recorded emission from Taal this year.
The volcano has been continuously releasing high concentrations of sulfur dioxide since March 2021, with emissions averaging 3,781 tons per day since September 2023.
“Visual monitors show continued pronounced upwelling of volcanic fluids in the main crater that generated rather short and weak to moderate volume degassing plumes,” Phivolcs said.
The state seismologists noted that while no volcanic smog or vog was observed today, the chances for volcanic sulfur dioxide to accumulate and generate vog would increase if the elevated degassing and decreased wind speeds continue.
Full Story at: Increased degassing activity monitored in Taal — Phivolcs | Philstar.com
