News Roundup 15 October 2023
Oct 15, 2023 • 4 min Read
House party chiefs tell Duterte: Stop the threats | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — In a bold and unprecedented move, leaders of political parties in the House of Representatives on Saturday called out former President Rodrigo Duterte for maligning Congress and threatening to kill one of their own.
Lawmakers from the major political blocs in the House said in a joint statement that Duterte should stop “making threats or insinuating harm” against Congress, which supported him for many years.
They took “utmost exception” to his statements and said that it was “deeply unfortunate that the former president chose to malign the very institution that for years supported many of his own legislative priorities.”
“Our institution, the House of Representatives, has been unwavering in its dedication to the Filipino people,” the House leaders said. “We call upon the former President and all parties involved to avoid making threats or insinuating harm against any member of the House or the institution itself.”
The joint statement was released late Saturday night by House Secretary General Reginald Velasco.
In a phone interview with the Inquirer, Velasco said the statement was the result of consultations with lawmakers from the House majority bloc.
The political parties that issued the statement were the Lakas Christian-Muslim Democrats (CMD), Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, Nationalist People’s Coalition, Nacionalista Party, National Unity Party, and the Partylist Coalition Foundation Inc.
Full Story at: House party chiefs tell Duterte: Stop the threats | Inquirer News
Probe of Davao City’s secret funds sought | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Makabayan lawmakers on Saturday formally asked three House panels to look into Davao City’s whopping P2.962 billion in confidential expenses from 2016 until this year.
The three-member bloc — composed of Party-list Reps. France Castro of ACT Teachers, Arlene Brosas of Gabriela, and Raoul Manuel of Kabataan — filed House Resolution No. 1361 urging the House committees on good government and public accountability, public accounts, and local government to jointly investigate Davao City’s confidential funds in aid of legislation.
They stressed that government officials “should not only refrain from irregular but also from unnecessary, excessive, extravagant, unconscionable expenditures” with the lack of funds for social services.
“The Filipino people are questioning why a significant portion of public funds are made confidential and secret from the public. It is imperative for Congress to ensure transparency and public accountability on the use of public funds and ensure that every centavo was used for the interest of the Filipino people, and not for the interest of a few,” the measure said.
Full Story at: Probe of Davao City’s secret funds sought | Inquirer News
House of Representatives website hacked | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The official website of the House of Representatives was breached on Sunday merely a week after two other government agencies reported large-scale cyberattacks.
House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said in a statement that the House website experienced “unauthorized access” early Sunday.
The public has been advised to be cautious of potentially fraudulent emails or communications that claim to be from the House of Representatives.
The lower chamber’s official website stores different information on legislative measures and information on its members, among others.
On Sunday, the website was defaced with an image of a “trollface” and an entity calling itself “3MUSKETEERZ” taking responsibility for the act.
Full Story at: House of Representatives website hacked | Philstar.com
Stronger self-reliant defense posture for Philippines sought | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro has asked legislators to strengthen the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)’s modernization and the self-reliance posture of the Department of National Defense (DND).
Teodoro made the call during the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the swapping of properties within the AFP Visayas Command (Viscom) at Camp Lapu-Lapu, Barangay Apas, Cebu City last Thursday.
“I am happy to report that Congress has promised us two things. The amendment of the modernization law and the procurement law of the Armed Forces,” he said.
“Number two, the strengthening of our self-reliant defense program or posture. That means to say, we will be able to invest long-term as equity partners or as purchasers for locally manufactured defense goods and equipment,” he added.
The proposed amendments are not only envisioned to fortify the country’s defense capabilities, but also to invigorate economic growth and development, including providing a substantial boost to Cebu’s industries, according to the defense chief.
Full Story at: Stronger self-reliant defense posture for Philippines sought | Philstar.com
