News Roundup 03 November 2024
Nov 03, 2024 • 5 min Read
DOJ urged to issue lookout bulletin vs OVP officials | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — A House of Representatives’ panel has urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue a lookout bulletin against officials of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in relation to the alleged misuse of government funds under Vice President Sara Duterte’s watch.
Good government and public accountability panel chair and Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua said he requested after he received information that the following OVP officials may be preparing to leave the country:
- OVP Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez
- Assistant Chief of Staff and Bids and Awards Committee Chair Lemuel Ortonio
- Administrative and Financial Services Director Rosalynne Sanchez
- Special Disbursing Officer (SDO) Gina Acosta
- Chief Accountant Juleita Villadelrey
- former Department of Education Assistant Secretary Sunshine Charry Fajarda
- SDO Edward Fajarda
The request also came after subpoenas were issued against the OVP officials for their repeated absences from previous House hearings.
“Considering these developments, I earnestly request your office to issue a Lookout Bulletin Order against these personalities,” Chua said, citing his letter addressed to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.
“This action is imperative to monitor their movements and prevent any potential attempt to flee the country, which could significantly hinder our investigation and broader efforts to uphold the integrity of public service,” he added.
Full Story at: DOJ urged to issue lookout bulletin vs OVP officials
Senate may again summon Duterte after all | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte may be summoned to appear at the next Senate hearing on his administration’s ruthless crackdown on narcotics that resulted in the killing of thousands of suspected drug offenders, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said on Saturday.
More witnesses needed
But Pimentel, who has been tapped to lead the investigation, said that this would depend on the next set of witnesses who were invited to attend the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee’s inquiry.
He said he would rather listen to other witnesses than grill Duterte anew on his bloody antidrug strategy, which the former leader’s critics claimed was patterned after the take-no-prisoners approach that he had employed as a longtime mayor of Davao City.
“Many are suggesting that Duterte must return for the second hearing. But I told them, ‘What kind of materials will we have if we only listen to one witness?’” Pimentel said in a radio interview.
Full Story at: Senate may again summon Duterte after all
Sara ratings now lower than those of Chiz, Romualdez | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — After falling below the ratings of President Marcos, Vice President Sara Duterte’s latest trust and approval ratings have also settled below those obtained by congressional leaders in the latest survey conducted by the OCTA Research Group.
Duterte, who used to have the highest ratings among top officials, has suffered significant declines in her ratings following a series of controversies and issues with the Marcos administration.
In OCTA’s third quarter survey conducted from Sept. 4 to 7, the Vice President obtained a satisfaction rating of 52 percent and a trust rating of 59 percent, down from 60 percent and 65 percent, respectively, based on a similar survey in July.
Marcos now has the highest numbers among the top officials even if his figures have also declined, with 66 percent satisfaction (from 68 percent) and 69 percent trust (from 71 percent).
Senate President Francis Escudero, who assumed office in May, obtained a satisfaction rating of 65 percent and a trust rating of 67 percent.
It was the first time that approval of his performance was measured by OCTA. His trust rating, meanwhile, remained the same as in June.
Speaker Martin Romualdez, who reportedly had a falling out with Duterte last year, obtained a satisfaction rating of 62 percent (from 63 percent) and a trust rating of 61 percent (from 62 percent).
Among the five highest officials, only Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo had lower ratings than Duterte. He obtained a satisfaction rating of 14 percent (from 12 percent) and a trust rating of 15 percent (from 13 percent).
Survey data show that chief justices often receive lower ratings than the other four officials, who are all elected.
Full Story at: Sara ratings now lower than those of Chiz, Romualdez | Philstar.com
PAOCC disowns raid on POGO hub in Manila | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) distanced itself from a raid at a suspected Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Manila and accused the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) of attempting to associate them with a “flawed” operation.
The PAOCC said it was not part of the operation at the Century Peak Tower at the corner of Adriatico and Sta. Monica streets on Tuesday wherein 85 people, including 69 foreigners, were rounded up.
It said the raid was spearheaded by the NCRPO and the Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG).
“We were never consulted nor informed regarding this operation,” it said in a statement.
Moreover, the PAOCC denied it called the raided POGO as the “mother of all POGOs” as the agency was not involved in the operation.
PAOCC’s spokesman Winston John Casio told reporters in a separate message on Viber that they condemn the NCRPO’s attempts to associate the commission with a “failed” operation.
The reason why Casio called the operation a failure was the foreigners who were caught were released after the police allegedly failed to secure a legal hold on them.
Casio stressed the PAOCC would never allow such a flaw to happen as they coordinate with the Department of Justice’s Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (DOJ-IACAT) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
He also challenged NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Sidney Hernia to clear the PAOCC’s name from being associated with the “botched” raid.
Full Story at: PAOCC disowns raid on POGO hub in Manila | Philstar.com
