News Roundup 07 November 2023
Nov 07, 2023 • 4 min Read
Demoted again: House removes Arroyo from deputy speaker position | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives removed Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from the ranks of its deputy speakers during Tuesday’s plenary session, stripping the former president of a House leadership title six months after she was demoted from the second-highest position at the lower chamber.
House Majority leader Manuel Dalipe said that House leaders decided to relieve Macapagal-Arroyo and Rep. Isidro Ungab (Davao City, 3rd District) from their deputy speaker positions after they chose not to sign a “pivotal” House resolution to condemn “levied criticisms and scurrilous attacks against the House and its leadership.”
Of the nine deputy speakers, only Macapagal-Arroyo and Ungab did not sign the resolution, Dalipe said.
“By choosing not to sign the resolution, Deputy Speakers Macapagal-Arroyo and Ungab have demonstrated that their perspectives differ from the collective stance of the leadership,” Dalipe added.
House Resolution 1414, which was sponsored during Monday’s plenary session, calls on the House to “(uphold) the integrity and honor of the House of Representatives and (express) appreciation, solidarity and support” for House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Specifically, the House resolution took exception to recent “statements made that undermine the independence, integrity and reputation” of the lower chamber.
Full Story at: Demoted again: House removes Arroyo from deputy speaker position | Philstar.com
SC asked to rule on constitutionality of OVP confidential funds transfer | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Lawyers and concerned citizens on Tuesday filed before the Supreme Court a motion for certiorari, questioning the legality of transferring the contingency expense fund to the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
Petitioners assailed the transfer of the P125 million from the Office of the President’s (OP) contingency fund to the OVP’s confidential funds in 2022, which the Commission on Audit said was spent only for 11 days.
The petitioners include 1987 Constitution framer Christian Monsod, lawyers Barry Gutierrez and Arpee Santiago, former Comelec Commissioner Gus Lagman and former finance undersecretary Cielo Magno.
The petitioners argued that the transfer of funds from the national budget to the OVP can only be executed by the legislative department, neither by the OP nor the OVP.
“That purely legislative act cannot be dedicated to the executive department, ang pwede lang gawin ng executive department ay sundan ang instruction ng batas,” Arpee Santiago, one of the petitioners said in a press conference.
Full Story at: SC asked to rule on constitutionality of OVP confidential funds transfer | Philstar.com
Senators agree to remove secret funds of gov’t agencies with civilian function | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Senators have unanimously agreed to remove the confidential funds of all civilian agencies of government contained in the proposed P5.768-trillion national budget next year.
At least three senators—Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, and Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Francis Escudero— confirmed this in separate instances on Tuesday.
During the regular session of the Senate, Estrada mentioned parts of what transpired during their caucus on Monday as he denied news reports that senators were divided on the controversial P1.23 billion confidential funds.
“We never voted with regard to all the intelligence fund or confidential fund,” he said.
“In fact, we agreed unanimously to remove all the confidential and intelligence funds not only that of the Office of the Vice President, not only that of the Department of Education but all civilian agencies na merong confidential and intelligence funds,” Estrada said.
Escudero confirmed Estrada’s statement.
Full Story at: Senators agree to remove secret funds of civilian agencies of gov’t (inquirer.net)
US Embassy in PH slams murder of broadcaster in Misamis Occidental | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The United States (US) embassy in the Philippines slammed the killing of radio broadcaster Juan Jumalon.
In a Twitter post on Tuesday, the embassy welcomed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos’ response to the latest media killing.
“The US Embassy condemns in the strongest terms the brazen murder of Juan ‘DJ Johnny Walker’ Jumalon. We welcome the swift steps taken by President Marcos, Sęcretary Abalos, and Philippine law enforcement authorities to solve this crime and bring the perpetrators to justice,” said the Embassy.
“Journalism is fundamental to a free society, and attacks on journalists put that freedom at risk,” it added.
This was echoed by US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, who extended her sympathies to Jumalon’s families.
Full Story at: US Embassy slams brazen murder of broadcaster (inquirer.net)
