News Roundup 14 November 2023
Nov 14, 2023 • 4 min Read
After 6 years, De Lima free as court okays bail | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — “Finally, freedom!”
These were the first words former Sen. Leila de Lima said in the courtroom on Monday immediately after the judge in charge of the third and last case against her granted her petition for bail. She then sobbed uncontrollably as her family, friends, and legal team celebrated her imminent release after nearly seven years in detention, with some also breaking down in tears.
Later, a composed but still emotional De Lima faced the media and her supporters who were waiting outside the courtroom.
“Finally, I will be set free. For years, my whole team has been crying out for justice and freedom, for more than six long years I’ve been praying so hard for this day to come,” she said as chants of “Free Leila Now!” from her supporters echoed in the background.
“It is very painful to be jailed if you are innocent, and I don’t want this to happen to others. But I don’t want to be sad or bitter today. This is a moment of triumph and thanksgiving,” De Lima added.
Full Story at: After 6 years, De Lima free as court okays bail | Inquirer News
Marcos urged to address ‘alarming’ resignation trend in PH | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — House Assistant Minority Leader Arlene Brosas expressed concern on Monday over the “Great Resignation” in the Philippines and urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to take steps in addressing the “alarming trend” and to certify as urgent measures aimed at raising Filipino workers’ wages.
“It is clear that employees are reassessing the definition of quality work and actively pursuing more meaningful work experiences,” Brosas, a Gabriela women’s party-list representative, said in a statement.
“The solution to this is to increase salaries and offer comprehensive work benefits.”
She explained that the “Great Resignation” is a phenomenon that has been observed globally in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 and has “significantly affected various industries in the country.”
The trend involves employees being forced to leave their jobs due to low wages worsened by rising inflation, job dissatisfaction, lack of upward mobility, and lack of benefits, as well as employer policies that do not prioritize their well-being.
National minimum wage
Brosas cited a recent study by United Kingdom-based recruitment company PageGroup, which found that 83 percent of Filipino respondents had planned to resign in 2022, showing their desire for change and progress towards the end of prioritizing their personal well-being.
Full Story at: Marcos urged to address ‘alarming’ resignation trend in PH | Inquirer News
Senate delays CHR budget over lack of explicit anti-abortion stance | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The approval of the Commission on Human Rights’ budget once again faces a delay as senators, concerned about the CHR’s past calls to examine the impact of the country’s abortion ban on marginalized women, argued that the human rights body must first issue a strong stance against abortion before budget talks can resume.
During Tuesday’s plenary debates of the proposed 2024 national budget, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada made a motion to defer the budget of the CHR, which he had sponsored on the floor.
“I move that we defer … until they come up with a strong stance against abortion,” Estrada said.
“If they continue to espouse the criminalization of abortion or if they support abortion per se, I’m sorry, I will be unable to defend this budget,” he added.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, who accepted the motion, said that he “would not be able to approve the budget either” pending the CHR’s position on whether abortion should be decriminalized.
Full Story at: Senate delays CHR budget over lack of explicit anti-abortion stance | Philstar.com
Supreme Court upholds dismissal of ill-gotten wealth case vs Marcos Sr. estate | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) en banc affirmed Sandiganbayan’s 2012 resolution and decision, which dismissed the Presidential Commission on Good Governance’s (PCGG) case against the estate of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
The consolidated cases involved Lucio Tan, the estate of Marcos Sr. represented by former first lady Imelda Marcos and their children, and several other alleged cronies with regard to a complaint first filed by the PCGG at the Sandiganbayan on July 17, 1987.
“In G.R. No, 203592, the Sandiganbayan Decision dated 11 June 2012 and Resolution dated 26 September 2012 dismissing the Republic’s Second Amended Complaint ‘ for reversion, reconveyance, restitution, accounting and damages are AFFIRMED. Consequently, the Petition for Review on Certiorari of the Republic of the Philippines is DENIED for lack of merit,” the court said in a ruling penned by Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda.
Full Story at: Supreme Court upholds dismissal of ill-gotten wealth case vs Marcos Sr. estate | Philstar.com
