News Roundup 24 April 2023
Apr 24, 2023 • 5 min Read
Senate probe into ‘Sugar Fiasco 2.0’ called off because resource persons are abroad | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Senate Blue Ribbon committee postponed to a still undetermined date its investigation into the allegedly irregular importation of 440,000 metric tons of sugar into the country ahead of the implementation of a sugar order allowing this.
The Blue Ribbon panel said Monday in a notice that the initial hearing is being postponed “in view of the foreign official trips and therefore the non-availability of several important resource persons.”
The office of Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who filed a resolution seeking a Senate probe into what she called a “government-sponsored smuggling” of sugar, said she was ready to attend the hearing remotely through videoconferencing.
Last week, members of the Senate public order panel including Hontiveros and Blue Ribbon chairperson Sen. Francis Tolentino, unanimously decided to bar suspended Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. from virtually attending the hearing into the killings in his province of Negros Oriental.
They said the Senate panel will not be able to acquire jurisdiction over Teves should it issue subpoenas or hold him in contempt as his whereabouts are unknown. Senators said Teves must either appear in person or remotely at a Philippine embassy, consulate or chancery.
This was adopted from Commission on Appointments rules and Supreme Court circulars on remote appearances, which Tolentino said had a “persuasive effect” over the Senate proceedings.
As this has set precedent in the Senate, the rule would likely be carried over in other Senate panels if not yet codified in the chamber’s rules.
Full Story at: Senate probe into ‘Sugar Fiasco 2.0’ called off because resource persons are abroad | Philstar.com
Marcos expects new PNP chief Acorda to ‘calm’ police force in flux | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said Monday he expects PGen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., the newly-installed top cop, to “calm” the police force as the government undertakes many reforms, including investigating officers suspected to be involved in the illegal drug trade.
In an interview over state-run Radyo Pilipinas, Marcos said Acorda is “very steady” and should be able to command over a police force going through a lot of changes.
“Because a lot of things are happening with our police force, we are looking at a lot of things, we are having problems, we really need to appoint someone who we can trust as a commander,” Marcos said in Filipino.
He added: “Maybe he is the most suitable now to calm the situation prevailing over the police force because we are replacing many people, we are building housing, we are fixing their pensions, we are investigating who are involved in the drug syndicate.”
Full Story at: Marcos expects new PNP chief Acorda to ‘calm’ police force in flux | Philstar.com
Azurin: PNP ‘will not name names’ sans ‘sufficient evidence’ in anti-drug drive | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) will not name or accuse anyone without enough evidence of their direct involvement in the illegal drug trade, its former chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said Monday.
During his retirement honors at Camp Crame in Quezon City, Azurin detailed the PNP’s accomplishments under his leadership.
“I unmasked the syndicates in PNP that damaged its reputation using my strategy: tapakan mo ‘yung buntot, makikita mo ‘yung ulo (step on the tail, you will see the head),” he said in his speech.
“Under your administration, Mr. President (Ferdinand Marcos Jr.), we assure you that in our war on drugs, we will not name names or accuse anyone without sufficient evidence and cases filed against those who are involved,” he added.
Azurin’s parting remark, however, was in contrast with what Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said before he revealed the names of ranking police officers allegedly embroiled in the alleged “massive” cover-up of alleged irregularities supposedly committed by some police officers during the seizure of 990 kilos “shabu” (crystal meth) worth P6.7 billion in October 2022.
On April 5, Abalos said he would “name names” and “heads will roll” in the coming days. Then on April 10, the DILG chief revealed the identity of police officers allegedly involved in the drug haul case citing a CCTV footage.
Azurin, on the other hand, asserted there was no plan to cover up and attempt to delay the investigation on the case.
He also reminded Abalos and those involved to “focus on the real enemy, which is the shabu and the drug syndicates,” adding that the morale of the PNP had gone low due to the cover-up allegations involving its high-ranking officials.
Full Story at: Azurin: PNP ‘will not name names’ sans ‘sufficient evidence’ in anti-drug drive | Inquirer News
DOH logs 3,148 COVID infections from April 17 to 23 | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) recorded 3,148 infections of COVID-19 from April 17 to 23, higher than the 2,386 infections recorded the previous week.
According to the DOH’s latest weekly report on Monday, this translates to a daily average of 450, 32 percent higher than the 241 daily average cases recorded from April 10 to 16.
Meanwhile, 14 or 0.45 percent of the recorded infections were tagged as critical or severe, with active critical or severe COVID-19 admissions currently at 345.
Five deaths were also added to the country’s death toll, none recorded in the past two weeks, with all deaths being backlogs reported as early as September 2020.
Full Story at: DOH logs 3,148 COVID infections from April 17 to 23 | Inquirer News
