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MANILA, Philippines - Huhubaran na ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee sa pagdinig ngayong Martes, Agosto 29 ang
kontrobersyal na “Davao Group” na iniuugnay kay Presidential Son at Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte.

Ayon kay committee chair Sen. Richard Gordon, inimbitahan na ng Senado si Davao City Councilor Nilo Abellara alias
“Small” upang magbigay linaw sa alegasyon ng broker na si Mark Taguba na hiningian siya ng Davao Group ng P5 mil-
yon bilang enrollment fee para malayang mailabas-pasok ang mga shipment nito.

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MANILA, Philippines - Pasado na sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa ang panukalang Compressed work weeks o ang apat na
araw na lamang na pasok sa trabaho.

Sa ilalim ng House bill 6152 ni Baguio City Rep. Mark Go, na ang pasok sa mga tanggapan ay maaaring lumampas ng
walong oras kung ia-adopt ng isang kumpanya ang compressed work week scheme.

Nakasaad din sa panukala na ang rest days ay hindi dapat bababa sa dalawang araw subalit hindi lalampas sa 3 araw,
habang ang trabaho ay hindi lalampas sa 48 oras kada linggo.

Habang kung ang isang empleyado naman ay magtatrabaho ng mahigit sa 48 oras, ay dapat makatanggap siya ng
overtime pay.

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Hiniling ni Pangulong Duterte sa sambayanang Filipino na isapuso at isabuhay ang sakripisyo ng mga bayani sa
paggunita sa National Heroes Day sa araw na ito.

Sinabi ng Pangulo, hindi dapat mabalewala ang ginawang pag-aalay ng buhay ng mga bayani upang makamit ng bansa
ang kalayaan.
Idinagdag pa ng Pangulo, dapat lamang na bigyang-halaga ng bawat Filipino ang ipinaglaban ng mga bayani lalo ang
paglaban sa kriminalidad at kahirapan.

“As we commemorate the life and works of our national heroes, we must continue to embrace their ways in our daily
undertakings. Let us emulate their example as we continue to realize our ideals and aspirations for ourselves and our
country,” pahayag pa ng Pangulo sa kanyang mensahe sa sambayanang Filipino.

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Magpupulong bu- kas sina PNP chief Director General Ro-nald Dela Rosa at ang Commission on Human Rights (CHR)
para talakayin ang mga isyu na may kaugnayan sa extra judicial killings (EJKs).

Ayon kay Dela Rosa, nagkita sila noong Huwebes ni CHR Commissioner Chito Gascon at nagkasundo na magpulong
para talakayin ang mga isyu na may kinalaman sa extra judicial killings at ang insidenteng pagpatay sa 17-anyos na si
Kian Delos Santos.

Magugunita na kaliwa’t kanang kritisismo ang natatanggap ng PNP kaugnay sa pagkakapatay kay Kian dahil sa police
operation.

Kaugnay nito, nirekomenda naman ni PNP-Internal Affairs Service (IAS) Inspector General Atty. Alfegar Triambulo na
isailalim sa pre-charged investigation ang 14 na pulis sa isinasangkot sa pagpatay kay Kian.

Maliban dito, hinihintay na rin ng IAS ang isusumiteng counter-affidavit ng mga sangkot na pulis.
Babala sa mga pulis na ‘tanim-droga’
NOON ay tanim-bala ang nauso sa NAIA, ngayon ay ‘‘tanim-droga’’ naman ang pinauuso ng mga pulis para sa kanilang drug
campaign. Pero ang matindi, ginagawa nila ang tanim-droga para makapangotong. Namemera lang sila. Sa takot ng kanilang
‘‘tinaniman’’, magbibigay na lamang ng pera. Bukod sa droga, karaniwan na ring itinatanim ang baril.

Ganito ang sinasabing modus ng mga corrupt na pulis sa kasalukuyan. Maraming ganitong pulis at tila wala silang takot sa kabila na
nagbabala si Pres. Rodrigo Duterte na mapaparusahan ang mga pulis na nagtatanim ng ebidensiya o ng droga mismo. Ayon pa sa
Presidente, ang mga pulis na nagtatanim ng droga ang nararapat patayin.

Ang isyu sa tanim-ebidensiya ay naging kontrobersiya makaraang patayin ang 17-anyos na si Kian delos Santos noong nakaraang
linggo. Tatlong pulis ang nakunan ng CCTV habang akbay si Kian at dinadala sa isang lugar sa Sta. Quiteria, Caloocan City. Makaraan
iyon, natagpuan ang bangkay ni Kian na nakasubsob sa isang basurahan. May mga tama ito ng bala sa katawan.

Ayon sa mga pulis, nanlaban si Kian at nagpaputok ng baril. Gumanti sila at napatay si Kian. Nakuha umano kay Kian ang isang caliber
45 at dalawang sachet ng shabu. Ayon naman sa hepe ng Caloocan police, drug runner si Kian sa lugar.

Taliwas naman ito sa salaysay ng mga witness na binigyan ng baril si Kian at sinabihan daw ng mga pulis na iputok ito. Binaril daw si
Kian habang nakaluhod. Hindi raw drug runner si Kian. Mabait na bata raw ito. Inilibing si Kian noong Sabado sa La Loma public
cemetery. Marami ang nakipaglibing.

Si Duterte ang nag-utos kay PNP chief Dir. Gen. Ronald dela Rosa na arestuhin ang tatlong pulis at sampahan ng kaso kung may
sapat na ebidensiya. Hindi raw niya kukunsintihin ang mga pulis na nagtatanim ng ebidensiya. Galit siya sa mga pulis na ganito ang
ginagawa. Hindi niya kakampihan ang mga ito.

Sinampahan na ng kaso ang mga pulis noong nakaraang linggo at umaasa ang mga magulang ni Kian na uusad na nga ang kaso lalo
pa’t nagpahayag ang Presidente na mananagot ang mga ito kapag napatunayang lumabag sa batas. Sana nga hindi niya kampihan
ang mga pulis na “utak pulbura”.

Anong kasunod Senator Ping?

PINANGALANAN na ni Sen. Panfilo Lacson ang mga opisyal ng Bureau of Customs (BOC) na tumatanggap ng “tara” o payola. Ang
“tara” ay isang sistema sa Customs kung saan ang mga containers na dumarating sa bansa araw-araw ay may katapat na kabayaran.
Pinaghahatian ang “tara” ng mga Customs brokers at mga corrupt na Customs official. Ibinunyag ni Lacson ang mga pangalan ng 45
katao na nagbibigay ng suhol sa mga corrupt officials ganundin ang mga pangalan ng mga corrupt na district collectors at bagman.

Ang nakagugulat ay nang sabihin ni Lacson na pati si Customs commissioner Nicanor Faeldon ay tumatanggap ng “tara”. Bukod sa
“tara” tumanggap din si Faeldon ng P100 milyon noong maupo ito sa Customs bilang “pasalubong”. Ang iba pang tumatanggap ng
“tara” ay ang mga kasamahan ni Faeldon sa Magdalo group na pawang inilagay niya sa puwesto. Itinanggi naman ni Faeldon ang
akusasyon ni Lacson at binuweltahan na ang anak umano ni Lacson ay smuggler ng semento.

Mahaba ang ginawang pagbubunyag ni Lacson sa nangyayaring corruption sa Customs. Inihalintulad ni Lacson ang Customs sa isang
“labyrinth” at “lexicon” ng mga kriminal. Hindi lamang aniya nadadaya o nawawalan ng bilyun-bilyong pisong buwis taun-taon ang
bansa kundi ginagamit din na palusutan ng shabu.

Mariing sinabi ni Lacson na kinain ng sistema si Faeldon. Sa halip umano na labanan ni Faeldon ang sistemang nangyayari sa
Customs ay kabaliktaran ang nangyari. Pinabayaan at kinunsinti umano ni Faeldon ang nangyayaring korapsiyon sa pinamumunuang
ahensiya. Lumalim aniya ang corruption sa Customs at maging ang mga bagong opisyal ay nabaon na rin sa lalim ng kumunoy nang
pinaghahatiang “tara”.

Ang pagbubunyag ni Lacson sa korapsiyon sa Customs ay nag-ugat nang makalusot ang P6.4 bilyong halaga ng shabu. Natunton ang
shabu sa isang warehouse sa Valenzuela pero nabawasan na. Marami nang naikalat at pinagkakakitaan na ng sindikato. Tiyak na
magpoprodyus ito ng mga bagong halimaw sa lipunan.

Kahanga-hanga si Lacson sa kanyang ibinunyag. Ang tanong, hanggang sa pagbubunyag na lang ba siya? Ngayong napangalanan na
ang mga tumatanggap ng “tara”, bakit hindi sila kasuhan o pagbayarin sa kanilang ginagawang kabuktutan. Anong sunod, Senator
Ping?
Honoring heroes

Paying tribute to the nation’s heroes, President Duterte yesterday urged Filipinos to uphold the rule of law and emulate the
heroes’ virtues as his administration continues to fight criminality and poverty.

The statement was issued to celebrate National Heroes Day today. It was also issued a day after the burial of 17-year-old Kian
Loyd delos Santos, the 11th grader whose death at the hands of the Caloocan police has triggered public outrage that has been
largely missing in the thousands of other suspected extrajudicial killings since last year.

The President is correct in pointing out the importance of peace and order in promoting economic growth and generally
improving the quality of life. He believes that if he can drastically reduce criminality, other elements necessary for development
and poverty alleviation will fall into place. He has forced the nation to confront the seriousness of the drug problem and how
narco politics is tearing apart the fabric of families, communities and society in general.

People realize that the war on drugs is not pretty. Drug money has the kind of corrupting influence that makes its beneficiaries
ready to use armed violence to sustain their immense profits. The killing of Kian delos Santos, however, has highlighted what
happens when the elbowroom enjoyed in this country by law enforcers in waging the ugly war on drugs is brazenly abused.

Last week President Duterte acknowledged that he would never be able to end the drug menace. This, however, does not mean
he is giving up or stopping his war; it will be sustained until his final day in power, and even beyond, as he has vowed.

But he can take his own advice to heart, even as his forces wage his war relentlessly: the rule of law and the war on drugs need
not be mutually exclusive. Or at least short cuts to law enforcement, which leave a wide room for grievous mistakes and the
death of innocents, need not be completely indispensable for winning the war. As the President himself has declared, upholding
the nation’s democratic ideals is a good way to honor the nation’s heroes today.
 War of words
Clearly, the biggest fish in the War on Drugs is our government. Yes, the bulk of the drug supply allegedly comes straight out of the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is also partly to blame. They lack efficiency in patrolling the seas (and on air) to detect illegal vessels coming from afar.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has ignored myriads of undocumented aliens in this country. Many of them are in the business of smuggling and illegal trade. Local
government units co-exist and have turned a blind eye to what they see and know.

Wasn’t it just a few weeks ago, when an investigation was conducted on the alleged involvement of the BOC in a shipment of shabu from China worth P6.4 billion
(US$126 million)? How did such large shipment pass through customs’ so-called express “green” lane? It was reported that the company was not even registered
in the record of importers with the BOC. Added to this is the fact that the trading company has done 13 importations, arriving one after another and with one
supplier.

Why isn’t the Armed Forces of the Philippines particularly the Philippine Coast Guard (a unit of the Philippine Navy), the agency manning our seas not able to
detect illegal vessels entering our shores? Are they really having difficulty or are they pretending not to notice these vessels? If they are able to efficiently perform
their duty then, the problem of smuggling, drug trafficking, etc. would have already been a non-issue. Yes, we may have way too many islands, but this is not an
excuse nor should it be a hindrance to protect the country. To date, there are clandestine unloading points (already identified), mostly smaller coastal areas, where
drugs are brought down from foreign vessels. These containers are then transshipped inland. Now what about the barangay and the mayors of these coastal
towns? Don’t tell me they don’t know what’s going on.

And what is the role of the Bureau of Immigration? The primary enforcement arm of the Department of Justice and the President of the Philippines in ensuring that
all foreigners within its territorial jurisdiction comply with existing laws. It is mandated to assist local and international law enforcement agencies in securing the
tranquility of the state against foreigners whose presence or stay may be deemed threats to national security, public safety, public morals and public health.
Another function of the agency is to regulate the entry, stay and exit of these foreign nationals in the country. They apparently have a problem on enforcement.
There seems to be way too many undocumented aliens in this country allegedly into illegal trading. Now, why are they allowing these people to slip through their
fingers?

If only proper coordination among these three agencies can be enhanced in the pursuit of what is right and just, then the war on drugs would have ended very
quickly.

Every branch of government has been sick with cancer for the longest time. Remember it was our national hero, Jose Rizal who first wrote about the social cancer
in his novel Noli Me Tangere as a sequel to El Filibusterismo – The Reign of Greed. This sickness has spread to the different strata of our country: from the public
officials, the priests, the rich and the poor and now even the developing working class. It is in our veins, in our hearts and in our mind. And it is about time we fight
it and change our crippling, crumbling and fragmented spirit.

Why do we continue to allow those in public office, who have fooled us and corrupted our country to lead us? Why do we allow those already incarcerated for a
crime they have committed in the past, return to power? Why do we re-submit ourselves to those who have been scourged of their regimes? And now we succumb
to those spoils of public office, in congress and in the senate as they question alleged criminals? Who are the “real” criminals anyway?

Now that the tables have turned, those once silenced are the ones questioning today. Sanamagan! Aren’t there other qualified Filipinos who can lead our country
to a better tomorrow? Why allow these buffoons to question justice on our behalf when we very well know they too are corrupt?

Government has allowed us to get into a “laissez faire” – free enterprise in all sorts of ways operating on its own laws. In fact, every branch of government, every
department, every agency set and reset their own rules and guidelines leading us to confusion when every new department/agency head is appointed. There is no
sustainable future in this type of endeavor. And you wonder how Indonesia, Malaysia, now Vietnam and soon Cambodia and Myanmar have overtaken
us? Susmariosep!

We must stop pointing fingers at one another and get our act together. The TV and radio news, newspapers and social media have created war of words. This is
“yellow journalism” at its worst and it’s not helping us any bit.

Yellow journalism stirs up our mood. It excites us and angers us. The danger is that it influences us enormously even when the facts and data are fabricated or
even half presented. The news can be fake or leaning toward an angle that is very subjective and incoherent.

When our thought is excited, it doesn’t make us think reasonably. We have to learn to think without prejudice. We shouldn’t create fear for others. We need to be
careful of our thought forms because our thought governs us.

We are like newspapers. We should contribute our news in a healthy way. Our own publication can create war or peace. We need to bring in peace in order to
achieve harmony. We should turn the news that we spread into a force of good. This can only happen if we unite and work together, when we understand each
other. Most important, when we purify our thoughts. By doing so, we create a better society.

We should learn to base our decisions and thoughts on real and factual data and evidence. We cannot afford to give in to a “he said, she said” kind of news. We
must read, digest, analyze and use science, logic and common sense. We should also check our sources. Just believing without checking is dangerous.

Now on the series of crimes happening around us, our agencies need to be more knowledgeable of their work. Proper investigation needs training and proper
investigative procedures not to mention equipment. Continues research-based investigative procedures will produce successful investigations. Investigators can
use different techniques to solve a crime – arson, murder or kidnapping. They must have the knowledge and application of the principles of evidence; be able to
look for evidence and analyze them; identify the victims; and locate the suspects; and the principles of humanizing the law that comes with a strong commitment
on social responsibility.

Our public investigative teams like the NBI, the CIDG and forensic scientists should be prepared and well-trained especially if the President is determined to
continue the war on drugs and the fight against corruption.
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A Philippine National Police official, who was deemed absent without official leave after he refused to be reassigned to
Basilan, was gunned down by motorcycle-riding assailants in Muntinlupa City Saturday night.

Chief Inspector Ernesto Vega Eco, 49, died at the scene.

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Elenita Binay, wife of former Vice President Jejomar Binay, has asked the Sandiganbayan to reconsider its ruling allowing
former Makati Councilor Ernesto Aspillaga to testify on her graft case in connection with an alleged anomalous purchase
in 1999 during her term as Makati mayor.

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The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading this week a bill that seeks to institutionalize a
“compressed” four-day workweek scheme to promote business competitiveness, work efficiency and labor productivity.

In a statement, the House’s public relations and information division said House Bill 6152 allows business and
government establishments to go flexible on their work schedules instead of following a usual five-day workweek.

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With the Marawi crisis nearing its 100th day of fighting, government forces in the war-torn city are now preparing for the
final assault against the Maute terrorists with hopes of ending the battle soon.

“Our troops are preparing for final assault,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said yesterday as he refused to set a
deadline or target date as to when the final push will be carried out.

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The former mutineers of the Magdalo group recruited by outgoing Customs commissioner Nicanor Faeldon are also all
going out with him as incoming chief Isidro Lapeña is bringing his own men into the bureau.

“I have my own men. I am bringing my own men as I take on this new job,” Lapeña said.

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Anonymous donors gave P68 million to the families of 68 soldiers killed in the ongoing battle between government forces
and local terrorist group Maute in Marawi City.

The Philippine Army turned over the financial assistance in checks amounting to P1 million each to the families of the 68
fallen soldiers yesterday at the Ricarte Hall in Philippine Army Officers Club in Fort Bonifacio.

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A senior administration lawmaker has urged President Duterte to issue an executive order allowing the utilization of idle
government lands for purposes of establishing on-site, in-city or near-city housing projects for the poor.

“An order from the Palace or a law authorizing the use of idle government lands in Metro Manila to put up in-city housing
is a key to address the increasing housing backlog in the capital,” Negros Occidental Rep. Albee Benitez said.
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Education Secretary Armin Luistro yesterday said his agency had not abandoned its development of “God-loving
learners” as he denied having been pressured by any group into removing the phrase “God-loving” from the DepEd’s
vision statement.

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The Catholic Church has denied the sacrament of marriage to a Quezon City councilor because of his stance advocating
birth control.