By Julius Leonen

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II lauded the immigration officers and staffers stationed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for what he calls “seamless handling” of airport operations during the Holy Week amid woes surrounding their overtime pay.
Aguirre, citing a report, said that the average processing time of passengers at arrival counters was clocked in at 22.5 seconds per person, while the processing time at departure counters was clocked in at 55 seconds per person.
“Considering the current situation of our Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel relative to their overtime and augmentation pay concerns, this is a truly laudable effort that entailed the cooperation and sacrifices of everyone,” Aguirre said.
“The almost seamless manner that our immigration personnel have handled the large volume of arriving and departing passengers during the Holy Week rush speaks volume of their level of professionalism and of their dedication to their duties and responsibilities,” he added.
The Justice chief had said that he stands in solidarity with disgruntled BI employees amid reports of mass leave protests against the suspension order of their overtime allowances.
Aguirre said that 4,000 immigration personnel are needed to be filled for the BI to function efficiently, but the bureau only has a workforce of 1,700, with 2,300 vacancies still waiting to be filled.
The use of express lane funds as overtime pay for immigration personnel, Aguirre said, was the remedy for the bureau’s shortage of manpower.
Express lanes at NAIA are used by foreign travelers to expedite the processing of permits.
However, President Duterte had vetoed the provision to use express lane funds as payment for the BI employees’ overtime work in the 2017 General Appropriations Act.
Aguirre said that since the veto took effect, immigration employees have only been receiving a meager salary of only P14,000 a month.
According to reports, this has led to many employees filing notices of six months leave to look for other jobs.
As a solution, Aguirre said that he will be backing the enactment of a new immigration law where the use of express lane funds to pay overtime salaries will be halted.
Under the new law, Aguirre said that the BI will hire more employees and their salaries will be augmented.

MANHUNT ON 

An American with Korean descent, tagged as big-time supplier of party drugs in Malate area, escaped from his custodians after undergoing medical operation at a government hospital in Quezon City on Saturday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced yesterday.

The PNP-Drug Enforcement Group (DEG) said that Jun No, alias Jazz, escaped after undergoing medical operation for acute appendicitis at the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) at around 6:10 a.m.
Supt. Enrico Rigor, spokesman for the PNP-DEG, said that investigation is now ongoing to determine possible lapses on the part of a DEG operative and an agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) guarding him when he escaped.
“He just went out alone,” Rigor said of No, citing a video footage from the hospital’s security camera showing him walking his way out of EAMC
Initial investigation showed that the DEG guard went out for breakfast while the PDEA agent fell asleep — prompting No to take advantage and escaped.
Rigor said that initially administrative charges were slapped against SPO2 Michael Macarubbo, of PNP-DEG, and Intelligence Officer 2 Ernie Eugenio of PDEA for the escape. They are both under custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
No was transferred to the EAMC on April 10 from the PNP hospital at Camp Crame for appendectomy operation, and was supposed to be discharged on Saturday.
Prior to his escape, No was visited by his girlfriend identified as Darlene Son, who gave the suspect P3,000. Son was subsequently arrested.
“Jun No is a major supplier of drugs in the Malate area. He’s also involved in prostitution. His clients are also his fellow Koreans, who are also fugitives. He’s the one responsible for the proliferation of drugs in parties,” Rigor said.
“To deter him, it’s imperative that Jun No be captured. Likewise, his friends who might help him hide, it’s better that you don’t, because as earlier shown, we have filed a case against Darlene Son and we’ll not hesitate to do that to you,” he added.
Rigor said that a manhunt is being carried out against No, whose wounds from the medical operation are still fresh that “negates the possibility of him getting far.”
No was arrested by DEG operatives at the parking lot in front of the Royal Indian Curry House, located along Seaside Boulevard, Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City, wherein he yielded 140 tablets of the designer drugs Ecstacy.
His arrest was the first major accomplishment of the DEG, which replaced the Anti-Illegal Drugs Group following the involvement of its personnel in the Jee Ick Joo kidnap-slay case.

Makati Mayor Abby Binay has exhorted some 1,029 new graduates of the city-run University of Makati (UMak) to value discipline and make the city proud by excelling in their chosen careers.
Speaking at the 44th Commencement Exercises of UMak held at the Philippine International Convention Center Plenary Hall in Pasay City last Monday, Binay asked the new graduates not to hold a grudge against their strict professors but should instead be grateful.
She shared her own personal experience with a strict teacher who drove her and her classmates to be diligent in their studies.
“We learned discipline, we learned to study hard because we cannot cheat. That is what is good about strict teaching. So let us honor and appreciate our teachers because we are indebted to them,” she said.
The mayor also urged the graduates to make their city and alma mater proud by working hard to succeed in their chosen fields.
“After today, your goal is to come back to the University as alumni and be able to proudly tell your former professors and fellow alumni, ‘This is what I am now,’” Binay said.
“That is your goal — not just to make your parents proud but to make your city and your alma mater proud,” she added.
Binay also reminded the new graduates to be thankful for the opportunity to study at the university, noting its modern amenities rarely found in other local or state-run universities. She recalled her college days at a state university where she and her fellow students had to make do with dilapidated chairs and facilities, among other discomforts.
The mayor said Makati students need only to compare the city’s standards of education with neighboring localities to realize how fortunate they are to be Makatizens.
Through UMak, the country’s first ISO-certified local university, quality tertiary education has been made accessible to all, including children from poor families in the city. The city government has invested billions in modernizing its facilities and expanding its course offerings to keep abreast of prevailing trends in the workplace.
This year, the city has allocated 53 percent, or around P825 million, for UMak programs and operations, out of its total budget of P1.56 billion for education.
Out of the 1,029 graduates, 100 are honor graduates. These include 10 graduates with high academic distinction from the university’s graduate programs. Under the Baccalaureate programs, five graduated magna cum laude and 17 graduated cum laude. The non-Baccalaureate degrees produced eight graduates with high honors, and 54 with honors.
UMak Batch 2017 is composed of graduates from the 12 colleges and centers of the university, with the most number coming from the College of Computer Science with 220 graduates. It is followed by the School of Continuing Education which offers graduate degree programs, with 183 graduates.
Other members of Batch 2017 included 118 graduates from College of Allied Health Studies; College of Business Administration, 89; College of Technology Management, 85; College of Education, 82; College of Maritime Leadership Innovation, 65, and College of Engineering, 60.
Completing the list of graduates were 53 graduates from the Center for Broadcast and Digital Arts; College of Governance and Public Policy, 43; College of Arts and Sciences, 26, and Center of Human Kinestetics, five graduates.
Themed “Developing Competitive Young Filipino Professionals through Transformative and Innovative Education,” the ceremony was also attended by Makati Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo and Congressmen Luis Campos and Monsour del Rosario.
Among UMak officials present were university president Tomas Lopez Jr., vice president for academic affairs Dr. Elyxzur Ramos, university registrar Ellen Ruth Punzalan and the respective deans and executive directors of its academic colleges and centers.

An official of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) was shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Pasig City early yesterday.
The victim was identified by Senior Supt. Orlando Yebra Jr., Pasig City police chief, as Chief Insp. Rommel Macatlang, 52, assigned to the CIDG-National Capital Region at Camp Crame.
According to Yebra, Macatlang was on board a white SUV and was refueling at a gas station at the corner of F. Ortigas Jr. and Meralco avenues in Barangay San Antonio when shot by two motorcycle-riding gunmen.
Probers said Macatlang was on his way home after attending the birthday celebration of Senior Supt. Belli Tamayo, head of the CIDG-NCR when the shooting incident occurred.
The victim was declared dead on arrrival at the Pasig City General Hospital.
Chief Insp. Rodolfo de los Reyes, CIDG-NCR investigation chief, said they will review footage from a CCTV camera installed around the area to have an idea of how the shooting happened.
De los Reyes also said phone records of the slain cop will be checked for possible leads in the investigation.
He added they are also checking the cases handled by Macatlang which may provide them leads on the motive behind the policeman’s killing.

Some 89 persons were arrested in northern Metro Manila for various violations during the Lenten season, Northern Police District (NPD) director Chief Supt. Roberto Fajardo announced yesterday.
He told the Camanava Press Corps of the figure, 64 were arrested for violation of Republic Act 9287 or the Anti-Gambling Law while the rest were nabbed for violating RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
The police’s anti-crime operations were conducted by the NPD and its top police stations in Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas-Valenzuela (Camanava) area on Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday, Fajardo said.
He also disclosed from March 1 up to April 17, a total of 3,999 houses in Camanava area were subjected to Oplan: Tokhang Reloaded that resulted in the arrest of 626 drug personalities while 151 drug users had surrendered.
“The illegal gambling and anti-illegal drugs operations only proved that the PNP (Philippine National Police) is unrelenting on its anti-crime drive and that it is committed to pursue criminals 24/7, ready to serve and protect anytime of the day, every day,” the NPD chief said.
He added due to their relentless drive against illegal drugs and illegal gambling operations implemented all over the northern area of Metro Manila, the observance of the Semana Santa (Holy Week) has been generally peaceful and orderly.
Fajardo cited the foiled robbery in band incident in Valenzuela City on Black Saturday wherein one Isuzu aluminum van carrying five unidentified men with pistols tried to rob the AIP Distributor Services warehouse located on Industrial Road, Karuhatan.
One of the suspects disguised as one of the company’s security agency personnel bringing plastic container but when security guard Andrenej Amulo opened the window, the former pointed a gun at her, prompting her to open the side gate.
The van entered the compound and the guard was dragged inside the comfort room, tied her and covered her mouth with masking tape.
Coincidentally, Fredito Galura, a security inspector of Amulo’s Security Agency, checked her post by calling her on the phone that distracted the robbers who immediately fled without taking any loot. 

A Russian guided-missile cruiser and its sister tanker are arriving tomorrow at the Manila South Harbor for a goodwill visit.
Capt. Lued Lincuna, Navy spokesman, yesterday said guided missile cruiser Varyag and large sea tanker Pechenga of the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet will arrive for a goodwill visit on Thursday at Pier 15 in Manila.
Upon their arrival on Thursday, a simple welcome ceremony will be held to be followed by a press briefing by Varyag’s commanding officer Capt. Alexsei Ulyanenko.
On Saturday, a shipboard tour is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. while a concert by the Russian Cultural Dancers and Music Ensemble will be held the following day at the Luneta Park. 

The Bureau of Immigration has assured the traveling public of smooth and fast processing of travel documents at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminals as additional immigration officers were deployed in the immigration counters to attend to the rising number of tourists and balikbayans arriving in the country to spend the long hot summer season here.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente also debunked reports that hundreds of immigration officers at the NAIA have resigned en masse or have gone on leave due to the non-payment of their overtime pay.
“So far, only 36 immigration officers have resigned since the start of the year and only a few have gone on leave for various reasons,” he said, adding passenger queues at the airport have returned to normal.
Morente disclosed most of the immigration officers assigned to the NAIA have been reporting for work, citing a report from the bureau’s port operations division that daily attendance of BI’s airport personnel is at 95 percent.
“Despite their financial problems the bulk of our workforce at the NAIA are continuing to persevere and make sacrifices for the sake of the traveling public. I commend them for doing a remarkable job in the face of adversities,” the BI chief said.
Morente added he is confident a workable solution can be found to address the plight of BI employees relative to the augmentation of their salary. This matter was already referred to the Office of the President for its consideration.
He likewise appealed to the Palace to certify as urgent the bill enacting a new Philippine immigration law to replace the antiquated 1940 Immigration Act.
He lamented that the basic pay of BI employees is too low that they could barely afford to shoulder the cost of their meals and transportation in going to work.

Some 500 former drug dependents who earlier had surrendered to the local authorities in Quezon City will see themselves working for the next three years as construction workers and flagmen at the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) project.
This was revealed by Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte who told members of the Quezon City Press Club that San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has opened its door in hiring former drug dependents in the three-year construction of MRT-7 project which the company will undertake.
It will employ at least 500 drug users who underwent rehabilitation as construction workers and flagmen of the MRT-7 project making them employed for three years, according to Belmonte as she announced the city government and SMC are set to ink a memorandum of agreement next week to legitimize the hiring of the 500 drug surrenderers.
In a related development, the vice mayor told reporters she had initiated the creation of livelihood opportunities for reformed female drug dependents with the establishment of the “Tindahan ni Ate Joy” project.
Citing an assessment made by the Quezon City Anti-Drug Abuse Council, Belmonte said some of the reformed drug dependents are even qualified for clerical and call center positions in other private firms, adding that being employed is one of the key elements to deter individuals from getting hooked on illegal drugs.
Belmonte and Councilor Gian Sotto led other local and national officials in yesterday’s graduation ceremonies where the 100 surrenderers were given certificates as proof that they are ready to be reintegrated into the society as productive individuals.
After completing the required 12 clinical counseling and psychological evaluation sessions, the initial batch of 100 illegal drug surrenderers will be provided with jobs after the city government inked deals with private firms that would employ the reformed drug users, Belmonte said.
Initially, the Department of Health has required the drug surrenderers to undergo 24 clinical and psychological sessions but the city government opted to reduce it to 12 with the assistance of psychologists and experts from Ateneo de Manila University.
However, Belmonte said continued monitoring will strictly be enforced to ensure the surrenderers do not go back to their old drug dependent ways.
Belmonte also called on other drug dependents to surrender assuring them that the local government is maximizing its resources to give people second chances in life.
One of the surrenderers, Glenda Somera, narrated initially that it was very difficult for her to give in to Belmonte’s call recalling that on August 23, 2016, her husband was a victim of extra-judicial killings for his supposed drug peddling and using activities.
Through sheer determination and love for her seven children, Somera heeded Belmonte’s plea to join a Christian group which eventually led her to total recovery.
Belmonte said there are around 16,000 surrenderers in the city but only 10,000 have been profiled for recovery so far.

Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada has called on Congress to enact a law that would require the state-owned corporation Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to share with the city government the income it gets from port operations in the city.
According to Estrada, it is high time the city receives at least a percentage of the multibillion-peso revenues of PPA from the operations of Manila North and Manila South harbors and the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT).
“Together with our congressmen, we are working out a system on how we can get a slice of the pie because itong Manila port, ang laki, billions ang kita ng PPA, pero walang nakukuha ang City of Manila,” the Manila mayor said.
“We want a law para magkaroon ng share ang city of Manila. ‘Yan ang nilalaban natin,” Estrada said, adding the income the city will get from port operations will help in financing housing projects for the city’s poor residents.
Unlike other port cities abroad such as Yokohama City in Japan which earns huge revenues from co-managing the Port of Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture, Manila, as the host city of the Port of Manila, does not receive a single centavo from the PPA, according to Estrada.
Even Cebu City, he said, receives a share from the Cebu Ports Authority which operates the Port of Cebu, he added.
“Ang Cebu City na lang, may bagong port, ang laki ng income ng city,” Estrada lamented.
In 2016, PPA’s port revenues alone amounted to P14.13 billion, higher by seven percent compared to the 2015 total revenues and eight percent higher than the target, according to PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago.
PPA, under the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC), is responsible for financing, management and operations of public ports throughout the Philippines, except the Port of Cebu which is under the Cebu Ports Authority.
Manila, Estrada pointed out, rightfully deserves a share from the PPA’s income considering the city carries the burden of maintaining the roads and managing traffic for hundreds of cargo trucks going to and from the Manila ports in Port Area and Tondo.
“Ang laking istorbo sa Maynila ng mga pier na ‘yan,” he put it bluntly. “Yang mga trucks nila, lahat…malaking trapik sa Maynila, but we don’t get a single centavo sa income ng port.”
Because of the severe traffic congestion and pollution caused by this fleets of huge trucks, the city government had to enforce a truck ban in 2014 for the convenience of motorists and commuters gravely affected by the port-related activities in the city, Estrada added.
This income-sharing scheme was first suggested by Estrada early in 2014, with the city council passing a resolution urging Congress to repeal or amend laws pertaining to the PPA “in order to rightfully give Manila the due and equitable involvement it deserves relating to the operations and income of all ports and harbors situated within the city.”
As the site of strategic harbors, Manila “continues to unduly bear the brunt of very demanding and extensive port-related activities while its people suffer from increased traffic congestion, pollution, structural road damage and risks of vehicular accidents,” according to the resolution authored by 3rd District Councilor Manuel Zarcal. 

Amid the brouhaha caused by the United Airlines’ manhandling of one of its passengers, Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. called on Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez to move into the list of legislative priorities all bills proposing to establish clear-cut rules to protect air passengers rights.
Teves, member of the House committee on public order and safety, vowed to co-author the pending bills, adding he would push the inclusion of a provision that would make it mandatory for air carriers to make readily available to travelers instructional manuals or films specifying their rights and responsibilities as passengers.
“The ill treatment United airlines gave Dr. Dao is condemnable and must never happen in the Philippines,” said Teves as he strongly endorsed the swift approval of pending passenger rights bills.
The administration lawmaker referred to the experience of Dr. David Dao who was yanked off by airline security personnel from the United Express Flight 3411 at the Chicago airport. Dao suffered injuries when dragged out of the plane that had to eject him and three other on-board passengers to accommodate four United employees.
There are at least seven air passenger rights protection measures currently pending before the transportation panel chaired by Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento.
Authors included Reps. Winston Castelo  (Quezon City); Linabelle Ruth Villarica (Bulacan); Emmeline Aglipay-Villar (DIWA); Evelina Escudero (Sorsogon); Gus Tambunting (Parañaque City); Vilma Santos-Recto (Batangas), and Sarmiento.
Teves noted the Department of Transportation and the Department of Trade and Industry have jointly issued Administrative Order 01-20123 providing for the bill of rights of air passengers and airline obligations.
However, the Negros Oriental lawmaker said passage of a law protecting passenger rights has become imperative in the wake of the growing public complaints against unabated overbooking incidents, unexplained flight delays and cancellation and damage or loss of baggage.
Teves noted numerous complaints against airline crew inefficiency, incompetence and rudeness but these are usually kept by passengers to themselves.
Majority of the proposed measures clarify that airline companies should be held responsible and must uphold the rights of passengers as soon as the former enter into a contract to provide the latter safe and convenient flight in exchange of fare and travel fees.
One bill defines a contract of carriage by air as an obligation of the air carrier to transport the passenger or one’s baggage, if any, from one place to another, through airspace, without any damage or injury upon the latter’s person, or loss, damage or unreasonable deterioration of his/her baggage in exchange for payment of just and reasonable airfair by the traveler.
Teves said educating passengers about their rights and responsibilities should be treated by the carrier with equal importance and urgency as informing them about safety precautions and emergency instruction.

The motion of former Makati City Mayor Elenita Binay to defer the scheduled hearings of her cases in connection with the alleged anomalous purchase of beds and sterilizers for the Ospital ng Makati was denied by the Sandiganbayan Third Division.
The court said in its ruling that only a higher court temporary restraining order or writ of preliminary investigation can interrupt the proceedings.
In its six-page resolution, the court cited Section 7, Rule 65 of the Rules of Court.
Mrs. Binay, wife of former Vice President Jejomar Binay, in her urgent motion she filed before the court that she intends to file a petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court to challenge the March 22 ruling of the court denying with finality her motion to re-raffle her cases.
The ruling aside from denying the motion also denied with finality her motion asking that Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice and Third Division Chairman Amparo Cabotaje-Tang to inhibit from handling the cases she is facing.
In her motion, Mrs. Binay told the court that she respectfully submits that it will be more prudent to defer the proceedings pending the resolution of the petition for certiorari for orderly proceedings.
She also argued that under the Rules of Court, she has 60 days or until May 28 to question the trial court’s ruling before the High Bench.
The filing of the petition for certiorari, according to Binay, is not to delay the proceedings but to avail herself of her constitutional rights against unwarranted and vexatious prosecution.
The court though said a petition for certiorari does not prevent it from having jurisdiction over the case.
It also said Binay has argued that she is availing herself of her constitutional rights to assail the resolution dated March 22 and she has 60 days within which to file her petition for certiorari.
Otherwise she would be deprived of her procedural rights under the rules and invokes prudence, orderly proceedings and interest of justice to support her prayer to defer the proceedings.
But the court said unlike an appeal, a petition for certiorari is an original action, is not a continuation of the proceedings in the lower court and it is designed to correct only errors of jurisdiction, including grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction.
Further, the court said during the hearing on April 6 it orally argued its opposition, saying Binay had yet to file a petition for certiorari with the Supreme Court and had not explained how the issues she would raise would affect the continuation of the case proceedings.
“The principle of judicial courtesy applies only if there is a strong possibility that the issues before the High Court would be rendered moot should the proceedings in the lower court continues which circumstance is not present in those cases. The court finds the urgent motion bereft of merit.”
Mrs. Binay is accused of graft for the alleged anomalous purchase of beds and sterilizers for the Ospital ng Makati worth P45 million.

By Julius Leonen

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) operatives have arrested a suspected scam mastermind who is believed to be targeting foreigners who want to invest millions of pesos in government infrastructure projects.
During a press briefing, NBI spokesman Ferdinand Lavin said the bureau’s Anti-Graft Division arrested Anselmo Nolasco, who claimed to be the owner of Goshen Capital Holdings Ltd. which was discovered later on to be a bogus investment company.
The arrest was made in an entrapment operation in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City over the weekend following a complaint filed by Japanese businessman Musashi Nagashima against Nolasco and suspected accomplice Maria Elvisa Tabar for alleged swindling.
Lavin, however, said Tabar remains at large as she was not present during the entrapment operation.
In his complaint, Nagashima said Nolasco and Tabar had swindled thousands of dollars from him when they offered him to invest in the construction of the Davao Metro Link Train.
Nagashima had met Nolasco and Tabar in November just last year through a friend. The suspects presented themselves as owners of Goshen, a company aiming to fund the rail transit’s contruction.
Lavin said the suspects even presented a certificate showing that their bogus investment company had a $5 billion deposit in an HSBC account in Hong Kong. The certificate, however, was discovered to be fake.
But Nolasco and Tabar reportedly told Nagashima to first shell out $150,000 as payment of bank charges before Goshen will facilitate the transfer of the billion-dollar deposit into the victim’s employer in Japan.
Moreover, Nagashima and the suspects reportedly agreed during a meeting in Hong Kong that Goshen will make an initial transfer of $10 million to the victim’s employer to pay for the mobilization and feasibility study of the project.
Nolasco and Tabar even went as far as to show documents allegedly issued by HSBC, later on found to be bogus, detailing the transaction of the $10 million bank transfer from Goshen to Nagashima’s employer.
The suspects even charged Nagashima P150,000 just for a copy of the transaction details.
“The Japanese contractors thought something was amiss, so they verified. It turned out that these documents are spurious,” NBI Anti-Graft Division executive officer Atty. Nat Ramos said.
Following Nolasco’s arrest, the NBI filed charges for estafa through falsification of commercial documents against the suspect before the Office of the Prosecutor in Taguig City.
Meanwhile, Lavin warned the public “to deal with legitimate representatives of the government and deal with the right offices of the government” when entering into government transactions.

Makati Mayor Abby Binay yesterday reiterated her administration’s “zero tolerance” policy against illegal drugs following the arrest Tuesday of a barangay kagawad for alleged drug pushing.
“We are serious about making Makati a drug-free city. I repeat, there will be no sacred cows under my administration, most especially if it concerns illegal drugs,” Binay said.
On Tuesday, police operatives apprehended the suspect, Virgilio Sombero Awit Jr., an incumbent kagawad (councilman) of Barangay East Rembo, during a buy-bust operation conducted along C-5 Road (northbound) near 19th Avenue in the said barangay.
It was also learned that the suspect had represented East Rembo at meetings of the city Peace and Order Council and also participated in Tokhang operations in the barangay.
The mayor warned other barangay chiefs and officials that the city government is prepared to bring down the full force of the law on anyone who is caught breaking the law in the city.
The mayor also thanked and lauded the Makati City police for their vigilance and diligence in preventing the proliferation of illegal drugs in the city’s barangays.
“It is gratifying to know that our local police are keeping our communities under tight watch on illegal drugs. We urge citizens to be vigilant and cooperate with law enforcement authorities,” the mayor said.
The 51-year-old suspect is now detained at the Makati Police Station and will be charged with violation of Sections 5 and 11 of the Dangerous Drugs Act for possession and sale of illegal drugs.
Based on the spot report submitted by Insp. Jeson Vigilla of the Station Drugs Enforcement Unit, four pieces of heat-sealed plastic sachets containing suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu were confiscated from the suspect. Marked money amounting to P1,500 was also found in Awit’s possession.
Binay asked the Makati Police to keep her informed on the progress of the case.

A group of Filipino seafarers yesterday exposed  an ongoing corruption at the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) wherein documents for seamen are being sold for as much as P27,000 for them to be able to board ships.

At a media briefing held in Manila, United Filipino Seafarers National president Nelson Ramirez led the exposé, along with Filipino sailors and various sectors in the maritime industry, as he said the officials involved are looking to generate more or less than P81 million from their corrupt activity.
“We are appealing to President Rodrigo Duterte to include in his radar certain officials of the Maritime Industry Authority. We are one with the President in cleansing government service,” Ramirez said.
Duterte earlier had sacked Secretary Ismail Sueno of the Department of Interior and Local Government as well as campaign manager Peter Lavina from the Irrigation Agency over accusations of corruption.
Duterte said he fired 92 government employees from different agencies in March alone due to graft and corruption.
Ramirez said they are calling out a certain Jessamyn de Vicente who allegedly is acting as a liaison officer to do some duties not assigned to her and attempting to collect some money from the seafarers working in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which will be given to some top officials of Marina whom he refused to identify at the moment.
“Ms. Jessamyn de Vicente is acting through the instructions of the Maritime Education and Training Standards Supervisor of Marina-Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping Office (STCW),” he said.
Ramirez presented as evidence email evidence that de Vicente was assigned as an official liaison officer tasked to evaluate and process seafarer’s documents in relation to the application for the issuance of Certificate of Competency (COC) and Certification of Proficiency.
Indicated also in that e-mailed letter, which was addressed to Marina-STCW executive director Eleazar Diaz, and copy furnished to Marina-STCW executive director Capt. Andilan Era, that de Vicente will  arrive in Dubai on April 13, 2017 to attend all concerns regarding certifications.
“After I found out this controversy, I immediately sent a letter to Capt. Diaz to question this. I told him that Ms. de Vicente is not an organic employee of Marina and has no right to be designated as an official liaison officer. Yours truly was even aware that Marina does not even designate their own regional employees yet for this purpose because such designation can be subject to abuse of authority because there is nobody to supervise her (Ms. de Vicente) there in Dubai,” Ramirez said.
He also presented a certification that stated that Capt. Diaz is authorizing de Vicente to be an official liaison officer dated April 10, 2017.
“Capt. Diaz signed a document when he is in Greece. What wonders me is how Capt. Diaz has inked the certification if during that date he is in an official function in Greece. Did someone manipulate it? Or Capt. Diaz is the Filipino hero lastikman and able to sign the certification from a thousand miles? This should be investigated.” Ramirez said.
Also during the press conference, Ramirez said the COC will be priced at 2,000 Dirhams each or roughly P27,000. Dubai is the home of more than 3,000 seafarers.
“Imagine, in their plans they can collect a total of P81,000,000 worth of hard- earned money from our Filipino seafarers. We cannot let an economic sabotage and corruption, especially in the maritime sector, to happen. Heads must roll here. We are one with President Duterte in fighting crooked government employees,” Ramirez stressed.
Ramirez also exposed during the media briefing the board examination of Marina. He said there are now so many geniuses in the seafaring industry because so many got a perfect score in the board examination and the review centers are sprouting everywhere like mushrooms.
“This is something that never happened in the history of the seafaring industry. A lot of people are allowed to tinker with the data bank of the questionnaires and examinations are done on Saturday even if there is nobody in the examination room,” he said.
Asked if Marina Administrator Marcial  Amaro knew this mess, Ramirez said “for sure he doesn’t know about this, but he will eventually know this after today.”
Reporters tried but failed to get a reaction from de Vicente or Capt. Diaz at press time.

“Court furlough to my son Jinggoy more than a gift on my birthday.”
This was how former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada expressed his feelings after the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division allowed detained former Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada to attend his 80th birthday celebration.
In an interview during the inauguration of the newly renovated Quinta Market and Fish Port yesterday, Estrada said he was very happy he would spend his birthday evening celebration with his son Jinggoy at the Manila Hotel.
“It is only a wish from a father to see his son freed but indeed a prayer that he would be back to his normal life as a family man and also as a father to his family,” Estrada said.
For Estrada this was more than a gift on his birthday which he used to celebrate without his son and only a letter from him was read by his grandson that made many in the crowd to shed tears realizing the agony that the Estrada family had been undergoing.
The younger Estrada is detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center at Camp Crame in Quezon City over plunder and graft charges he is facing along with several other individuals in connection with the Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel scam seen as politically motivated charges by the  previous administration.
Sandiganbayan court ruled that “over the objection of the prosecution, the court grants the motion in recognition of deeply embedded Filipino customs and traditions, covering respect and regard to parents and the elderly. Moreover, accused Jinggoy Estrada appears to have complied with all the conditions of his detention and no serious adverse reports have reached the court concerning his detention for the last two  years and nine months,” the court said in a minute resolution dated April 10.
“As prayed for, accused Jinggoy Estrada is hereby authorized to attend the 80th birthday of his father at the Manila Hotel on April 19, 2017, from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., exclusive of travel period, subject to the following conditions,” it added.
Meanwhile,  Estrada marked his 80th birthday yesterday with the inauguration of the newly renovated Quinta Market in Quiapo, the latest public market in the city to undergo complete reconstruction.
Estrada expressed elation that the modernization of Quinta Market had finally been completed to further boost business in Quiapo and expand trading opportunities via the Pasig River through its new fish port and ferry terminal.
“This is what we’ve been envisioning — a modern, convenient and mall-like public market both accessible by land and Pasig River,” the Manila mayor said during yesterday morning’s inauguration ceremonies.
“With a fish port and ferry terminal nearby, we will be able to attract traders and consumers from Metro Manila and nearby provinces, thus boosting business in Quiapo and in the city as a whole,” Estrada added.
Located on Carlos Palanca Street near the Pasig River, Quinta Market has been a popular landmark in Quiapo but its dilapidated state prompted the city government to have it renovated and modernized.
As part of his market rehabilitation program, Estrada reopened April last year the rehabilitated public markets in Sampaloc, Sta. Ana, San Andres and Trabajo.
Estrada said the city government did not spend a single centavo in these projects because these are all under joint venture agreements with private developers; the reconstruction of Quinta Market was undertaken by Marketlife Management and Leasing Corp.
Part of the P150-million rehabilitation of Quinta Market is the construction of a nearby fish port, and later a ferry terminal, that will serve fish traders and barges from various locations, especially Navotas, who will be bringing in fresh produce.
The construction of the ferry terminal, on the other hand, is a joint effort by the city government of Manila and the Philippine Ports Authority as part of the latter’s plan to fully revive passenger ferry service along the Pasig River.
Aside from making the Quinta Market accessible via Pasig River, Estrada said the planned ferry terminal will also help decongest Quezon Boulevard, the major road leading to the traffic-prone Quiapo district, as it will serve as an alternate route for Quiapo-bound commuters and marketgoers.
Similar to the four previously renovated markets, Quinta Market has modern wet and dry sections and stalls, airconditioned restrooms, a food court, fast food restaurants, security cameras and even free Wi-Fi connections, according to City Engineer Rogelio Legazpi.
The building’s second floor is the parking area for customers.
                            

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority  general manager Tim Orbos yesterday urged the public to be wary of unscrupulous individuals posing as MMDA employees who are soliciting money for events organized supposedly by the agency.
Orbos issued the warning after authorities recently arrested a bogus MMDA traffic supervisor in the municipality of Pateros during an authorized entrapment operation of MMDA.
“We have not authorized any employee to solicit money or any donation of any kind from the public. The public should be discerning and extra careful of such illicit activities, especially when it involves valuables or even money changing hands,” the MMDA official said.
Orbos said in the past, persons who have already been dismissed from the agency were the ones who had been caught in sting operations launched by MMDA.
“We are also calling on the public to be vigilant and urge them to report such illegal activities to our office so we can swiftly act on them,” he said.   
Last April 18, Pateros policemen, along with MMDA action officer Nelson Magan, nabbed Sonny Silverio around 7:30 p.m. in Barangay San Roque, Pateros after Joel Reyes, a former councilor, reported to authorities that the suspect came to him at his house and solicited P1,500 for an alleged fun run organized by the agency.
Reyes phoned and asked Magan if there was a certain Sonny Silverio who introduced himself as a supervisor at the Sector 1 of MMDA’s Traffic Discipline Office (TDO), currently employed at the agency.
After a quick check, Magan told Reyes that Silverio was not included in the roster of MMDA employees, telling the former councilor to stall and keep the suspect from leaving until they arrived at the place.
Authorities nabbed Silverio right after Reyes handed over the money to the suspect.
When frisked, police discovered from Silverio’s possession several stickers bearing MMDA logo inside a bag and a fake MMDA ID.
Magan said the office of Mayor Miguel Ponce has been receiving several complaints regarding Silverio’s modus operandi.
On March 31, 2017, businesswoman Marlene Quibe of Barangay Western Bicutan, Taguig City filed a complaint before MMDA-TDO against Silverio who came to her asking for P6,600 for allegedly a boodle fight of MMDA employees at Sector 1.
In exchange for the money, Silverio promised to give Quibe, who owns a water refilling station, 25 MMDA stickers to exempt her vehicles from being towed.
However, after giving Silverio the money, Quibe said the suspect only gave her nine pieces of the MMDA stickers.
Quibe later learned that the agency was not issuing any stickers to exempt private vehicles from being towed for any traffic infraction.   
Silverio, now detained at the Pateros municipal jail, is now facing extortion and usurpation of authority charges.  

Officials of the Philippine and Russian navies yesterday cited the benefits for both militaries of the routine port calls by Russian warships in Manila.
Yesterday, guided missile cruiser Varyag and large sea tanker Pechenga of the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet arrived at Pier 15 in Manila’s South Harbor for a goodwill visit.
At a briefing, Capt. Alexsei Ulyanenko, commanding officer of Varyag, said the visit is “very important” for the Russians.
“This courtesy call is very important to us,” said Ulyanenko, through an interpreter.
For his part, Capt. Leo Ramon Miado, of the Philippine Navy Fleet, said  the goodwill visit will provide an opportunity for personnel of both navies to interact.
“It’s a training opportunity…we can also view their technology as part of our modernization,”  Miado said.
It will be recalled that President Duterte has ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines to consider Russian military equipment for its ongoing modernization program.
On Saturday, the Russian warship will be open for a shipboard tour — scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. while a concert by the Russian Cultural Dancers and Music Ensemble will be held the following day at the Luneta Park.
Earlier, Russian ship Boris Botuma, along with its sister tanker, had also visited Manila for a routine port call.                 

Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito yesterday urged his colleagues to amend what he claimed as outdated transportation law and pave the way for the imposition of stiffer penalties, especially on overloading vehicles.
“What we need are stiffer penalties for overloading. Right now, our law only prescribes for P2,000 and P3,000 and suspension of the certificate of public convenience for first and second offenses, respectively,” he said.
The senator’s move was prompted by the recent road mishap in Nueva Ecija where an overloaded bus fell into a 100-feet ravine, killing 31 of its passengers and injuring 46 others.
Ejercito, vice chairman of the Senate public services committee, said the accident was so tragic that major steps should be taken to revamp regulations on land transportation.
Amendments to Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, which was enacted in June 1964, should be in order especially as the corresponding terms and conditions issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board do not provide for a penalty to the possible damage to properties and compensation to affected passengers.
“We were able to pass the Speed Limiter Act during the 16th Congress, I think it is high time to pass an amendment with respect to the violation of the prescribed maximum capacity of public utility vehicles,” Ejercito said.
While the nation is grieving with those who lost their loved ones in the accident, Ejercito said, the Senate will take steps in ensuring that accidents like this is curbed and prevented from happening again, he said.
            

In keeping with his desire to make Manila clean again, Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada has called on the vendors and stall owners at the modernized Quinta Market in Quiapo to keep the renovated market spick and span, especially the airconditioned toilets.
Estrada, remembering his late mother Doña Mary Ejercito’s teachings, lectured the vendors on cleanliness, saying the City of Manila will not be able to bring back its old beauty and glory if the residents are irresponsible and lack genuine concern.
“In Metro Manila, only here in Manila that toilets in public markets are airconditioned, hindi kamukha nung araw, pupunta kayo sa toilet, malayo pa ay naaamoy ninyo na,” Estrada told the vendors during the inauguration of the newly renovated Quinta Market last Wednesday.
“Sa totoo lang, bakit ko naisip na gawing airconditioned ang ating toilets? Kasi nung maliit ako, laging nagagalit ang aking mama pag madumi ang toilets. She’d tell me that cleanliness starts in the toilet,” he went on to say.
So when he became mayor, Estrada said he renovated the city hall’s public toilets and had them kept spotlessly clean all the time, remembering his mother’s preaching about cleanliness. He joked that some employees even use the toilet bowls’ bidets as shower heads.
Renovated at the cost of about P150 million, Quinta Market is the centerpiece of Estrada’s public market renovation project. Last year, he reopened the rehabilitated public markets in Sampaloc, Sta. Ana, San Andres, and Trabajo  —all converted into like shopping malls complete with airconditioned comfort rooms.
Quinta Market’s brand-new toilets boast of modern design toilet bowls with seats and bidets, urinals and stainless toilet fixtures. Its floors are fully tiled.
Similar to the four previously renovated markets, the two-story Quinta Market also has modern wet and dry sections and stalls, a food court, fast food restaurants, security cameras and even free Wi-Fi connections, according to City Engineer Rogelio Legazpi.
The building’s second floor is the 60-slot parking area for customers.
“Ang kailangan na lang natin ay ‘yung maintenance, dito tayo mahina, e. Sa umpisa lang tayo magagaling, pagkatapos ay napapabayaan lang natin,” Estrada told the vendors.
In Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore, he said public markets, including their toilets, are spotlessly clean because the vendors are disciplined and exert extra efforts to take good care of the facilities.
Estrada pointed out that cleanliness starts with one’s self and that the city government will not be able to achieve its dream of restoring Manila’s old glory without the cooperation of each of the 1.7 million Manileños.
“Dito lang siguro na ang public market ay
airconditioned ang comfort room at ‘yan ay gagawin natin sa lahat ng ating mga palengke,” he told the vendors.
All he is asking from the vendors, Estrada said, is that they keep the toilets and all other facilities clean. “Siguraduhin din n’yo na kayo ang magiging protektor ng Quinta laban sa krimen, masasama, o maruming negosyo.”
“Ipinagmamalaki ko itong Quinta Market, and I hope you will also be proud to make this as your new home,” Estrada said.
Part of the P150-million rehabilitation of Quinta Market is the construction of a nearby fish port, and later a ferry terminal, that will serve fish traders and barges from various locations, especially Navotas, who will be bringing in fresh produce.
The construction of the ferry terminal, on the other hand, is a joint effort by the city government of Manila and the Philippine Ports Authority as part of the latter’s plan to fully revive passenger ferry service along the Pasig River.
Aside from making the Quinta Market accessible via Pasig River, Estrada said the planned ferry terminal will also help decongest Quezon Boulevard, the major road leading to the traffic-prone Quiapo district, as it will serve as an alternate route for Quiapo-bound commuters and marketgoers.             

The chairman of the Senate committee on public services, Sen. Grace Poe, yesterday gave a seal of approval to the ambitious project of the Duterte administration — a 25-kilometer subway system —  to ease traffic in already heavily congested metropolis.

But Poe said those in the administration in the upper chamber, particularly her committee, will keep a close eye on the implementation of the project and will not hesitate to act or speak out with regard to any anomalous transaction.
“This is a legacy project, one that can determine the forward trajectory of economic development in the country. Millions of jobs can also be created following a seamless transport system in Metro Manila. We should ensure that we deal with reputable companies and that we get the best deal for the operations and maintenance of the project,” she said.
“We have to invest now, build now, but not without exercising caution. Having a reliable public transportation system, especially a railway, will not only spell public convenience but also contribute to economic growth,” the senator added.
Poe, sponsor in the Senate of the so-called grant of emergency powers to President Duterte to ease traffic in major urban areas, has been an advocate of the subway system.
“Although it is relatively costly and the construction time will take a little bit longer as reportedly said by transport officials, an underground mass transport will help decongest road traffic as there will be less road disturbance to the above-ground environment,” Poe added.
The senator, however, stressed the subway design should complement road transport design above ground, and should take into account the accessibility and walkability of each station’s stop with that of other public transportation.
“Transport interconnectivity is key to a thriving economy and improving the lives of our people. I hope that this time the administration, in considering the location of each station, will prioritize public convenience and accessibility over private interests,” Poe said.
“But in the long run, the benefits will far outweigh the cost. As estimated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), projected losses from traffic reach P3 billion daily. We must address this for the benefit of the public,” she said.
In designing the project, the senator emphasized the need to take into account the accessibility to other public transportation, room for expansion to accommodate the growing population in the metropolis and the hiring of best engineers as the country is prone to flooding as well as other natural calamities.
Reports said President Duterte and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are expected to sign an agreement for the P227-billion subway this year.
Construction of the first leg is expected to be finished in 2024.
The subway system will connect Quezon City to Taguig City, with a projected travel time at half an hour and can initially accommodate around 350,000 passengers daily in its opening year.
The proposed 13 stations are along Mindanao Avenue, North Avenue, Quezon Avenue, East Avenue, Anonas and Katipunan in Quezon City; Ortigas North and Ortigas South in Pasig City; Kalayaan Avenue in Makati City; Bonifacio Global City, Cayetano Boulevard and Food Terminal Inc. in Taguig, and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City.
Based on the same JICA study, Metro Manila road traffic demand is expected to increase by 13 percent from 2012 to 2030 and the total transport cost of road users, including vehicle operating cost and time cost, will increase from around P3 billion a day to P6 billion a day.
The feasibility study of the subway project is ongoing with assistance from JICA.
According to Poe, the design should be “future-proof” and should have room for expansion to accommodate the growing population in the metropolis. Moreover, she cautioned the government about entering into disadvantageous contracts that hounded the Edsa MRT-3 and brought public inconvenience.
Poe said the government should ensure the best engineers are hired because “although we are prone to flooding and other natural calamities, Japan, which is also in the path of various natural calamities, has successfully run their rail system with similar conditions.”
To emphasize that an underground railway system is possible in the Philippines, Poe said trains in the United Kingdom cross the English Channel while in the US, the Bay Area Rapid Transit in San Francisco crosses the San Francisco Bay.