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The Manila Office of the City Prosecutor has formally filed a cyberlibel case against former Cavite 4th District Representative Kiko Barzaga under Republic Act 10175 or the Cyber Crime Prevention Act of 2012.
The filing of a case against Barzaga came from a social media post where it is stated that some congressmen from NUP allegedly received money from the businessman Enrique Razon.
Since Barzaga has over one million followers on his social media page, the post easily went viral among netizens, which allegedly damaged the integrity of Manila 2nd District Representative Rolando Valeriano.
According to the Manila Prosecutors Office, it found prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction to formally charge the former lawmaker.
The prosecution has recommended a bail of Php 10,000 for the former congressman.
With reports from Benedict Samson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f03yREkbWOY
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has arrested a foreign couple in Siargao for allegedly operating a resort business while holding only tourist visas.
The BI identified the two foreign nationals as Teryn Jane Spencer, a New Zealand national, and Dario Salvatore Di Capua, a Swiss national.
The two were arrested during an enforcement operation at a resort in San Isidro, Siargao, after authorities discovered they were operating various services, including homestay, café, and yoga sessions.
“The operation was launched following intelligence information that the couple had been personally managing the homestay and café while also offering yoga sessions to guests without the required work visas or permits,” according to BI.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado stated that “a tourist visa is not a license to work or run a business in the Philippines.”
He also stated that foreigners who abuse their privilege to stay by engaging in unauthorized activities must face corresponding consequences.
“We welcome foreign visitors who respect our laws, but those who abuse the privilege of their stay by engaging in unauthorized employment or business activities will be arrested, deported, and barred from returning. No one is exempt from our immigration laws.”
The couple will undergo deportation proceedings, according to BI.
Amid ongoing discussions about Vice President Sara Duterte's appearance in the impeachment trial, the Senate impeachment court doesn’t require her to appear in person.
Senate impeachment court Atty. Regie Tongol stated that the presence of her defense team is enough to represent her in the trial.
“Cannot be compelled to attend, one, because meron po siyang right against self-incrimination under the Constitution. Hindi rin po siya kinakailangang pumunta naman kasi wala namang pangangailangan sa pagpunta niya dahil nirerepresenta na po siya ng kanyang mga abogado at yung depensa niya ay narerepresenta na rin nung answer niya po na finile,” he said
[“Cannot be compelled to attend, one, because she has a right against self-incrimination under the Constitution. She doesn’t really need to attend because there is no necessity for her attendance, as she is represented by her lawyers, and her defense also represents the answer she filed.”]
Atty. Tongol also mentioned that it’s at the discretion of the Vice President if she wants to attend physically in the Senate impeachment court.
“It's up to her po. Wala pong magagawa ang sinuman para pilitin siyang pumunta,” Atty. Tongol said
[“It’s up to her. Nobody can force her to attend.”]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jyQd720gWU
Defense team spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa had mentioned earlier that they will only determine if the Vice President will personally appear at the trial if the situation calls for it.
“As I've always mentioned, ang kanyang physical presence, we will assess kung kinakailangan. Bakit hindi? But that will depend on how the proceedings go, and we will advise her accordingly,” he said
https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=J0ykgmMLWE9tBV2I&v=C4if4NizieQ&feature=youtu.be
Watch the full livestream of the impeachment trial (Day 2):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otnxfcsGE-Y
The Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) will collaborate with the Department of Education (DepEd) to strengthen transparency in school infrastructure projects.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the joint effort between the two institutions aims to establish accountability and good governance in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects.
Besides, the support from the BCBP will help address school shortages and improve school facilities, according to DepEd.
“Ang pakikipagtulungang ito ay sumusuporta sa patuloy na pagsisikap ng Kagawaran na tugunan ang kakulangan sa silid-aralan at pagandahin ang mga pasilidad para sa pag-aaral sa pamamagitan ng mga proyektong pang-imprastraktura,”
BCBP will serve as an independent third-party observer and advisor under the PPP for Schools Infrastructure Project.
The scope of their involvement includes providing insights on the important stages of project implementation, such as:
The DepEd clarified that the BCBP will not participate in the following:
The MOU also includes safeguards against conflict of interest.
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) will implement various interventions for farmers who may be affected by an irrigation shortage, as it continues to monitor the situation at Magat Dam.
According to NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen, around 20% to 25% of the estimated 90,000 hectares covered by the Magat irrigation system could lose water supply if the water level in Magat Dam remains low.
“Irigated area lang namin so far, ‘yong target area namin na 140,000 kaya pa patubigan naman. Pero diyan sa may Magat area, ‘yan ang may critical dahil mababa na ‘yong ating level. Siguro ang affected diyan around 20,000 hectares sa may Magat area or out of the 90,000,” he said
The NIA is already coordinating with the Department of Agriculture (DA) to encourage farmers to plant high-value crops that require less water, such as mung beans (munggo) and peanuts, while the irrigation supply remains insufficient.
The agency is also studying the distribution of water pumps and fuel assistance and considering allocating funds for the early repair of irrigation canals and the installation of solar pump irrigation systems.
“Ang decision namin, tulungan sila through water pump, ‘yong fuel. Tinitingnan namin kung pwede kaming kumuha ng pondo namin sa aming operational maintenance at itulong sa kanilang fuel,” Guillen said
“So anyway, again multi-agency task ito. So tumutulong ang DA, tumutulong din ang DSWD, tumutulong din ang DOLE,” he added
The NIA has also requested the DA to conduct cloud seeding operations over the Magat Dam catchment area, noting that while there is rainfall around the reservoir, it doesn’t directly reach the dam. They also hope that if the water inflow increases in the coming days, some farmers will still have the opportunity to catch up on their planting.
With reports from Grace Doctolero
