MARCOS: PH TO 'DISENGAGE FROM ANY CONTACT' WITH ICC AFTER REJECTION OF APPEAL TO SUSPEND PROBE

MANILA - President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said the Philippines will finally "disengage from any contact and communication" with the International Criminal Court (ICC) after it rejected the country's appeal to suspend its drug war probe.

In its decision dated March 27, the ICC appeals chamber said that the Philippines failed to cite "persuasive reasons" to support its request to temporarily put off the resumption of the probe.

When asked by Palace reporters though what the government's move would be after the latest development, Marcos said the appeal "ends all our involvement with the ICC."

"We don't have the next move... Hindi na tayo puwede mag-appeal. The appeal has failed and in argue, there is nothing more that we can do," Marcos said.

The President insisted that the permanent court does not have any jurisdiction over the Philippines.

"We ended up with the position that we started with: we cannot cooperate with the ICC considering there are very serious questions about their jurisdiction and about what we consider to be interference and practically attacks on the sovereignty of the republic,” he said.

“So that’s pretty much it. We have no longer any recourse when it comes to the ICC,” he said.

It was confirmed by Solicitor-General Menardo Guevarra that the country's appeal is still pending. What has been denied was the request for suspensive effect, similar to a prayer for a temporary restraining order.

But the President clarified that while the Philippines has written and filed an appeal to the chamber, the country has “not been involved with the actual action.”

“Merely as a comment, we would comment, and the appeal is part of a comment but we have not appeared as a party in the ICC,” Marcos Jr. said.

“We don’t recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC,” he said.

In a statement, rights group Karapatan criticized the President for his "intransigence," saying it showed the government's "empty platitudes and rhetoric before the international community."

"It is becoming increasingly evident that Marcos Jr. has no intentions of exacting justice and accountability from the perpetrators and in fact, maintains the same policies and the same climate of impunity that had led Duterte and his minions to get away with murder," the statement read.

GOV’T EYES NEW PENSION RULES OF UNIFORMED STAFF

MANILA — The Marcos Jr. administration is keen to push the passage of much-needed reforms on pension benefits for military and uniformed personnel (MUP), saying that costly payments could threaten the country’s fiscal health.

In a noontime Malacañang briefing on Tuesday, Finance chief Benjamin Diokno laid bare the proposed reforms, which already received nods of agreement from the defense and interior departments.

The reform would apply to all active personnel and new recruits.

Removal of automatic indexation of pension to the salary of active personnel of similar rank.

Pensions will be handed out starting at 57 years old.

Mandatory contributions will be required from active personnel and new recruits, similar to GSIS pensioners.

The proposals come at a time when the country’s fiscal health is in dire straits, considering the massive debt load taken on by the Duterte administration for its pandemic response. As it is, Diokno noted that the situation was already bleak.

“So there will come a time that the current budget will only be a third or a quarter of the money that we’re paying to pensioners. It’s not sustainable. If this goes one, there will be a major fiscal collapse,” he said.

For context, Diokno said that retired military and uniformed personnel get an average monthly pension of P40,000. This is 9 times higher (P4,528) than what retirees under the Social Security System receive, and 3 times (P13,600) than what Government Service Insurance System pensioners get.

Diokno likewise explained the formula for these monthly contributions, which depend on the personnel’s salary. In the first three years, MUPs will contribute 5% of their salary, while the national government will contribute 16%. For the next three years, contributions from MUP scale up to 7% while shares from the state decreases to 14%.

Years after that, MUP contributions will increase to 9% while the state contributes at a lower share of 12%.

The reforms would still need to pass scrutiny in both houses of Congress, but Diokno said they’ve already talked to some legislators that will push for these reforms.

“I think they understand they need to cooperate with the rest of society otherwise the deficit will balloon,” Diokno added.

MARCOS: GOVERNMENT ADDRESSING WATER WOES

MANILA — The administration is addressing the water crisis, President Marcos said yesterday as he reiterated the need to improve the way the country manages the resource.

On Monday, Sen. Nancy Binay cited the need to prepare for an impending water crisis, saying the country has been affected regularly by the El Niño phenomenon and yet it continues to be caught off guard by water shortages.

Binay urged the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) to share its “holistic and comprehensive water resource plan” and its water allocation and reuse policy with the local governments, so that it can be implemented at the community level.

She asked how many rainwater collection systems have been built by the government in the more than 42,000 barangays in the country since the Rainwater Collector and Springs Development Act was passed in 1989, as well as how many of these are damaged and require rehabilitation.

Asked to react to the call for a comprehensive plan to address a possible water crisis, Marcos said the government has an “overall plan” aimed at improving the way water resources are managed.

“They may not have heard the fact that we have organized already the Office of Water Management precisely to address this problem,” Marcos said.

“All of these things we have already put up together – we have already (put) together (an) overall plan. Now, we have to implement it... There are many agencies that are concerned when it comes to water management. So we have to make it more cohesive,” he added.

Marcos said the Office of Water Management would be attached to the Office of the President and the environment department.

CAAP: 2M HOLY WEEK AIR TRAVELERS

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines is anticipating two million air travelers going to and from various provinces starting this Sunday to observe the Holy Week in their hometowns, as most of the restrictions under the COVID-19 pandemic have been lifted.

The CAAP has reactivated its “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Semana Santa” program, placing all airports under its supervision under heightened alert from April 2 to April 10, “to ensure safe, secure, reliable, and convenient air travel for passengers, airport safety and security measures are in place.”

CAAP records showed that 231,479 passengers were served in April 2021 while there was a total of 1,715,720 last year.

Spokesperson Eric Apolonio said all 12 Area Managers handling all CAAP-operated airports with commercial flights nationwide shall ensure the observance of maximum deployment of service and security personnel.

“Therefore, a no leave policy will be implemented during the entire duration of Oplan Biyaheng Ayos,” he said.

Apolonio said CAAP, together with local authorities including the Police-Aviation Security Unit (AVSEU), Office of Transportation Security (OTS), Department of Tourism (DOT), Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), and airlines, are coordinating the efficient processing of passengers, especially at check-in counters.

“CAAP has requested for the additional deployment of personnel from airline stakeholders in order to accommodate the increase in travelers. Malasakit Help Desks and hotlines manned by duty officers are also set up to accommodate passenger concerns,” he added.

The agency reminds all passengers to comply with minimum health protocols within enclosed areas of the airport.

DEPED TO RETAIN CURRENT ACADEMIC CALENDAR, FLOATS BLENDED LEARNING OPTION DURING SUMMER

MANILA — The Department of Education (DepEd) said Wednesday that there are no plans to revert to the old academic calendar that starts classes in June.

This was in reaction to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian's proposal to return students’ summer break to April and May after around 100 students in Laguna had to be rushed to a hospital last week due to heat exhaustion from joining fire and earthquake drills.

“At the moment, there are no plans to revert,” DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said in a message to reporters.

This school year, classes in public schools started during the last week of August and will end by the first week of July. DepEd’s typical pre-pandemic academic calendar ran from June to April of next year.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, DepEd had to delay its class opening to October in 2020 after it hit snags in its preparations for blended learning.

This means that this school year is the first time that most face-to-face classes in public schools are held during the summer, giving the agency a test case on whether its students and personnel can cope with a hotter classroom environment.

Poa said that school heads “have the discretion to suspend in-person classes and immediately switch to (Alternative Delivery Mode) or blended learning if the environment is not conducive to learning.”

RECOMMENDATION TO BAN POGOS 'NON-NEGOTIABLE': GATCHALIAN

The Senate committee report carrying the recommendation to immediately ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country is "non-negotiable," Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said Tuesday.

Gatchalian cited the number of crimes that POGOs allegedly cause in the country, which he said only drives out potential investors.

“Ako kasi, non-negotiable sa akin ang crime eh. Non-negotiable sa akin ang criminal activities eh. One day of criminal activity is a criminal activity. Hindi ko pwedeng i-negotiate ang buhay ng kababayan natin dahil kung may ma-kidnap dyan kung mayroong mapatay, responsibility natin 'yun,” he said.

Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, needs at least 10 signatures to have his committee report adopted in the plenary.

He said in a previous interview that he already has 7 signatures, but on Tuesday, the senator opted to keep mum about the updated number of gathered signatures.

Gatchalian said it's time for POGO to leave the Philippines, which he said is the only country in the world hosting offshore gaming operations.

“Ito proven na in the past ng mga pulis na nung pagpasok ng POGO dala-dala rin nila ang organized syndicates… nakita rin nila na itong organized criminal syndicates, kasama rin doon sa mga POGO operators na pumasok dito sa atin,” the senator said.

“Natatakot ako eh, na kumalat itong mga crime na ginagawa nila sa ating mga locals dito. Nakita natin 'yung mga kidnapping before, kapwa-Chinese or kapwa POGO 'yung pagki-kidnap. Pero may tendency itong kumalat sa atin… ang punto ko lang naman, hindi siya nakakatulong sa ating bansa.. ayaw ko kasing may malala pang magyari saka tayo aakto,” Gatchalian said.

The senator said the government will not lose a significant investment from the POGO industry.

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COMELEC EYES AUTOMATING FUTURE BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN ELECTIONS

MANILA — The Commission on Elections is looking into automating future barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said yesterday.

“There is no turning back for us anymore. Let’s proceed with the automation. We can no longer proceed using the manual elections,” Garcia said in a press conference, referring to the poll body’s plans to use the automated elections system (AES) in future BSKEs.

The Comelec has been using the AES for the national and local elections since 2010.

As part of its efforts to shift to automating the BSKE, the Comelec is set to pilot-test automated elections in Barangays Zone II Poblacion and Paliparan II in Dasmariñas, Cavite and in Barangay Pasong Tamo, Quezon City.

Garcia explained that automating the BSKE will be beneficial to teachers who will serve as electoral board members as it would spare them almost 24 hours of working, compared to the manual setup. He said that in manual elections, ballots are counted until the wee hours.

“The process is long. What if there are early voting hours for (persons with disabilities), seniors, pregnant women and (indigenous peoples)?” Garcia said in Filipino.

“It cannot be denied that it is more convenient to count ballots using machines. In 30 minutes, you have results,” he added.

The Comelec earlier denied that the results of last year’s general elections had been rigged.

DOJ CHIEF TAGS TEVES AS FUGITIVE, SOLON’S CAMP CALLS IT ‘DEMONIZING’

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Tuesday declared that Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. is already considered a fugitive, after the lawmaker refused to return to the country to face murder charges filed against him.

Remulla made the statement after Teves’ lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, said the lawmaker is not a fugitive since the government has yet to issue a warrant of arrest against him.

“When one is suspected of having committed a crime, he is already considered a fugitive; he just did not show up,” Remulla said in an interview with ABS-CBN’s Headstart.

“The actions would speak louder than words. It’s that he is not showing up, that he is evading us, or trying to evade the law,” Remulla added.

Remulla earlier said that Teves, who was supposedly in the US for medical treatment, is “being considered” one of the masterminds in the March 4 killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and eight others.

Several criminal complaints have also been filed against Teves, including multiple murder complaints over killings in 2019, and the illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

Asked why an arrest warrant has yet to be issued against Teves, Remulla cited due process.

“We want to push the process, but we’re talking about human rights and due process, that is how the law works, we have to respect the due process of law, [no matter] how slow it is,” Remulla said.

He said the congressman was entitled to a preliminary investigation.

BAWAL BASTOS: PUV DRIVERS, OPERATORS PINAALALAHANAN KONTRA SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Pinaalalahan ng Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) ang mga drayber at operator ng pampublikong transportasyon ukol sa parusa sa mga lalabag sa batas laban sa sexual harassment.

Papatawan anila ng multang aabot sa P5,000 hanggang P15,000 ang mga operator, drayber, kundoktor at iba pang empleyado ng pampublikong transportasyon kung mapatutunayang lumabag sa Safe Spaces Act o Bawal Bastos Law.

Maaari ring masuspinde ang biyahe ng pampublikong sasakyan at matanggalan ng lisensiya ang drayber kaugnay nito.

Saklaw rin ng parusa ang mga drayber at operator na bigong pigilan or i-report ang mga kaso ng harassment.

Inatasan ng LTFRB ang mga operator na maglagay ng signage na "BAWAL ANG BASTOS" sa mga pampublikong sasakyan, kasama ang contact details kung saan pwedeng magsumbong ang publiko, kabilang ang hotline 1342 at email address na complaints@ltfrb.gov.ph.

Sa panayam sa TeleRadyo, sinabi ni Alliance of Concerned Transport Operators (ACTO) president Liberty de Luna na hindi sila nakonsulta tungkol sa nasabing patakaran.

“Pero kung yan po talaga po ay batas na, eh sundin na lang po natin,” aniya.

Ayon kay De Luna, maiging ilapit agad ng mga drayber at operator ang mga kaso ng sexual harassment sa pinakamalapit na istasyon ng pulis.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

ISSA PRESSMAN GETS COZY WITH JAMES REID IN NEW PHOTOS

MANILA — Actress Issa Pressman has posted new sizzling photos with James Reid anew on Tuesday amid talk about their budding relationship.

In an Instagram post, Pressman shared snaps of her lounging around with a shirtless Reid, with the caption "school day."

The new photos come just weeks after Reid's photos with Pressman during the Harry Styles concert at the Philippine Arena made the rounds online.

Pressman herself uploaded a photo on Instagram on the evening of March 16, while Reid uploaded a clip of them watching the concert together.

The posts resurrected rumors dating back to 2020, when Pressman was accused of being the third party in the failed relationship of Reid and his ex-girlfriend Nadine Lustre.

Reid even had to release a statement stressing that the "past rumors" about him and the sister of Yassi Pressman are not true.

"I'm only gonna say this once. The past rumors about Issa are just that, rumors," he said.

However, Reid explained that he felt the need to speak up "because this is the start of something beautiful."

"I usually NEVER address bashers or get involved in hate culture but I feel the need to speak up now because this is the start of something beautiful," Reid said.

"And I'm not gonna let anyone take that from me. To my fans, all you need to know from me is that I'm the happiest ... I've ever been," he added.

Reid's ex-girlfriend Lustre is currently in a relationship with French businessman Christophe Bariou.

SPORTS

PBA: GINEBRA LOOKS TO COMPLETE SWEEP OF SMB, ENTER FINALS

MANILA -- Barangay Ginebra guns for a sweep of San Miguel Beer when they face off in Game 3 of their semifinal series in the 2023 PBA Governors' Cup on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Gin Kings have a 2-0 lead in the best-of-3 series after comfortable victories over the Beermen in Games 1 and 2. Another win will send them to the best-of-7 championship series for a chance to defend their Governors' Cup crown.

But Ginebra coach Tim Cone acknowledged that it is "nearly impossible" to beat San Miguel Beer three consecutive times.

"We're going to try to do the impossible on Wednesday," Cone said after they routed the Beermen, 121-103, on Sunday's Game 2 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

"Hopefully, we're better in Game 3 than we were in Game 2," he also said.

San Miguel has struggled to contain Ginebra big man Christian Standhardinger in the series, with the Fil-German standout torching them for 32 points in Game 2. Scottie Thompson was superb, putting up a 21-point, 11-rebound, 11-assist triple-double while Justin Brownlee also had 32 points.

On the other end of the floor, Ginebra limited SMB import Cameron Clark to just 23 points on 11-of-21 shooting. The Beermen are playing without six-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, who has been ruled out due to a knee injury.

Game time is at 3:00 p.m.

In the second game of the double-header, the Meralco Bolts and the TNT Tropang GIGA will look to break a 1-1 deadlock in their own best-of-5 semifinals series.

The Tropang GIGA drew first blood, 110-80, in Game 1 but Meralco showed great resolve in hacking out a 124-117 overtime win in Game 2 last Sunday.

"Playing the number one seeded team, so every game is going to be tough for us. This is only their second loss the entire conference, so nothing's going to be easy," Meralco coach Norman Black said.

Game time is at 5:45 p.m.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 54.45

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash. - George S. Patton