Philippine Muslims Urge Senate To Investigate ABS-CBN Kidnapping

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 30, 2008) – Filipino Muslims in Sulu province have urged the Senate to open up investigations into reports that a huge ransom has been paid to the terrorist Abu Sayyaf group that kidnapped a Philippine television news crew.

The Abu Sayyaf kidnapped on June 8 an ABS-CBN television presenter Ces Drilon and her cameramen Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama, including a Muslim university professor Octavio Dinampo in the town of Maimbung.

Valderama was freed June 12 in exchange for P5 million ransom while the remaining hostages had been released five days later after private negotiators allegedly paid P15 million to the kidnappers, numbering about two dozens.

Police later arrested Indanan town Mayor Alvarez Isnaji and his son, Haider, who were both implicated in the kidnapping. Police also accused the politician of pocketing at least P3 million.

Isnaji, who was handpicked by the Abu Sayyaf to negotiate for the safe release of the captives, strongly denied the accusations.

“We want to know who was really behind the kidnapping and who benefited from the ransom because the money paid to the Abu Sayyaf is sure to go to the arsenal of the Abu Sayyaf group and we, Muslims, will again be tagged as terrorists and kidnappers by those who do not understand Islam.”

“Our province will again be branded as haven for terrorists and kidnappers or land of the Abu Sayyaf which is really unfair. Authorities should investigate who paid the ransom or the people behind it. We want to know the truth,” Amir Ibrahim, a trader, told the Mindanao Examiner.

He said many religious groups in Sulu also wanted the Senate to investigate the kidnapping of the ABS-CBN television news crew to know whether Isnaji was really behind it or not.

“The Muslims want to know the truth and not what we hear from the radio or television or read in the newspapers. Everybody must be investigated and all those who took part in the negotiations, including the police and military and the ABS-CBN, including our local leaders,” Ibrahim said.

Police said Drilon’s brother Frank paid P5 million ransom, but Isnaji allegedly paid only P2 million to the kidnappers. And Isnaji’s lawyer, Firdausi Abbas, claimed that another P15 million was paid to the captors by an unnamed Chinese businessman.

Ibrahim said the payment of ransom to the Abu Sayyaf will endanger many people in Sulu because the money could be used to purchase illegal weapons and fund terrorism and future kidnappings.

Police and military have failed to arrest any of the kidnappers since the release of the hostages.

Security officials previously said the number of the Abu Sayyaf has dwindled from several hundreds in the last five years to only a few dozens now and the military downgraded the group to plain bandits.

Washington listed the Abu Sayyaf as a foreign terrorist organization and has offered as much as $5 million bounty for the capture of its known leaders. (Mindanao Examiner)

Philippines To Have Cheaper Medicines Soon

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 02, 2007) – The Philippine Senate has on Tuesday passed on second reading the proposed Quality Affordable Medicines Act of 2007.

Sen. Mar Roxas, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade and Commerce, has sponsored the bill.

Committee Report No. 6, which was filed by the Senate Committees on Trade and Commerce and on Health and Demography, was signed by 17 senators who are members of the two committees. It recommends policy tools seeking access to quality, affordable medicines under the substitute Senate Bill No. 1658.

“Today, we in the Senate have the opportunity to deliver a powerful message that despite the raging controversies, we are immersed foremost in the business of the people,” Roxas said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.

“All the tools needed to make medicines more affordable are already in this bill. All of these provisions are in accordance with international best practices and with current laws,” Roxas added.

First among these measures, he said, are the proposed amendments to the Intellectual Property Code which seek to allow the parallel importation of more affordable medicines from abroad.

And to support the generics industry by adopting the “early working” principle and to disallow the grant of new patents on grounds of “new use” and give ample muscle to the government through a framework for government use and compulsory licensing.

“Ultimately, it will be the depth and strength of the administration’s political will that would decide the fate of these tools,” Roxas said. “Other countries have used the same tools with undeniable success. They have amended their patent laws to adopt internationally accepted best practices that have made medicines more affordable and accessible.”

The committees also recommend strengthening the Bureau of Food and Drug to serve as a counterfoil to attempts to bring in fake or substandard medicines by allowing BFAD to retain its operating income from fees and other charges so it could upgrade its facilities.

The substitute bill also reiterates the President’s power, patterned after the Price Act, to impose drug price ceilings in times of calamity, public health emergencies, illegal price manipulation and other instances of unreasonable drug price hikes.

The committee report also recommends the creation of a Congressional Oversight Committee on Quality Affordable Medicines, and allocating an initial P25 million to the Department of Health for the implementation of these measures.

Trillanes, Muntik Ng Sumabit Sa Proklamasyon!

Isa sa mga campaign material ni Senador Antonio Trillanes. (Mindanao Examiner Photo Service)

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 15 Jun) - Muntik nang hindi makadalo si senator-elect Antonio Trillanes sa proklamasyon nito sa Commission on Elections kaninang umaga matapos na harangin ng Armed Forces ang paglabas nito sa kulungan.

Ngunit pinagbigyan pa rin ni Armed Forces Chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon si Trillanes bagamat iginigiit nito na marapat ay sinusunod ng senador ang proseso habang nasa hurisdiksyon pa rin ng militar.

Nabigo umano ang ang kampo ni Trillanes na magsumite ng pahintulot kay Esperon upang makadalo sa proklamasyon nito kanina.

Bukod sa permiso ng Makati Regional Trial Court, obligado si Trillanes na magpaalam sa AFP dahil bahagi ito ng proseso bukod pa na sila ang may hawak ng kustodiya sa dating opisyal ng militar.

Pinagkaguluhan naman si Trillanes ng media ng dumating sa COMELEC kasama ang mga mahal sa buhay at supporters.

Wala naman balak si Trillanes na gantihan si Esperon kahit pa ito ay nanalo bilang senador.
Sinabi pa ni Trillanes na habambuhay nitong irerespeto si Esperon bilang miyembro ng Upper Class sa Philippine Military Academy (PMA) at nakatataas na opisyal ng militar.

Gayunman, binigyang-diin ni Trillanes na ang kanyang ipinaglalaban ay para rin sa mga miyembro ng Armed Forces at mahalagang malinis ang institusyon sa lumalalang katiwalian at magpatupad ng reporma.

Kasabay nito, hindi naman natitinag si Esperon sakaling gisahin siya ni Trillanes sa anumang imbestigasyon ng Senado na ipatatawag nito.

Sinabi ng heneral na bahagi ito ng demokratikong proseso sa bansa at malimit rin naman siyang humaharap sa mga pagdinig ng Mataas ng Kapulungan.

"That's part of the democratic process. Lagi rin naman akong humaharap sa Senado," ani Esperon sa pahayagang Mindanao Examiner.

Makakaharap aniya siya sa Senado kung bibigyan ng awtoridad ng Commander-in-Chief o ng Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo para dumalo sa anuma ng pulong o pandinig.

Bagamat hindi masama ang loob ni Esperon sa pagkapanalo ni Trillanes ay inamin naman nitong kagulat-gulat ang pagkakahalal ng failed mutiny leader.

Samantala, masalimuot na proseso ang dadaanan ni Trillanes bago tuluyang mailipat ang kustodiya rito mula sa militar tungong Senado.

Ayon naman kay Armed Forces spokesman Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro ay hindi magiging madali para kay Trillanes ang makabitaw sa kustodiya ng militar bunsod na rin ng kinakaharap nitong kasong paglabag sa Articles of War noong aktibo pa sa serbisyo.

Nais naman ni Trillanes na magkaroon ng pagbabagop sa kanyang kulungan at posibleng doon nito isagawa ang anumang pandinig o pulong na may kinalaman sa kanyang pagiging senador. Ito ay kung hindi siya papayagang makadalo sa Senado.

Posibleng maibigay kay Trillanes ang Defense Committee at mailipat sa kustodiya ng Senado o Sergeant-at-Arms nito o sa Senate President ang kaso nito.

Sabit sa Trillanes sa nabigong coup apat na taon na ang nakalipas. Korupsyon sa pamahalaan at Armed Forces ang naging isyu ng Magdalo Group na kinabibilangan nito ng kanilang okupahan ang Oakwood Premiere Hotels sa Makati City. (Juley Reyes at Juan Magtanggol)

Filipino Mutiny Leader, Proclaimed Senator-Elect

Navy officer Antonio Trillanes, now Philippine senator.

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 15 Jun) – Detained mutiny leader Antonio Trillanes was proclaimed Friday by the Philippines Elections Commission as senator-elect.

Trillanes ran for senator in the May 14 national elections with politicians opposed to President Gloria Arroyo's rule. He was declared winner on Thursday.

Trillanes is one of many military officers accused of trying to oust Arroyo during the so-called Oakwood mutiny on July 27, 2003.

He led more than 300 armed soldiers, mostly from the elite navy seal and army rangers, and took over the Oakwood hotel in Makati City, the country’s financial district, to show the Filipinos the alleged corruption of the Arroyo administration.

They later surrendered after a peaceful negotiation that promised swift reforms in the government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. But after surrendering, all those involved in the failed coup have been detained instead and are now facing criminal charges.

The Philippine military said Trillanes will remain in detention. (Juan Magtanggol)

Failed Coup Leader Elected To Philippine Senate

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 14 Jun) – Detained failed coup leader Antonio Trillanes was finally on Thursday elected to the Philippine Senate after he was proclaimed winner in Manila.

Trillanes was declared winner a week after Elections chief Benjamin Abalos proclaimed Loren Legarda, Francis Escudero, Panfilo Lacson, Manuel Villar Jr., Benigno Aquino III, Francis Pangilinan, Edgardo Angara, Alan Peter Cayetano, Gregorio Honasan and Joker Arroyo.

Abalos did not include Trillanes in the previous proclamation, saying, the counting of votes are not over yet. Trillanes ran for senator in May 14 elections with politicians opposed to President Gloria Arroyo's rule.

Trillanes is one of many military officers accused of trying to oust Arroyo during the so-called Oakwood mutiny on July 27, 2003.

Last month, the Philippine military barred two foreign journalists -- Sebastian Facris, of the French International Radio and Douglas Bakshian, of the Voice of America -- from a press conference of Trillanes at a marine prison facility in Manila.

The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines, to which the two journalists belong, organized the press conference. The military said foreign journalists are barred from entering Philippine military camps unless with security clearance from the intelligence service.

Military officials had prevented Trillanes from campaigning, but a civilian court allowed journalist to interview him days before the elections. Soldiers were also told by their commanders not to vote for Trillanes, but the sympathy for the detained officer only grew strong.

Trillanes led more than 300 armed soldiers, mostly from the elite navy seal and army rangers, and took over the Oakwood hotel in Makati City, the country’s financial district, to show the Filipinos the alleged corruption of the Arroyo administration.

They later surrendered after a peaceful negotiation that promised swift reforms in the government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. But after surrendering, all those involved in the failed coup have been detained instead and are now facing criminal charges. (Juan Magtanggol and Juley Reyes)

COMELEC Proclaims 10 Senators Winners In Philippine Polls

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 06 Jun) – The Philippine Commission on Elections finally proclaimed Wednesday ten of 12 senators who won in the May 14 national polls.

Elections chief Benjamin Abalos proclaimed Loren Legarda, Francis Escudero, Panfilo Lacson, Manuel Villar Jr., Benigno Aquino III, Francis Pangilinan, Edgardo Angara, Alan Peter Cayetano, Gregorio Honasan and Joker Arroyo.

Abalos is yet to proclaim two other senators as winners, but the counting of votes for the 11th and 12th placers are still ongoing.

Failed military coup leader Antonio Trillanes and lawyer Aquilino Pimentel, both members of the opposition ranked 1th and 12th respectively. Almost all of those who won the elections are members of the opposition. (Mindanao Examiner)

RP Senate Finally Approves SME Magna Carta Amendments

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 06 Jun)- The Philippine Senate has approved on third reading Senate Bill 2593, amending Republic Act 6977 or the Magna Carta for Small Enterprises, to provide greater assistance to the businesses that are the backbone of the economy.

Senator Manuel Roxas II, the proponent of the Senate bill, said that despite SMEs representing 99.6% of the countries’ registered companies, not to mention 70% of the labor force, their contributions to the economy’s growth have amounted to only a little over 30%.

The bill was approved late Tuesday.

He said he foresees this situation changing for the better by increasing financial institutions’ required allocation to SMEs, as well as strengthening the Small Business (SB) Corp., created in 2001 through Executive Order 28, which merged the Small Business Guarantee and Finance Corp. and the Guarantee Fund for Small and Medium Enterprises.

“By shifting the allocation of a portion of credit resources from the bigger, more independent businesses to those smaller ones with untapped potential, more people will be able to truly add to the nation’s progress.”

“Two out of three employees work in SMEs. More growth in this sector means more jobs and opportunities,” Roxas said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper, the Mindanao Examiner.

He said the changes to the SME Magna Carta will encourage entrepreneurs to invest, who will in turn produce more jobs and more wealth. “With each entrepreneur is a promise of hope for the private sector. The effect is exponential. I see no end in sight to what these entrepreneurs, fired up by available prospects, can achieve,” Roxas said.

The SB 2593 will increase the mandatory allocation of credit resources from 6 to 8 percent. The bill will require all public and private lenders to set aside 8 percent (for micro and small enterprises) and 2 percent (for medium enterprises) of their total loan portfolio to be made available to MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises).

The authorized capital stock of the SB Corp. will be increased, from P5 billion, to P10 billion.

Private sector investments in the state corporation will be limited to preferred shares. There will also be a five-year grace period for previous dividend commitments, with succeeding dividends limited to 30% of SB Corp.’s income.

As the House had already passed its counterpart on 3rd reading, both houses are now set to deliberate on reconciling their versions of the measure before the 13th Congress ends this week.

In the southern Philippines, Gov. Sakur Tan of Jolo island welcomed the approval of the bill, saying, it would really help SMEs and provide livelihood to many people.

"This is good and we hope that more important bills would be approved by our lawmakers that will attract investments and provide livelihood to many people," Tan said.

Tan has appealed for local and international investments in Jolo island, which is known for its marine products and coffee beans. (Mindanao Examiner)

Attend Last Session Days, Solon Tells Colleagues

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 29 May) - Barely five days to go before the 13th Congress resumes again for the last time, Senator Mar Roxas once more called on his fellow legislators to attend the last three plenary session days and the forthcoming meetings of the Bicameral Conference Committee, to help push the approval of a bill seeking quality and affordable medicines.

“This is a very important piece of health legislation. Providing quality and affordable medicines to our people is a moral imperative. It should no longer be delayed, he said in a statement sent Tueasday to the Mindanao Examiner newspaper.

“I ask my colleagues in both houses of Congress to exercise political will and pass this bill into law before the session ends,” he said.

He noted that next week would be the last chance for legislators who belong to the 13th Congress to address the urgent need of ordinary Filipinos for quality and affordable medicines.

Congress will resume on Monday, June 4, after almost a four-month break, and is expected to adjourn sine die on June 6.

Roxas, who is primary author and sponsor of the bill, also welcomed the active engagement of stakeholder groups in making sure that the landmark legislation is passed within the 13th Congress.

These groups include British aid agency Oxfam, the 3CP Net (Cut the Cost, Cut the Pain Network), AGAP (Ayos na Gamot sa Abot-kayang Presyo), Third World Network, Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) among others.

“I greatly appreciate the activities being organized by stakeholders in support of this bill. These vigilant efforts are very helpful in preventing those who are blocking this bill from succeeding.”

“This snowballing of support makes the quest for cheaper and affordable medicines more worthwhile,” he added.

The Liberal Party stalwart also ensured that a consolidated version of the bill is already underway, as constant communication among the technical staff and with the concerned sectors is being held.

“Even before the bicameral meetings are held, we’ve been in constant communication with our counterparts in the House, with government agencies involved and stakeholder groups, and our staff are doing consolidation of drafts of the bill,” he said.

Provided there is a quorum, the House is expected to pass the bill on 3rd reading on Monday. The Bicameral Conference Committee will then convene to iron-out the disagreeing provisions of the House and Senate versions of the bill.

After which, a Bicameral Conference Committee report proposing a consolidated version of the bill will be transmitted to both Chambers for ratification.

The consolidated version will then be sent to the President for signature. The Senate has approved Senate Bill 2263 on Third Reading on January 31, 2007.

The House of Representatives, meanwhile, has passed its version—House Bill No. 6035—on Second Reading last February 20, 2007.