NEWS AT A GLANCE

OFWs decry sabotage in Overseas Absentee Voting Law   

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Hongkong last week decried delays in the implementation of the Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV).

Speaking through Migrante sectoral party HK-chapter, the OFWs said that the shortage of biometric machines in Hong Kong that are needed for OAV registration will deprive thousands of Filipinos  their right to vote.

Dolores Balladares, spokesperson of the Migrante sectoral party-HK, said the 180,000 Filipinos in the administrative region cannot be accommodated by the machines that only have a combined capacity of 1,440 persons per day.

* * *

Consumers' “Bantay Meralco” teams monitor start of refund

The consumer group People Opposed to Warrantless Electricity Rates (POWER) started last week its independent monitoring of Meralco's refund scheme for customers consuming up to 100kwh/month.

Leaders from POWER and various cause-oriented groups trooped to payment centers in Metro Manila to verify Meralco's compliance with the Supreme  Court's order to refund more than P30 billion in overcharges since 1994.

Starting June, Meralco has adopted a new format for its electric bill, based on the unbundling of rates under the Electric Power Industry Reform  Act. The new bill, according to POWER, contains 17 items including the  generation charge, transmission charge, distribution charge, meter charge  and the universal charge.

The group said that this will lead to more confusion with regards the electricity bill charged on consumers.

"The new electric bill no longer has the item called Purchased Power  Adjustment, but the rates continue to be very high. This is because the PPA  was integrated into the generation and transmission charges. Other  components of the PPA such as systems losses and franchise taxes were also retained and increased," Dr. Giovanni Tapang, POWER spokesperson, clarified.

* * *

Plunder Watch greets Ombudsman’s verdict on boulevard scam; regrets exclusion of President’s lawyer, GSIS Board

The independent anti-corruption watchdog Plunder Watch joined former PEA Director Sulficio Tagud Jr. in welcoming the Office of the Ombudsman's verdict finding 27 officials liable for violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in connection with the over P1-billion President Diosdado Macapagal Blvd. project.

"We welcome this ruling by the Office of the Ombudsman. This is a victory for those who continue the anti-corruption cause of People Power 2,"  said Dr. Carolina Pagaduan Araullo, convenor of Plunder Watch and one of Tagud's co-petitioners.

The Ombudsman noted that the government "suffered undue injury at the very least in the amount of P532,926,420.39" and agreed with Tagud, Plunder Watch and other petitioners that the PDMB Project is "grossly overpriced."

But Plunder Watch lamented that the Ombudsman "failed to use its broad and sweeping powers to look deeper into how the respondents could have colluded and conspired to benefit themselves as they pampered the erring contractor."

"It is regrettable that Presidential Legal Counsel and then-Acting Executive Secretary evaded charges on the flimsiest alibi that his signing the GSIS loan was purely ministerial when it meant lending P1-billion in state workers' funds to a contractor with only about P300-million in funds and for a contract that the Ombudsman itself found null and void," said Dr. Araullo.

* * *

Militants hold rallies on Independence Day 

Various militant organizations held protest actions to commemorate a “bogus” Philippine Independence.

In Manila, League of Filipino Students and Anakbayan held a lightning rally at the Quirino Grandstand during the government’s Independence Day celebration. They held placards depicting President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as “U.S. puppet.” Four of the protesters were arrested.

In Cavite, members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Southern Tagalog marched to Aguinaldo residence in Kawit.      

In Baguio City, Tongtongan ti Umili (People’s Forum) - Cordillera Peoples Alliance (TTU-CPA) and Taripnong para iti Kappia (Gathering for Peace) held a forum at the SSS Canteen titled Anti-Terrorism Bill: Renewed Threat to Civil Liberties and Independence to the People. The forum was attended by 130 individuals from government agencies, law offices, colleges and universities.

In a statement, TTU- CPA said the Philippines has never been free from the dictates of the United States despite the declaration of Philippine independence on June 12, 1898 and on July 4, 1946.

Similar rallies were held in other regions of the country.

Bulatlat.com

Back to top

We want to know what you think of this article.