Aquino to fight ISIS

President Aquino in New York offered to help the United States in fighting the Islamic State (ISIS) that has reportedly recruited members from Southeast Asian countries.

He directed Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario to meet with US State Department officials to discuss details of how the Philippines can help the US coalition campaign against ISIS, which is also known by the name Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

ISIS remains a threat to the Philippines. The extremist group is boosting its membership in Southeast Asian countries. Reports said at least 3 Filipinos have died fighting with ISIS. At the same time, rebels from the Abu Sayyaf and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) claimed having pledged their allegiance to ISIS.

Audit DAP projects

Upon insistence of United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) secretary-general Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, Budget Secretary Butch Abad finally submitted the list of recipients of Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) funds.

The main recipients are congressmen, senators, Departments of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Agriculture (DA), Agrarian Reform (DAR), and local government units. Funds allocated to lawmakers usually go to “hard” and “soft” projects where a standard 30-50 percent commission is given to the nominating congressman or senator.

The Commission on Audit (CoA) should investigate all projects funded by DAP and Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), especially those easy to construct like farm-to-market roads and local streets. The flood control projects of the DPWH are easy to inflate, especially where there is dredging required.

Congressman Tiangco has also demanded where an unaccounted P8.8 billion of DAP funds went.

The DA also received a big allocation of DAP funds, including P1.2 billion for farm-to-market roads.

The DAR received P900 million from the Malampaya Fund which were allocated to local government units through non-governmental organizations (NGOs), connected with suspected pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima is still sitting on the third batch of PDAF nominated and misused by lawmakers and local officials.

COA has not released its audit of the Malampaya Fund.

Purisima is back

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima has returned from a conference in Bogota, Colombia.

Malacañang through Undersecretary Abigail Valte said they are waiting for Purisima to explain his unexplained wealth which includes a luxurious resthouse in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija and a poultry business in Cabanatuan.

Purisima is also expected to explain the P25 million cost of the Camp Crame 2-storey White House donated by his friends in the Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines.

A senior Mason said in a text message: “The chief PNP should answer the biggest mystery of the P25 million house donated by the Masons.” He explained that “the brotherhood is not mandated to donate a luxury house. They [Masons] are into socio-activities and extend help only to those who are in need.” The supposed donation smacked of corruption, according to the senior Mason.

Binay still leading

A Sept. 7-11 survey by Pedro “Junie” Laylo Jr., an independent public opinion pollster, reports that Vice President Jejomar Binay is still leading with 36 percent.

In the Pulse Asia survey conducted Sept. 8-15, Binay is also leading with 31 percent. Roxas is second with only 13 percent. Miriam Santiago is third with only 11 percent while Grace Poe slid down to fourth with 10 percent, tied with Mayor Erap Estrada.

In second place of the Laylo survey is Senator Grace Poe, with 19 percent up from 12%. In third place is Mayor Joseph Estrada, with 13 percent up from 9%.

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Mayor Rodrigo Duterte received 8 percent while presumptive candidate Interior Secretary Mar Roxas is still at only 7 percent with Senator Bongbong Marcos.

Senator Alan Cayetano only received 3 percent of the 1,200 respondents.

In several TV interviews, Senator Grace Poe has consistently denied any plan to run for higher office.

Health insurance for seniors

Congress has approved a bill providing mandatory Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) coverage to all senior citizens, age 60 and above, regardless of their social or economic status.      

Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan, a rural doctor, authored the House bill. Senate President Frank Drilon and Senators Ralph Recto, Loren Legarda and Cynthia Villar authored the Senate version.

Malacañang has indicated its plan to sign the approved bill next week which is Senior Citizens' Week.

Tidbits

In a span of just two weeks, the treasury offices in four towns and one city in Cebu province were burglarized despite being near police stations. At least P1.5 million in government funds was taken in Toledo City and in the towns of Compostela, Carmen, Sogod and Pinamungahan.

Joan Lazaga and Arlon Tamayo, both security guards, were killed and five persons wounded in a daring robbery-holdup staged by six suspects in Agencia Brillantes pawnshop in Koronadal City. Jonel Elchico, one of the suspects, has been arrested by joint police operatives. Mayor Peter Miguel offered a P250,000 reward for information that would lead to the arrest of the four other suspects.

Nestor Salvalosa, 53, and his brother, Balvino, 51, were shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Calinog, Iloilo. Relatives of the victims said Nestor has no known enemy but Balvino was once jailed for murder.