P-Noy rejects VFA abrogation

President Aquino, in Palo, Leyte, has rejected calls for the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) as a result of killing the Filipino transgender Jeffery Laude by  United States (US) Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton.

The VFA provides that the government can seek custody of American servicemen on trial only under “extraordinary circumstances.” The term was not defined and it is not known if it includes the crime of murder.

“Why should we abrogate the VFA? I mean, name me any place that doesn’t have crime. And the sin of one person, should it be reflective of the entire country? I don’t think so,” Aquino said.

Aquino said a major concern of the government was to build an airtight case against Pemberton to ensure that justice is served.

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has called for the abrogation of the VFA, saying the alleged involvement of a US Marine in the killing of a Filipino transgender woman again showed that the treaty was skewed in favor of visiting American troops.      She is supported by Senator T.G. Guingona.

Senate President Franklin Drilon and 18 senators have called for a review. Drilon said the issue of the custody pending trial deserves to be reviewed.

Senator Cynthia Villar said there should be clearer rules on how to deal with situations when a crime is committed by an American soldier in the Philippines.

Senator Grace Poe said a review of the VFA should be done in order to provide a clearer picture with regards to the protocols whenever a crime is committed in the country.

Senator Sergio Osmeña III, who voted against in the VFA in 1999, said: “I’m not for abrogation. I’m for amending those areas there where I said, ‘why are Filipinos admitting they’re second class citizens in their own country?P Osmeña said a review and renegotiation of the VFA should be done at the soonest possible time.

Senators Tito Sotto, Pia Cayetano, Loren Legarda, Nancy Binay, Koko Pimentel and J.V. Ejercito supported calls for a review of the VFA.

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Tony Tiu’s denial

Businessman Antonio “Tony” Tiu has taken out full page ads to insist that the Sunchamp Real Estate Development Corp. owned the farm property in Rosario, Batangas.

In the Ad, he clarified that the farm is only 147 hectares, not 350 hectares as testified by former Makati Vice-Mayor Ernesto Mercado.

He denied that the piggery is air conditioned. He said that the area with the fighting cocks belong to a neighbor.

He denied that there is a second mansion, only a pavilion, that there is no 40-car garage, just a working shed.

In Lynda Jumilla’s “Beyond Politics” program, Vice President Binay declared he does not own a 350-hectare property in Rosario, Batangas. He said he divested his property holdings when he was elected vice president.

Vice President Binay explained that the Makati City Hall Parking Building II was audited ten times by Commission on Audit (COA) auditors who did not find anything wrong with the project. 

In the Beyond Politics, VP Binay fingered Interior Secretary Mar Roxas as the person behind the Operation Nognog 2016.

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COA: DAP fell short

The Commission on Audit has issued a report that the controversial stimulus program of the administration funded by the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) fell short of its promise of accelerating spending.

COA said the goal of the DAP was not met due to delay/slow/non-release of funds to project proponents.

COA ordered 4 government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs) to return P2.4 billion in unused DAP funds as ordered by the Supreme Court (SC).

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Slow implementation

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas scolded 20 Bohol mayors for not using P2.3 billion in earthquake rehabilitation funds already released to repair municipal halls and public markets.

Region VIII Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Director Rolando Asis has admitted that after almost a year since Typhoon Yolanda hit, only 86 of 729 funded classrooms have been built. 4,000 classrooms have been damaged by Typhoon Yolanda.

Secretary Panfilo Lacson also decried the fact that the master plan for Yolanda rehabilitation he submitted to the President has not been approved yet.

Fortunately, international agencies, big corporations, ABS-CBN, Tsuchi Foundation, Philippine Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) and other private donors have built more classrooms than DPWH.

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Tidbits

It’s final. The SC dimissed Sandiganbayan Justice Gregory Ong’s motion for reconsideration. He is out.

The New Bilibid Prison (NBP) inmates have written the Pope a letter request asking him to visit them. The Archdiocese of Cebu is also requesting to be included in the Pope’s itinerary.

The Mary the Queen College of Science and Technology in Quezon was held up by 5 robbers and divested of P500,000 in cash.

NAIA has been found to be the world’s 4th worst airport after Islamabad, Pakistan, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and Kathmandu, Nepal.

Another UP Los Baños student has been raped.

At the Senate, importers and truckers again reported the extortion going on at the Port of Manila.

10 persons have died from acute encephalitis syndrome in Sultan Kudarat.

PO2 Rodelio Manuel has been charged with holdup of a taxi.