‘Disputes with media should be settled in court’/ Confidential funds
>> Friday, September 29, 2023
EDITORIAL
Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Chief Persida Acosta on Tuesday urged that disputes with the media should be settled in court instead of through bloodshed.“Meron mga nasasagasaan ang ating mga kasama sa media na talaga namang may impluwensiya, may kapangyarihan, may kayamanan, at ang kanilang nagiging result ay ikli ng buhay ng ating mga kasama (There are media practitioners who clash with influential, powerful, or rich individuals, and this results in shortened lives),” Acosta told a media summit at Bayview Park Hotel in Manila.
She said however that there are laws in place and effective legal processes for those who have grudges against journalists as well as public servants.
“Bigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang rule of law and justice. Daanin sa proseso. At kaugnay nito, kailangan po ang mga pag-aaral po ng ating mga kasama sa media ng batas upang maiwasan ang galit at bangis ng mga nasasagasaan (Let’s give a chance to the rule of law and justice. Let’s go through the process. And with this, our media practitioners should also study the law to avoid the ire of those being imputed)” Acosta said.
Among some of the common lawsuits filed against journalists are cyber-libel or libel under the revised penal code, she was quoted by the government-run Philippine News Agency.
In a separate speech, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Assistant Secretary Michel Andre Del Rosario said a “free and responsible press” in the country is a “cornerstone of any democracy.”
“It is through the diligent and courageous work of our journalists, that we are kept informed, enlightened, and engaged in the affairs of our nation,” he said.
The media summit organized by the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), with the theme "Promoting a free and responsible press towards a safer media community" is part of the government’s efforts to address violence against journalists.
“It is our solemn duty to address these issues head-on and ensure that those who seek to silence the press are brought to justice,” Del Rosario said.
Senior media practitioners, lawyers, and legal experts discussed several topics during the event to educate participating journalists on the present condition of the country’s media landscape.
The PTFoMS - through the PAO and the Puno and Puno Law Offices – also held a free legal aid clinic for journalists during the latter part of the event.
PTFoMS executive director, Undersecretary Paul Gutierrez, said the summit is only the beginning of a series of events organized for media practitioners.
He said succeeding legs of the event will be held in the Davao Region, Tagaytay City for the Southern Luzon leg, and in Subic for the Central Luzon leg.
EDITORIAL
Confidential funds
One of the controversial issues now engulfing the country
is confidential funds. This, after Vice President Sarah Duterte insisted on
having such funds for the Education department which she heads which doesn’t
involve national security.
She wanted a P500 million confidential fund for the Office of the Vice President. Granted.
She wanted a separate P150 million confidential fund for the Department of Education which she also heads. Pointedly questioned about it by Arlene Brosas (Gabriela), France Castro (ACT Teachers) and Raoul Manuel (Kabataan), she just said matter-of-factly that security and surveillance work – never before part of DepEd’s functions because why would the department need money for this when there is an acute classroom shortage that was not addressed during her father’s term? – was necessary to handle “specific issues and challenges.” Granted again.
In a Malacañang Press Briefing, Uy explained that the confidential fund is necessary to conduct intelligence and investigations to apprehend cyber criminals.
Confidential funds pertain to costs associated with surveillance operations within non-military government organizations to assist the agency’s mission or functions.
The DICT chief expressed concern over scammers using multiple tactics to evade being identified and apprehended.
Uy said these criminals are well-funded, well-organized, and highly technical.
Hence, he said that DICT needs to match them with the appropriate government capabilities.
“Our hands are tied without the proper tools, and many of these tools and methods require confidential funds to be implemented,” Uy said.
The DICT says that it is working with law enforcement agencies to crack down on cybercrime.
However, Uy said that the confidential fund will allow the DICT to take a more proactive approach to combating these crimes.
“We need to be able to gather intelligence and conduct investigations without being hampered by red tape,” Uy said. “The confidential fund will allow us to do that,” he added.
Joint Circular No. 2015-01, issued on January 8, 2015, by the Commission on Audit and four other government entities, prescribes the guidelines for the utilization and audit of intelligence and confidential funds.
According to records from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the combined allocation for confidential and intelligence funds for the upcoming year amounts to P10.142 billion.
The DBM noted that this figure represents an increase of P120 million compared to the P10.02 billion allocated for the Confidential and Intelligence Funds (CIF) in 2023.
It is now becoming a trend among government agencies and even local government units to haggle for confidential funds which they will use according to their whims without being accountable for it.
There needs to be more stringent rules on use of taxpayers’ money like what those in government call confidential funds.
She wanted a P500 million confidential fund for the Office of the Vice President. Granted.
She wanted a separate P150 million confidential fund for the Department of Education which she also heads. Pointedly questioned about it by Arlene Brosas (Gabriela), France Castro (ACT Teachers) and Raoul Manuel (Kabataan), she just said matter-of-factly that security and surveillance work – never before part of DepEd’s functions because why would the department need money for this when there is an acute classroom shortage that was not addressed during her father’s term? – was necessary to handle “specific issues and challenges.” Granted again.
In a Malacañang Press Briefing, Uy explained that the confidential fund is necessary to conduct intelligence and investigations to apprehend cyber criminals.
Confidential funds pertain to costs associated with surveillance operations within non-military government organizations to assist the agency’s mission or functions.
The DICT chief expressed concern over scammers using multiple tactics to evade being identified and apprehended.
Uy said these criminals are well-funded, well-organized, and highly technical.
Hence, he said that DICT needs to match them with the appropriate government capabilities.
“Our hands are tied without the proper tools, and many of these tools and methods require confidential funds to be implemented,” Uy said.
The DICT says that it is working with law enforcement agencies to crack down on cybercrime.
However, Uy said that the confidential fund will allow the DICT to take a more proactive approach to combating these crimes.
“We need to be able to gather intelligence and conduct investigations without being hampered by red tape,” Uy said. “The confidential fund will allow us to do that,” he added.
Joint Circular No. 2015-01, issued on January 8, 2015, by the Commission on Audit and four other government entities, prescribes the guidelines for the utilization and audit of intelligence and confidential funds.
According to records from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the combined allocation for confidential and intelligence funds for the upcoming year amounts to P10.142 billion.
The DBM noted that this figure represents an increase of P120 million compared to the P10.02 billion allocated for the Confidential and Intelligence Funds (CIF) in 2023.
It is now becoming a trend among government agencies and even local government units to haggle for confidential funds which they will use according to their whims without being accountable for it.
There needs to be more stringent rules on use of taxpayers’ money like what those in government call confidential funds.
EDITORIAL
Changing abusive, inept corrupt barangay officials
The filing of
certificates of candidacy for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections
has lapsed. Now, the first BSKE since 2018 will be held and changing abusive,
inept and corrupt barangay officials is now possible.
After multiple postponements that effectively extended the terms of village and youth council officials, the BSKE will finally push through in October.
This was after the Supreme Court struck down the latest postponement, through Republic Act 11935, as a “grave violation of the Constitution” and “unduly arbitrary or oppressive of the electorates’ right of suffrage.”
The gift of a term extension has been widely seen as either a reward or a way of wooing the support of officials at the smallest unit of government.
The gift is typically granted by Congress and Malacañang shortly before or after general and midterm elections.
As the Supreme Court pointed out, however, “the free and meaningful exercise of the right to vote, as protected and guaranteed by the Constitution, requires the holding of genuine periodic elections, which must be held at intervals which are not unduly long, and which ensure that the authority of government continues to be based on the free expression of the will of electors.”
With the BSKE finally pushing through this year, voters should take the time to get to know the aspirants for posts that directly affect governance in their communities.
People should remember how the incumbent officials performed during the Covid lockdowns, when several faced criminal and administrative complaints in connection with the distribution of various forms of pandemic ayuda or assistance.
During the Duterte administration, several barangay captains were also indicted for drug-related offenses.
Voters should also consider the performance of incumbent officials in making their communities business-friendly. Barangays are empowered to collect certain types of fees for various enterprises and services including for the use of farm equipment. Enterprises from micro to large have complained about the immense amount of red tape and redundant fees imposed by barangays across the country. Even plain folks have been victimized by abusive barangay officials who wielded their power to harass.
With the filing of COCs, voters can consider how aspirants conduct their campaigns. Those who violate election rules, starting with the display of campaign materials, cannot be expected to play fair and provide honest public service.
Good governance must be promoted at the grassroots. After several postponements, voters now have a chance to make this possible by electing into office deserving candidates.
After multiple postponements that effectively extended the terms of village and youth council officials, the BSKE will finally push through in October.
This was after the Supreme Court struck down the latest postponement, through Republic Act 11935, as a “grave violation of the Constitution” and “unduly arbitrary or oppressive of the electorates’ right of suffrage.”
The gift of a term extension has been widely seen as either a reward or a way of wooing the support of officials at the smallest unit of government.
The gift is typically granted by Congress and Malacañang shortly before or after general and midterm elections.
As the Supreme Court pointed out, however, “the free and meaningful exercise of the right to vote, as protected and guaranteed by the Constitution, requires the holding of genuine periodic elections, which must be held at intervals which are not unduly long, and which ensure that the authority of government continues to be based on the free expression of the will of electors.”
With the BSKE finally pushing through this year, voters should take the time to get to know the aspirants for posts that directly affect governance in their communities.
People should remember how the incumbent officials performed during the Covid lockdowns, when several faced criminal and administrative complaints in connection with the distribution of various forms of pandemic ayuda or assistance.
During the Duterte administration, several barangay captains were also indicted for drug-related offenses.
Voters should also consider the performance of incumbent officials in making their communities business-friendly. Barangays are empowered to collect certain types of fees for various enterprises and services including for the use of farm equipment. Enterprises from micro to large have complained about the immense amount of red tape and redundant fees imposed by barangays across the country. Even plain folks have been victimized by abusive barangay officials who wielded their power to harass.
With the filing of COCs, voters can consider how aspirants conduct their campaigns. Those who violate election rules, starting with the display of campaign materials, cannot be expected to play fair and provide honest public service.
Good governance must be promoted at the grassroots. After several postponements, voters now have a chance to make this possible by electing into office deserving candidates.
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