PINAALALAHANAN  ni Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mike Sueno ang mahigit-kumulang 42,000 barangay na maghanda sa bi-annual Barangay Assembly Day sa March 25.

 Sa pahayag nito, obligado aniya ang mga pamahalaang lokal dahil nakabase ang assembly sa Section 397 ng Republic Act No. 7160 o Local government code.

 Isasagawa ito sa kada huling Sabado ng March at ikalawang Linggo ng October upang malaman ang reklamo o saloobin ng mga residente.

 Sakaling hindi gawin, maaring humarap sa kasong admnistratibo ang mga lokal na opisyal.

 Samantala, umaasa naman si Sueno na mahigitan ng idaraos na aseembly ang 40,917 barangay reports noong nakaraang taon. JOHNNY ARASGA

KAPAG natuloy ang pagsasabatas ng parusang bitay sa bansa ay imunungkahi ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na gawin ang pagpatay sa mga death convicts sa pamamagitan ng pagbigti sa Fort Bonifacio.

Ipinaliwanag ng pangulo na wala sa mga naging lider ng bansa ang naglakas loob na ipataw at panatilihin ang parusang kamatayan para sa mga karumal-dumal na krimen.

Sinabi pa ni Duterte na gagawin niyang parang mga kurtina sa sampayan ang pagbibigti sa mga kriminal sa bansa oras na makalusot ang panukala.

Noong unang binuhay ang parusang kamatayan ay nasa 686 lanang umano ang nasa death row dahil sa paggawa nila ng mga heinous crimes pero nang inalis ito noong panahon ni dating pangulong Gloria Arroyo ay lumobo na ito sa bilang na 6,000.

 Patunay umano ito na walang respeto sa batas ang mga kriminal kaya marapat lamang na tapatan na ang kanilang mga kasalanan ng parusang kamatayan.

 Noong Miyerkules ng gabi ng lumusot na sa second reading sa Kamara ang parusang bitay at inaasahan naman na matatapos na ang deliberasyon dito sa papasok na lingo. JOHNNY ARASGA

SUGATAN ang barangay tanod nang saksakin ng kanyang kapitbahay na sinasabing matagal na niyang kaalitan sa Tondo, Manila kamakalawa.

Kasalukuyan pang inoobserbahan sa Tondo Medical Center ang biktimang si Rowell dela Cruz, 46, tanod ng Brgy. 95, Zone 8, District 1, at taga-1918 F. Varona St., sa Tondo, bunsod ng tinamong saksak sa katawan.

Pinaghahanap naman ng mga awtoridad ang suspek na si Ronald Jose, nasa hustong gulang, ng 1920 F. Varona St., sa Tondo.

Sa imbestigasyon ni PO3 Ricky Reloj, ng Manila Police District (MPD)-Station 1, nabatid na sa hindi malamang kadahilanan ay matagal nang may alitan ang magkapitbahay kaya’t nang magkaharap ang mga ito dakong 11:50 ng tanghali ay nagkaroon ng kumprontasyon sa pagitan nila na nauwi sa mainitang pagtatalo.

Sa kasagsagan ng argumento ay nagbunot ng patalim ang suspek at kaagad na sinaksak ang biktima bago mabilis na tumakas. JOCELYN TABANGCURA-DOMENDEN

Happy pensioners of the Social Security System (SSS) trooped to various banks yesterday and withdrew from their respective accounts the P1,000 additional benefit for the month of January 2017 following the approval of the authority to release the said amount by President Rodrigo Duterte last Feb 22.

Above photo shows pensioner Erlano M. Wenceslao queueing and withdrawing his additional benefit increase at the Philippine National Bank at the SSS head office at East Avenue, Quezon City. Mr. Wenceslao, 74, has been a pensioner since September 2004.

The P1,000 additional benefit differential for the months of February and March, meanwhile, will be available for withdrawal on March 10 and 17, respectively.

The Social Security System (SSS) urges its pensioners to report immediately their depository banks that did not credit the P1,000 additional benefit to their accounts today.

Social Security Commission Chairman Dean Amado D. Valdez said SSS will validate these reports and if proven true, those SSS partner-banks may face suspension or cancellation of its accreditation with the agency. 

The amount of P2.04 billion in additional benefit for pensioners was remitted by the SSS to its accredited banks last February 27.

Pensioners may report through the following channels: SSS Call Center, 920-6446 to 55; SSS e-mail, member_relations@sss.gov.ph; Facebook account, SSSPH.

The World Retail Awards 2017 have chosen Globe Telecom as one of the finalists in the “Best In-Store Customer Experience Initiative” category which reflects the growing focus retailers are placing on how they can attract customers through creating great in-store experiences.

“To be selected as a finalist by an organization that we consider as the most prestigious award giving body in Retail, accords any company with great pride.  Our passion for our customers inspires us to bring to them world-standard differentiated experience that truly empower their digital lifestyles, thus, we are truly honored about this wonderful news and are very excited to be part of the journey and the momentous event that is soon to unfold,” said Joe Caliro, Globe Head of Stores and Retail Transformation Management.

Globe joins other respected global brands who made it in the shortlist namely:  adidas, Checkland Kindleysides with Gensler, (New York, United States); ‘Imagine’, Dubai Festival City (United Arab Emirates); Galeries Lafayette and Sky Boy (Paris, France); Hermès – petit h and Checkland Kindleysides with DML, (New York, United States); L’Occitane en Provence and School House, (New York, United States); PIRCH, (United States); Selfridges (London, UK); Siam Discovery-The Exploratorium (Thailand); and Tommy Hilfiger (United States).

In 2014, Globe transformed its stores into next-generation, interactive spaces to reinforce its new positioning as a digital lifestyle brand.  Called the Gen3 Store, the space was divided into four lifestyle zones: Music, Entertainment, Life, and Productivity. The zones tell stories and feature themes that come to life through devices, digital connectors, apps, and videos.

Last year, Globe unveiled an evolved version of Gen3 known as the Iconic Store, a combination of retail concept store and performance venue for free movie screenings, live concerts, theatre performances, and visual attractions with an added feature of a full chroma broadcast studio for customer/media use.

Another key aspect of the transformation was the overhaul of the online experience.  The Globe portal became a digital gateway where every section online matched the retail experience and support the Omni journey to a digital lifestyle like buying online and picking up in store.

Launched in 2007, the World Retail Awards have been recognizing the very best retailers and retail initiatives across a range of categories for 10 years. This year’s winners will be announced at the World Retail Awards Ceremony and Congress Closing Gala Dinner which takes place at the Madinat Jumeirah Resort in Dubai, UAE on April 6, 2017.

Recovering from the aftermath of a natural disaster takes time, especially when people are left with nothing but ravaged homes, damaged crops and casualties. But getting back on one’s feet becomes easier when calamity victims get a helping hand from good Samaritans.

Recently, Mountain Province and Cagayan de Oro expressed their gratitude to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) in separate resolutions for the agency’s financial aid when both provinces were struck by calamity.

Mountain Province was badly hit by Super Typhoon Lawin in October 2016 while Cagayan de Oro was affected by heavy flooding early in January 2017 because of two weather disturbances.

On January 30, 2017, the Provincial Government of Mountain Province signed Resolution Number 2017-034 in recognition of PAGCOR’s P1 million financial donation which was used for the immediate rehabilitation of damaged agricultural farms, infrastructure, properties, telecommunications, and power lines.

The resolution stated that PAGCOR immediately gave P1 million financial assistance when they needed help the most. “Such benevolence is very much appreciated by this Provincial Government,” it said.

Besides Mountain Province, other Typhoon Lawin affected provinces that received help from PAGCOR were Apayao, Ilocos Sur, and Kalinga (P1 million each); Ilocos Norte (P3 million); Isabela and Cagayan (P2 million each). PAGCOR released a total of P11 million for these typhoon-ravaged provinces.

Meanwhile, in its January 30, 2017 Resolution, Cagayan de Oro expressed its “sincerest gratitude and deepest appreciation” to PAGCOR through its Casino Filipino Davao branch for reaching out to six barangays– including Iponan, Bulua, Patag, Kauswagan, Balulang, and Carmen. PAGCOR distributed 4,000 packs of relief goods for the calamity victims.

According to CF Davao General Manager Dario Cordero, they immediately prepared the relief packs after receiving a directive from Malacañang and PAGCOR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Andrea Domingo to assist affected families in Cagayan de Oro.

Cordero added that it was just the first tranche of the agency’s relief operations in the region. Rehabilitation efforts, according to him are underway in many affected communities. “The immediate priority is to provide the residents with basic necessities like food and water,” he said.

LAGLAG sa kamay ng Daraga Municipal Police Station sa lalawigan ng Albay ang anim na katao matapos ang isinagawang anti-illegal drugs operation sa pagbabalik ng Philippine National Police (PNP).

Ayon kay P/Supt. El Cid Roldan, hepe ng Daraga MPS, kinumpirma nito ang isinagawang raid sa nadiskubreng drug den sa Brgy. Kilicao sa naturang bayan.

Napag-alamang taong 2006 nabili ng isang Corporal Aldrin Castor, dating scout ranger, ang bahay na nasa residential area at pinaupahan sa isang Michael Ballarbare na ginawa naman nitong motor repair shop.

Malaki ang paniniwala ng hepe na matagal nang nag-o-operate ang drug den base na rin sa mga naging sumbong ng residente sa lugar.

Hindi rin umano basta-bastang mahuhulaan na may iligal na aktibidad na nangyayari sa loob dahil sa disenyo ng pagkaka-construct sa bahay gayundin ang mga nadiskubreng CCTV cameras sa loob.

Kabilang sa mga nahuli sina Aldrin Castor, dating army; Christian Ros Saclaosa, welder; Mark Anthony Ballarbare, caregiver; Marwel Carol Buenacillo, Randy Morgue; at ang umuupa sa lugar na si Michael Ballarbare.

Samantala, ikinatutuwa nito ang pagbabalik sa kampanya kung saan nag-organize na umano ng localized anti-drug unit sa bawat istasyon ng pulis upang hindi maputol ang momentum.

Marami na aniyang sumbong na nakarating sa kanilang opisina kaugnay ng pagsisibalikan ng mga illegal drug-related activities mula nang alisin sa kamay ng PNP ang pangunguna dito na target nilang balikan sa pagbubukas ng Oplan Double Barrel Reloaded. JOHNNY ARASGA

TINAWAGAN na ng pansin ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Makati City ang mga opisyal ng apat na barangay na nasa kahabaan ng West Valley Fault para dumalo sa mga consultatives meeting bilang paghahanda sa “the big one.”

Ito’y para mas mabigyang-kaalaman ang mga barangay officials sa kung ano ang mga dapat paghandaan at gawin sakaling mangyari na ang inaasahang magnitude 7.2 na lindol na maaaring maganap anomang oras.

Itinakda na ng pamahalaang lungsod ang mga pulong sa Comembo sa March 8, sa Rizal sa March 15, Pembo sa March 22 at East Rembo sa March 29.

Gagawin nila ang mga nasabing pagpupulong bago ang paglalagay ng mga West Valley Fault markers at mga mohon o concrete landmarks sa 152 na identified areas sa apat na barangay.

Alinsunod kasi sa Comprehensive Land Use Plan 2013-2023, kailangang markahan ang limang metrong napapaloob sa magkabilang bahagi ng fault line bilang open space.

Ayon kay Mayor Abby Binay, para mas maunawaan ng mga residente ang gagawin nilang markers, kailangang maintindihan din muna ng mga ito ang mga panganib na kanilang kakaharapin sakaling mangyari na ang malakas na lindol. JOHNNY ARASGA

IPINALIWANAG ni House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez na hindi pa rin isinasantabi ng Malaking Kapulungan ng Kongreso na maibilang sa kasong dapat patawan ng death penalty ang rape, treason at plunder.

Aniya, isusunod nila ang iba pang karumaldumal na krimen lalo na ng rape sa sandaling maibalik na ang parusang kamatayan sa drug-related crimes.

Inuna lamang aniya ang drug-related cases na dapat parusahan ng kamatayan upang mapadali ang proseso at maharap nila ang iba pang priority measures ni Pangulong Duterte.

Samantala, umaasa si Alvarez na tuluyang mapagtitibay ng dalawang kapulungan ng Kongreso ang death penalty bill bago sila maging abala sa pagtalakay ng 2018 budget.

Ang 2018 proposed budget ay isusumite ng Malakanyang sa Kamara tuwing pagkatapos ng state-of-the-nation address (SONA) ng pangulo sa huling Lunes ng buwan ng Hulyo.

“Nung nag-meeting kami, nag-caucus kami ay para mapabilis yung proseso, isa-isa naming ipapasa ito para meron kaming natatapos. So, kaya napagkasunduan itong crime related to illegal drugs muna ang ipapasa namin. Tapos ‘yung iba naman ay isusunod na rin,” ani Alvarez. MELIZA MALUNTAG

KINUWESTYON ng isang anti-crime group sa Supreme Court (SC) ang umano’y espesyal na pagtrato kay Sen. Leila de Lima na nasa kustodiya ng pulisya dahil sa pagkakasangkot niya sa illegal-drug trade sa loob ng New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

Sa kanyang liham na may petsang Marso 6 kay Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, ikinadismaya ni Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) founding chairman Dante Jimenez ang magandang pagtrato na kasalukuyang tinatamasa ni De Lima sa Philippine National Police Custodial Center sa Camp Crame.

Ang kapwa akusado ni De Lima na si dating Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos ay nakadetine sa National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) headquarters habang ang daring driver-bodyguard nitong si Ronnie Dayan ay nakakulong naman sa Muntinlupa City Jail.

Sinabi ni Jimenez na walang ligal na basehan para idetine si De Lima at iba pang “wealthy and influential” na personalidad sa isang pasilidad na hindi nasa ilalim ng Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

“In our humble research and inquiries from experts in the field of law, we find no concrete basis under existing laws or procedure to sustain or validate such an apparently undue classification. It can be no less than special treatment,” pahayag ng VACC leader.

Ihinalimbawa ni Jimenez ang equal protection clause sa Konstitusyon at Section 63 ng Republic Act 6975 na nakasaad na ang isang tao na naghhihintay ng imbestigasyon o pagdinig at kailangan nasa ilalim ng kustodiya ng distrito, lungsod o municipal jail. BOBBY TICZON

PATAY na nang matagpuan ang isang 20-anyos na may diperensya sa pag-iisip na palutang-lutang sa baybayin ng Manila bay sakop ng Isla Puting Bato, Tondo, Maynila kahapon ng umaga, Lunes.

Kinilala ang biktimang si Marvin Caranog, binata, ng Purok 2, Isla Puting Bato.

Sa ulat ni PO3 Michael Maraggun, imbestigador ng Manila Police District-Homicide Section, alas-8:30 ng umaga nang madiskubre ni Florentino Ramirez ang biktima sa Manila bay na palutang-lutang kaya agad itong ipinagbigay-alam sa security detachment ng Manila North Harbor Port Inc.

Sinabi naman ni Sisay Caranog, lola ng biktima, na ito’y special child at nasa kanyang pangangalaga.

Ganap na alas-7 ng umaga (Lunes) ay iniwan aniya niya ang kanyang apo na naglalaro sa kanilang bahay upang dumalo sa flag-raising ceremony sa kanilang barangay na lingguhang aktibidadd ng mga senior citizen.

Isang kabarangay naman ang nakapagsabi na nakita ang biktima na lumabas ng bahay kung saan dumaan sa kanilang bintana hanggang sa malaman ang sinapit ng kanyang apo. JOCELYN TABANGCURA-DOMENDEN

THE government needs at least P193.58 billion to build bridges that will link Leyte Island to Mindanao and Samar Island to Luzon.

These are cable-stayed long span bridges just like San Juanico Bridge.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) came up with project cost as they seek endorsement of the five-year mega projects from the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) for the kick-off of the feasibility study.

The study will be done by Chinese experts through funding grants from Chinese government, said Ernesto Octaviano, chief of NEDA regional office project development investment programming and budgeting division.

The study will run for six months and hopefully construction will start early next year.

The official is optimistic that budget for the study will be included in the availment of Chinese government financing in accordance with the 2016 Philippine-China Development Framework of Cooperation.

Of the P193.58 billion budget, P101.35 billion is intended for Leyte-Surigao Link Bridge Project and P92.23 billion for Luzon-Samar Bridge Project.

The two projects along with Panay-Negros-Guimaras Link Bridge are listed as priority under the “Nationwide Island Provinces Link Bridges for Sustained Economic Growth Development.”

President Duterte is tapping retired Armed Forces chief of staff General Ricardo Visaya as the new head of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol announced yesterday in a chance interview that Visaya will replace Peter Laviña, who resigned as NIA chief last week amid allegations of corruption.

Visaya, a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Matikas” Class of 1983, retired as the 48th AFP chief last December. He was succeeded by General Eduardo Año.

Before heading the 125,000-strong Armed Forces, Visaya served as chief of the Southern Luzon Command, assistant division commander of the 6th Infantry Division in Cotabato, and commander of the 104th Brigade in Sultan Kudarat.

He was also the ground commander in Tarlac and Pampanga when the Hacienda Luisita massacre happened in 2004.

THE military, police force and other policy-making bodies need more women, Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara yesterday said as he urges the government to intensify programs that promote the participation and equitable representation of women.

“We call on all government agencies to take proactive steps to capacitate women employees to strengthen their qualifications and performance to compete for third-level positions,” Angara said.

 “Competence and work experience should be main considerations for promotions and top positions, not gender,” he added.

 Angara made this call noting that data from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) showed that the number of female cadets is limited to not more than 5 percent.

 The senator also congratulated Cadet First Class Rovi Martinez who topped this year’s PMA graduating cadets, and the other seven female cadets who landed in the top 10.

 “They are proof that it is not only men who can excel in this. That is why we should make sure that we give equal opportunities to serve military,” Angara said.

 Data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) showed that female police officers compose 18 percent or 25,862 of the 168,897 police personnel.

THE Senate approved on third and final reading a bill which seeks to expand the maternity leave to 120 days with 22 affirmative votes and zero negative votes.

Under Senate Bill No. 1305, or the “Expanded Maternity Leave Law of 2017,” all female workers regardless of civil status or legitimacy of her child shall be granted 120 days maternity leave with pay and an option to extend for another 30 days without pay.

Meanwhile, solo parents shall be granted a total of 150 days maternity leave with pay. The measure also grants fathers 30 days leave, who under Republic Act 7322, are granted only seven days of paid leave.

Thirty days of the proposed 120 day maternity leave are transferrable to alternate caregivers such as the spouse, common-law partner, and relative up to the fourth degree of consanguinity, including adoptive parents.

Violators of the proposed law would be penalized with a fine not less than P5,000 nor not more than P20,000 and imprisonment for not less than six years and one day nor not more than 12 years or both.

The bill was authored and sponsored by Senator Risa Hontiveros, chair of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, and Senator Juan Edgardo Angara.

It was also co-authored by Senators Francis Pangilinan, Loren Legarda, Nancy Binay, Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Trillanes IV, with Legarda and Binay as the bill’s co-sponsors.