MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN): The Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) views Malacanang’s assurance that rice imports would be banned during harvest time as “deceptive” and “legally untenable.”
Last May 15, President Rodrigo Duterte issued Executive Order No. 135, reducing tariff on rice imports from non-Asean countries.
This raised farmers’ fears that cheap imports will again flood the country and depress palay prices for local producers. The justification for the EO falls flat on its face as rice prices are stable, the flow of imports was normal and rice inventories were at comfortable levels.
On July 25,2019, Duterte declared a similar policy of banning rice importation during harvest time at a dialogue with farmers in Candon City, Ilocos Sur.
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday, May 25, warned that amendments to the Public Service Act (PSA), which would allow 100 percent foreign ownership of public utilities, could pave the way for China to own critical infrastructure in the Philippines. China, Hontiveros said, could use this as leverage
Dispatch from Crame No. 1070:
Sen. Leila M. de Lima on Red-tagging of Atty. Carlos Castillo Jr. of IBP Zambales Chapter
I join the legal community in condemning the red-tagging of fellow lawyer, Atty. Carlos Castillo, Jr. of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Zambales Chapter.
For responding to the call for urgent legal assistance of arrested youth activists, Atty. Castillo is now being called a terrorist. A death sentence for anyone who is considered an enemy of the State. Another lawyer, Atty. Angelo Karlo Guillen, who was stabbed by unidentified assailants last March, was also previously red-tagged for responding to detained activists in Iloilo City.
De Lima deplores red-tagging of Zambales lawyer
Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has bewailed the red-tagging of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Zambales Chapter member Atty. Carlos Castillo Jr. by a certain Facebook page named Lakbay Kapayapaan.
De Lima, a social justice and human rights champion, lamented how the rampant harassment of professionals, especially justice and truth seekers, are motivated by the continued red-tagging activities of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). I join the legal community in condemning the red-tagging of fellow lawyer, Atty. Carlos Castillo, Jr. of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Zambales Chapter. For responding to the call for urgent legal assistance of arrested youth activists, Atty. Castillo is now being called a terrorist. A death sentence for anyone who is considered an enemy of the State, she said in her Dispatch No. 1,070.
Published May 10, 2021, 4:02 PM
Senator Leila de Lima on Monday renewed her call for the Senate to look into the status of the implementation of existing laws that aim to protect children from any forms of sexual abuse and violence.
De Lima made the call following reports of operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit in Bicol rescuing 14 minors after raiding a cybersex den in Camarines Sur last May 7.
PLt. Angelo Babagay, team leader of the Camarines Sur Cyber Crime Response Team had confirmed that the youths recruited in the online child pornography operation by four suspected residents of Barangay San Antonio, ranged in ages from two to 17 years old.