Philippine government negotiators Jesus Dureza (L) and Silvestre Bello sign an indefinite ceasefire agreement with communist rebels at a meeting in Oslo, Norway, August 26, 2016. REUTERS/Alister Doyle

MANILA, Philippines — While the government and the National Democratic Front both declared unilateral ceasefires, there were no common terms or conditions for its implementation.

 

First of Two Parts

This is how bad our country has become. The newest, yet hidden oligarch in the Philippines isn’t even a Filipino: He is the Indonesian magnate Anthoni Salim.

If President Duterte tries to make a list of oligarchs in the country — the few who rule the commanding heights of the economy — he is likely to miss Salim, for he may not have read his name in the country’s biggest newspapers.

Except for the so-called “oligarchs” based in the National Capital Region, I am positive that most Filipinos agree with President Duterte that it is about time we decapitated “Imperial Manila.” Too many decisions about the welfare of the regions are being made by Manila-based politicians and government officials who are often ignorant of the real circumstances of the masses outside the NCR, especially in the predominantly rural territories.

 

It is a healthy sign of democracy that the proposed shift to federalism for our government is facing fundamental questions as to how being a nation of federal states will affect our national life.

Is federalism an urgent need for our country? It is, if you are not from Metro Manila or Central Luzon or Calabarzon – the areas benefiting from our current unitarism, or the very same government structure imposed by our colonizers over five centuries ago. Who wants to let go of a good thing?

The Senate committee on constitutional amendments, chaired by Sen. Franklin Drilon, will soon start public hearings on President Duterte’s proposal to adopt the federal system. The proposal will require Charter change (Cha-cha).

MANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Tuesday officially opened its 24/7 call center or “Hotline 1349″ that is expected to ease up the reporting of queries and complaints.

Hotline 1349 is housed at the 4th Flr. of the DOLE building in Muralla St., Intramuros, Manila.

 

President Duterte will make his debut on the international stage when he attends a regional summit in Laos this week even after a deadly explosion in a Davao City night market.

The President is scheduled to depart Davao City on Monday afternoon and has designated Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea as government caretaker, according to Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.

QUEZON CITY, Sept 5 - Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo relayed to the public the report of the inter-agency Humanitarian Mission team in Riyadh that 118 stranded OFWs from Saudi Oger Takashussi Camp were repatriated today at 1:10 AM ( ETD- past midnight) via SV 860- Saudia Airlines. ETA in Manila today is at 4:10 PM. In this camp, Usec. Vilma B. Cabrera and the DSWD Team sucessfully debriefed /counseled 37 OFWs who were at first adamant to go home and would like to stay or transfer but were finally convinced to go home for their own safety.

 

UNITED NATIONS — The UN Security Council and UN Secretary-Generl Ban Ki-moon on Sunday condemned a deadly terrorist attack on a Philippine night market that killed at least 14 people, stressing the need to bring perpetrators to justice.

LAW EXPERTS on Saturday said the people’s rights should not be affected by President Duterte’s declaration of a “state of lawlessness,” as it is limited to calling out the military to help the police suppress violence.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II stressed the constitutionality of the declaration, which came hours after an explosion killed 14 people and wounded 68 others at a night market in Mr. Duterte’s hometown, Davao City.