Cebu local news (daily update)

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Manghod gitigbas sa manguwang

AWAY sa mga kabilin sa ilang ginikanan miresulta sa pagpanigbas sa maguwang ngadto sa iyang manghod niadtong Lunes sa alas 6:00 sa gabii didto sa Barangay Guadalupe, lungsod sa Alegria.

Si Rodrigo Leguis, 39, laborer ug ulitawo, nakaangko’g mga samad tinigbasan sa iyang buko-buko, walang bukton, ug sa tuhod samtang ang gitumbok nga maguwang nga si Juditho, 50, minyo, daling nisibat human sa krimen.Si SPO4 Rutillo Cardona, deputy chief sa Alegria Police miingon nga nagkanayon nga ang biktima og maguwang nagkaba*ngi kalabot sa mga kabilin sa ilang ginikanan nga pulos nakainom.

Gipatik sa mantalaang SuperBalita Cebu Septembre 26, 2012.

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-------------------------SEPTEMBER 27,2012 THURSDAY-------------------------

For child abuse, Garcia suspended since June - Dakay



CEBU, Philippines - Monsignor Cristobal Garcia has been suspended since June, way before the controversy on his alleged involvement in illegal ivory trade came out in the news.

This was confirmed yesterday by Msgr. Achilles Dakay, the spokesperson of the Cebu Archdiocese of Cebu.

Dakay, the chairman on the committee on pilgrims of the archdiocese, said that Garcia was suspended because of the child abuse case he had in the United States from many years back. From being a civil case, it became an ecclesiastical case as it was elevated to the Holy See.

Garcia was accused of having *** with two altar boys when he was still serving in California in the 1980s.

“In regard to the matter of Msgr. Garcia’s past, the case has been elevated to the Holy See and it has initiated the investigation into it long before the present controversy erupted.

I have also fulfilled the Holy See’s instructions regarding submission of documents and acting upon related consequences,” Palma said in a statement released to the media.

With the suspension, Garcia could no longer celebrate mass and can no longer hear confessions because these are his penalties based on the Canon Law for what he has done, Dakay said.

As to the time frame of Garcia’s suspension, Dakay has no idea regarding this.

“What happened in the States could be a crime but if it was a sin, on his part, that has been repented and forgiven but ang criminal aspect man gud ang na-raise ngadto sa Vatican. I really do not know, I thought it was closed in the State as civil case, I don’t know nganung naabot pa na sa Church case,” Dakay said.

Despite his suspension, Garcia is still part of the archdiocese, clarified Dakay, adding that the Vatican instructed Cebu Archbishop Palma about the suspension.

Garcia was already replaced by Msgr. Glenn Guanzon being the Chairman on the Commission on Worship of the Cebu Archdiocese.

Palma said that the Church is aware of the gravity of the crime of pederasty.

“In recent pronouncements, the Church has stated her regret for the failure to address the problem in a more decisive and effective way. Cultural practices have contributed to the misunderstanding of the problem,” Palma said.

“The principles should guide us in resolving the matter concerning the alleged involvement of Msgr. Cristobal Garcia in the illegal ivory trade, always bearing in mind the right of the person concerned for a fair and just hearing. The account given by the National Geographic Magazine needs to be assessed as to its veracity, considering that the article smacks of bias against religious practices,” Palma added.

Dakay said that he has not seen Garcia for a while now but he added that some priests saw Garcia in Makati last week before the latter landed in the hospital the other day, according to Archbishop Palma, due to diabetes.

Dakay also said that Garcia has many things to share - he has founded the Society of Angels of Peace based in Talisay; he has his own shrine, the Church of Nazarene, which is visited by many devotees during the “hubo”, a ritual bathing and changing of the clothes of Sto. Niño at the end of the annual Feast of the Holy Child Jesus every January; and he has been a spiritual adviser of the covenant communities like the Bukas Loob sa Dios.

A known devotee of the Sto. Niño, Garcia has an extensive personal collection of Sto. Niño icons, which he collected since he was young and then later on shares with the public in displays every January at the exhibits in Ayala Center and at the Talisay church.

Palma said that these collections are the family’s possessions and not the property of the Archdiocese because there are no documents to prove these are owned by the Church.

Dakay recalled that it was the late Cardinal Julio Rosales who ordained Garcia in the States. Garcia was the last priest ordained by Rosales before he died in 1983.

He was ordained as a Dominican but was expelled by the Dominican Order because of the child abuse case he faced before coming home to the Philippines.

Dakay reiterated that there is no way that Garcia’s profession as priest will be taken away from him. “We are priests forever and it’s impossible that he will be out,” said Dakay.

— /JPM (FREEMAN)

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Brgy chief accuses cops of harassment

CEBU, Philippines - Tejero, Cebu City Barangay Captain Jessielou Cadungog filed a complaint before the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 against policemen who participated in the last September 20 clearing operation.

“Without showing any authority or directive from the higher ups, my constituents were made to believe that there was police harassment with the operation made,” said Cadungog in his September 25 letter-complaint addressed to PRO 7 director Marcelo Garbo.

Cadungog said “some” of PRO 7 personnel including six special weapons and tactics (SWAT) in motorbikes “carrying high-powered arms” were with the clearing team including people from the City Environmental Sanitation Enforcement Team (CESET).

Cadungog said the group, headed by Philip Zafra, Mayor Michael Rama’s chief of staff, removed tarpaulins in his barangay including those that said “Type O, Home of the BOPK.”

Rama earlier gave an order to implement the anti-loitering ordinance which includes all kinds of tarps especially those placed in public buildings like barangay halls.

But allegedly, the clearing team also removed advertisement tarps posted in private structures.

Cadungog said that they should have the “freedom” to place any “adverstisement in our private property provided it does not offend the public and corrupt minors.”

The barangay captain asked Garbo to “shed light on the operation conducted by your people.” — (FREEMAN)

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Cebuana wrongly accused in Italy, Nurse escapes through window, falls



CEBU, Philippines - The dream to have a stable job ended in a fight for her life.

A Cebuana nurse now based in Italy jumped out of the window from her employer’s apartment after she heard that she was going to be killed. This came after she was wrongly accused by her employer of stealing jewelry from the apartment where she worked part-time as baby sitter.

Now, Rodelyn Ruales, 27, is recovering in a hospital in Italy after an operation on her spinal column. Her family prays that there is no serious damage and as of their last update, she could not move her legs.

Romeo Ruales, her father, shared in an interview with The FREEMAN the details of the incident as how his daughter shared it to them through phone.

Romeo, whose family has been residing in Lawaan, Talisay II, said that his daughter first worked in London as an assistant head in a nursing home. But because she only had a student visa, she decided to join her cousin in Italy where she would have a working visa.

After processing her working visa in Cebu last year, she flew to Italy last June 18, 2011.

But Romeo said that because of the recession, his daughter has been having a problem looking for a job as a nurse so she took part-time jobs.

It was only recently when she got a part time job as baby sitter for an Italian national. Romeo said that her daughter also had another Filipina co-worker in the house but at the time of the incident, it was only his daughter in the house.

As Rodelyn narrated to her family and to the Italian police investigators when she woke up in the hospital, someone went to the home of her employer and introduced herself as a sister of the owner of the house. Rhoda refused to let the visitor enter the apartment but later on was convinced by the woman that she was a sibling. After talking inside the apartment, Rhoda was invited for coffee and initially refused but again was convinced to step out of the house.

Romeo said that when her daughter returned to the apartment, she was surprised that the room of her employer where some things were stored was already open.

Rodelyn immediately called her cousin, who was her resident sponsor in Italy, and sought for advice on what to do. She was told to call her employer up and not leave the apartment so she will not be accused.

In good faith, Rodelyn called her employer and was told to wait in the apartment while she was on her way. Rodelyn was interrogated by her employer and was told that whether she admitted to the theft or not, it would be proven by CCTV cameras.

Romeo said that his daughter felt relieved that there were CCTV cameras to support her claim that she was not involved in the crime. She also offered to call the policemen to help in the investigation.

She was told by her employer that she will call the police. Her employer then got the CCTV tapes and brought it with her. Romeo said that her daughter was also expecting that she will be invited to check on the tapes. But she was surprised when her employer locked her up in the room.

Her daughter then heard her employer talking to someone and saying that they will kill her.

Out of fright, Rodelyn got a blanket and used it to climb down the window from the third floor down to the first floor.

“It pains us to hear reports that my daughter jumped out of the window because she was scared to be imprisoned. She was innocent and she proved that by waiting for her employer to get back and was willing to answer all the questions. It was when she heard that she will be killed when she thought of jumping out of the window. It was her life. Anyone in her position, despite being innocent, would also be scared.”

But in her attempt to save her life, Rodelyn fell from the building and was found unconscious by passersby who called the ambulance.

Romeo said that while Rhoda was being interrogated by her employer, she was also updating her cousin through text messages. Her last text to her cousin was that they will be calling the police to help with the interrogation.

Romeo said that her daughter’s cousin went to the police station the day after, expecting that the police did the interrogation there. But the police allegedly would not let her see Rodelyn although they said she was in the interrogation room.

Rodelyn’s cousin went to the Philippine Embassy in Italy to seek assistance. It was the said office that called the police station and it was only then that they were told that Rodelyn was admitted at the hospital around 3 in the morning that day.

Rodelyn was in the intensive care unit for three days and was only able to tell police investigators what happened last September 19.

Romeo said that the latest confirmation they got from the embassy was that the Italian police believe that Rodelyn was innocent and was cleared from the charges. They also got confirmation from their daughter that she will be filing a case against her employer.

Romeo said that he is processing his passport and Visa to fetch his daughter in Italy. He said that they have already communicated with the Philippine embassy in Manila for the process but they are hoping to knock on kind hearts for financial support since a reasonable amount will be needed to fly to Italy and back in Cebu with his daughter. Aside from that, he said that they are asking for more prayers for their daughter’s recovery.

Rodelyn, second of four siblings, graduated from the Cebu City Medical Center College of Nursing last 2007 and worked as a clinical instructor in a university here in Cebu.

—(FREEMAN)

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Council goes strict on vehicle plates



CEBU, Philippines - Motorists with uncared for or dirty plates beware!

The Cebu City Council yesterday requested the road law enforcers of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) enforcers to apprehend drivers of vehicles with uncared for plates.

Councilor Alvin Arcilla successfully convinced his fellow city legislators to support his move for the strict implementation of Section 18 (2) of the Transportation and Traffic Code which provides that “the number plates of vehicles shall be kept clean and cared for and shall be firmly affixed to the motor vehicle in such a manner as will make it entirely visible and always legible.”

Arcilla observed that there are many vehicles whose number plates are no longer readable or covered with dark translucent material such as plastic, plexiglass and polycarbonate that makes the vehicle’s plate numbers unreadable.

According to Arcilla, there is a need for LTO and CITOM road enforcers to strictly enforce the law to prevent those involved in vehicular accidents or criminal elements from fleeing without being identified.

Every time LTO road enforcers conduct checkpoint operations, several motorists are apprehended for covering their vehicle’s number plates with dark glasses that cannot be read, particularly at night.

Aside from those motorists who cover their vehicle’s plates, others violate the law by not using their original plates in front of their vehicles, and instead use commemorative plates like PNP 111, LTO 100, PMA-PNPA, and several others.

LTO-7 Regional Director Raul Aguilos said the commemorative plates cannot be used to replace the original plate of the vehicle, although motorists can use it in tandem with the original ones.

Aguilos further said that vanity plates like “MAYOR” are allowed to be used in lieu of the original plate if it is registered with the LTO, but it is only allowed in front of the vehicles.

— (FREEMAN)

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Vatican suspends Cebu priest

CEBU CITY -- A high-ranking official of the Archdiocese of Cebu has been suspended from his duties while the Vatican City investigates a child abuse case filed against him in the United States more than two decades ago.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said the US case against former Archdiocesan Commission on Worship chairman Msgr. Cristobal Garcia has been elevated to the Holy See or the office of Pope Benedict XVI, which initiated the investigation.“The case started before the present controversy (on the ivory trade) erupted,” said the archbishop during a press conference Wednesday morning.

Palma is also president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), which apologized in 2002 for the abuses committed by priests but emphasized that errant priests were a minority.

It was not explained on Wednesday what had prompted the Vatican to act now on the case, which developed in the mid-1980s yet. A report published in March 2005 by the Dallas Morning News said that the priest had accused the complainants, including an altar boy, of blackmail.

Palma, who became Cebu archbishop in January 2011, told reporters that he is not familiar with the case against the monsignor.

But “he (Garcia) is no longer connected with the posts he had occupied before,” Palma said, adding that he recently communicated with Garcia.

“He is sick. He is in a hospital. We respect this opportunity for him; (he is there) for a check-up,” he added.

Instructions

“I have also fulfilled the Holy See’s instructions regarding submission of documents and acting upon related consequences,” the archbishop said.

These documents include all communications, files and ordinations, or the process by which one is admitted to the priesthood.

Monsignor Garcia’s position is currently held by Fr. Glen Guanzon, while Fr. Expedito Torrevillas was assigned to the Commission on Liturgy.

The monsignor’s name, as earlier pointed out by Sun.Star Cebu, no longer appears in the Archdiocesan newsletter, Ang Bag-ong Lungsoranon.

Archbishop Palma said the group founded by Garcia, the Society of the Angels of Peace (SAP) will be headed in the meantime by one of its two priests. It is a congregation of religious men and women working on liturgical celebration services in parishes with the archdiocese.

In a separate interview, Archdiocesan Media Liaison officer Msgr. Achilles Dakay said that Archbishop Palma received orders from Vatican City to suspend Garcia.

Dakay added that the suspension was in effect since June, which means that Garcia’s priestly faculties such as saying mass, hearing confession, and officiating at weddings has been impaired.

Closed

“He (Garcia) many not say mass in public,” said Dakay.

There is no time frame for the suspension, which was implemented as prescribed by the rules and regulations followed by the Catholic Church, the Canon Law.

“I thought the case was closed in the US as a civil case. I do not know why it reached the Vatican,” said Dakay.

The case Garcia is facing is a child abuse case filed when he was still a member of the Dominican order, said Dakay.

He added that it was the late Julio Cardinal Rosales, then archbishop of Cebu, who ordained Garcia as a Dominican priest.

“He (Garcia) was the last priest ordained by Cardinal Rosales,” said Dakay.

In a separate interview, Episcopal Vicar Msgr. Esteban Binghay said it was Rosales’ successor, Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, who allowed the incardination of Garcia in Cebu.

Monsignor Binghay is a canon lawyer.

Incardination is the process followed by Catholic clergy when they either visit or choose to reside permanently in a diocese. A priest would need permission from the bishop of the diocese he is leaving to transfer to another diocese, where he is also required to seek permission to stay.

Work

Binghay also said it was Cardinal Vidal who appointed Garcia as Archdiocesan Commission on Worship chairman.

Garcia made many improvements and implementation of the rules and regulations on liturgical services in the archdiocese, said Binghay.

“He (Garcia) even founded the Society of the Angels of Peace, who help the archdiocese during liturgical celebrations and trainings,” he added.

Garcia also promoted several religious devotions including the Holy Nazarene, the Hubo ritual of the Santo Niño or the changing of vestments after the annual Sinulog celebration, and the devotion to the Ecce Homo or the suffering Christ.

He also re-named the SAP convent into the Archdiocesan Shrine of Jesus of the Nazarene.

Garcia is also well-known for his collection of religious images of various shapes and sizes and from different materials including ivory, porcelain and candy wrappers.

Binghay said he has known Garcia for about 40 years as a good person. (BAP of Sun.Star Cebu)

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on September 27, 2012.

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Church, State chase leads on ivory traffic

DIFFERENT church and state groups will investigate the trade and collection of religious items made from ivory, following a magazine article that quoted a Cebu priest on the trade.

The Cebu-based and National Commission on Cultural Heritage of the Church, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will conduct separate inquiries.Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma will tap the Archdiocesan Commission on the Cultural Heritage of the Church to investigate religious items made from new ivory, including the collection of Msgr. Cristobal Garcia.

Garcia, the Archdiocesan Commission on Worship chairman, was interviewed by writer Bryan Christy for an article in the October issue of the National Geographic magazine titled “Blood Ivory”.

Palma, who is also the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines president, has also directed the church’s National Commission on Cultural Heritage to formulate guidelines in the ownership of ivory-made religious items.

“The Church does not condone ivory smuggling or other illegal activities, although in the past, ivory was one of the materials used in the adornment of liturgical worship,” the archbishop said.

“While these ivory artifacts crafted long before the ban are considered the cultural heritage of the Church, in no way does she encourage the use of ivory for new implements,” he added.

Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Julito Cortes will make follow-up actions with regards to heritage conservation. He is the CBCP’s chairman on cultural heritage.

The DENR 7 has organized a team to conduct a field investigation led by Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Cebu Richard Abella with Protected Areas and Wildlife Division chief Jose Layese and Ariel Rica.

“The investigation will not only focus on certain persons but will also try to look into the local situation,” said DENR 7 Regional Executive Director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo in a statement.

‘Biased’

“We are now closely coordinating with other law enforcement agencies, particularly the Bureau of Customs and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and other concerned authorities on the reported smuggled goods,” he added.

In a statement that was delivered during a press conference in Cebu City yesterday, Archbishop Palma reiterated that the Church supports the ban on ivory.

Palma also clarified the claims made by the National Geographic writer on the perception of religious icons among Filipinos.

“While it is true that icons are venerated by us because through them we are able to tangibly express our faith in God and our devotion to the saints, in no way does the Church teach that these icons are in fact God Himself or the saints themselves,” he said.

As to Garcia, the archbishop said “the right of the person concerned for a fair and just hearing” should be considered.

“The account given by the National Geographic Magazine needs to be assessed as to its veracity, considering that the article smacks of bias against religious practices,” he added.

Garcia is known as a collector of religious items and antique artifacts, and has an annual display of Nativity scenes at the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Black Nazarene in Barangay Cansojong in Talisay City.

About Niño

Msgr. Garcia’s most important piece could be the sculpture of the baby Jesus made of wax, handed down from his great-grandmother Doña Agustina Escaño. The fair-skinned baby Jesus is featured with blond hair, lying on its right side inside a musical box that plays a Spanish lullaby, the Niño Roro.

Another is a rare image of a boy carved from a whole piece of ivory tusk, which he showed Sun.Star Cebu during a visit last December 2011.

Archbishop Palma said there was a group of people who approached him to say they were told by Christy that he was doing a report on the devotion to the Santo Niño.

“They felt betrayed that he (Christy) wrote on ivory worship,” he said.

Christy relayed to historian Trizer Mansueto through an email dated Sept. 25, 2012, that he was able to read Sun.Star Cebu’s story on local reactions to his article.

Mansueto, who met Christy in Bantayan town last year, shared some of the contents of the email.

Devotion

“As you know, I spent a great deal of time to understand the deeper meaning of holy images in Cebu and the Philippines. It was important to me that I tell a story that was honest to the people and their religious beliefs. I tried very hard not to bring any judgment to the story but to let those in it reveal their own motivations,” said Christy.

“While much is being made of the smuggling part of the story, I also think the main point of the story is to get people to think about the many kinds of devotion--to God, to wildlife, to ecosytems, to legal systems. It is only by global understanding that the world can improve,” he added.

Christy voiced hope that Catholic leaders would “press the church’s core values of honoring life to protect those who are subjected to corruption caused by the ivory trade, which is causing so much harm around the world not only to elephants but also to rangers, African citizens, and honest Filipinos.”

Archbishop Palma differentiated the collection of antique ivory items and religious artifacts made from new ivory.

“There are antique collectors, (which is) part of what well-off or well-to-do (individuals) do,” he said.

“We discourage people from owning new ivory items. There is the law, the ban, CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).

We should not engage in any illegal activity. We discourage the use of ivory for new implements,” he added.

Palma acknowledged Christy’s point of view toward the end of the article, “We don’t kill for this kind of worship.”

No more

“The Holy Father has, time and again, spoken about how precious is life. Life is inter-related. It is unfortunate many take life for granted,” said Palma.

“When we think of the slaughter of elephants, we kneel and strike our breast. We are all a party to this. With the laws, we are reminded, no more!” he said.

A team from the NBI in Manila will arrive in Cebu City today to start its investigation.

NBI 7 Director Edward Villarta told reporters the personnel from the Environmental and Wildlife Protection Investigation Division (EWPID), an NBI special unit, will not focus solely on Monsignor Garcia, who was named by the magazine article as someone who knows about the smuggling of ivory religious icons.

The NBI 7 will only assist the EWPID team, said Villarta.

Villarta declined to say how they will handle the investigation, but he said they will invite any “personality” they suspected to be involved in the ivory trade. He did not categorically say if Msgr. Garcia will be invited.

A global ivory trade ban was implemented in 1989.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on September 27, 2012.

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Council disagrees with plan to buy lots

THE Cebu City Council has blocked City Hall’s plan to purchase the lots occupied by 32 families in Barangay Luz.

This means City Mayor Michael Rama cannot let the City expropriate the lots in sitios Nangka, Lubi and Mabuhay to prevent the eviction of the 32 families.During their regular session yesterday, the council passed Councilor Alvin Dizon’s resolution “expressing disagreement” to the purchase of the lots occupied by the 32 families.

The council believes that expropriating the lots will set a bad precedent in the City’s socialized housing program.

“If the City will purchase the lots (in Barangay Luz), it would mean that we will be purchasing the lots of other delinquent or recalcitrant families in other homeowners association,” said Dizon who heads the council’s committee on housing.

Such move, Dizon said, will send the message that it is acceptable for urban poor families to be delinquent in their amortization.

“This situation would definitely destroy the City’s socialized housing program,” he said.

Rama filed a motion in court earlier to ask for the declaration of status quo and stop the demolition of the houses of the 32 families.

In April 1998, the Regional Trial Court ruled that the 32 families do not have legal right to buy, own or posses the lots they are occupying. The decision was upheld by the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court.

Dizon said that while he pities the 32 families, the court’s decision has to be respected.

He asked the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) to provide a relocation site for the 32 families as soon as possible.

DWUP prepared four relocation sites for the families in Barangays Tisa, Bulacao, Inayawan and Basak Pardo.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on September 27, 2012.

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COA finds Sibonga workers’ pay differential in 2011 irregular

STATE auditors found irregularities in the way the Municipal Government of Sibonga gave out 256-day daily wage differential to job-order employees.

The Commission on Audit (COA) noted that the Sibonga Municipal Government spent P295,585.28 for the daily wage differentials of 110 job-order workers. Out of the 110, 67 job-order employees were given a rate of P8.46 a day while the rest got P13.67 per day.COA recommended that the Municipal Government order those who received the differential to refund the amount they claimed. If not, it warned that municipal officials and employees responsible for the release of the wage differential will be made liable.

Sibonga Mayor Lionel Bacaltos told Sun.Star Cebu that the daily wage differentials served as pay adjustment for the job-order workers, especially those involved in utility work for the town. He said even with the adjustment, the salaries of the job-order workers do not exceed the prescribed minimum daily wage of P280.

COA said the wage differential lacked legal basis.

The wage differential is supported by a municipal resolution adopted by the Municipal Council on December 19, 2011. But aside from pointing out that the minimum wage of the job-order employees are below the prescribed wage standard, the wage differential did not cite other legal basis, COA said.

Minimum wage

State auditors said the release of the amount was “considerably irregular,” under Section 1.1 of Civil Service Commission Resolution 020790.

“Fixing the minimum daily salary is applicable only to private sector workers,” COA auditors said.

Mayor Bacaltos said the wage differential was given after the local government realized savings.

He said the decision to use the savings to give salary differential to job-order employees, especially those involved drainage clearing and other utility work.

Recommendations

Bacaltos said that before wage differential, Sibonga job-order employees were paid P150 a day. With the differential, the daily wage of some workers went up to P158 while others got P163.

COA also noted that of the 13 recommendations it made in the 2010 audit report, Sibonga implemented only one, which was to stop making advance payments to suppliers of its Bonga Festival.

The Municipal Government had started implementing eight but failed to implement two recommendations of COA.

In its 2010 audit report on Sibonga, COA noted that the local government made an advance payment of P397,500 to suppliers of costumes, props and others of the Bonga Festival.

The advance payments violated Section 88 of Presidential Decree 1445, or the Auditing Code of the Philippines.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on September 27, 2012.

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‘Penalties, family size out of RH Bill’

AMONG the amendments to the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill are the issues the Catholic Church leaders strongly opposed.

Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan (Gabriela Partylist) said the penalties and provision on ideal family size were already stricken out of House Bill 4424 or the “act providing for a comprehensive policy on responsible parenthood, reproductive health, population development and for other purposes.”She said adolescent RH and sexuality programs will be for Grade 6 students and no longer for Grade 5 pupils.

The parents also have the option whether to allow or disallow their children from attending this particular program.

Ilagan was a guest speaker at a forum on RH bill amendments held at the Cebu Normal University yesterday afternoon.

“There will be no punishment for those who will not implement the family planning program of the government,” she told an audience of students, academics and community workers.

Catholic Church leaders have opposed the bill, citing that some provisions are against doctrines, such as the use of artificial contraceptives.

Some of the provisions they opposed included adolescent sexual education and penalties for those who would refuse to teach artificial planning methods.

Not participating

In an earlier interview, Cebu Archbishop and Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Jose Palma said the bishops refuse to participate in the technical working group tasked to come up with amendments to the bill.

He said participating would be tantamount to agreeing to the contents of the bill when the Church opposes its passage in its entirety.

Hospitals owned and operated by religious groups have the option to provide artificial family planning methods or not while the mobile health care services that were initially proposed to be funded by the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of legislators will now be funded by the National Government.

Sanctions

Ilagan said the proposal includes sanctions for pharmaceutical companies that would collude with government officials in partisan politics. These sanctions include confiscation of license, fines and revocation of licenses.

The provision on the ideal family size or the two-child policy has been removed, while the provision making it compulsory for employers to provide RH care, since it is already part of the Labor Code, was also stricken from the revised version.

“Family planning supplies as essential medicines were revised. It now states that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shall determine the safety and efficacy of medicines,” said Ilagan.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on September 27, 2012.