Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV would spend his brief retirement from politics by teaching the students about public policy at the University of the Philippines – Diliman.

Trillanes, a former soldier, has a master’s degree in Public Administration, Major in Public Policy and Program Management from UP.

Trillanes revealed his plan during an interview on ANC, saying that he has more free time after he finished his career as a Senator for 12 years.

The fierce critic of the Duterte administration also said that he’s also preparing to teach in Ateneo De Manila, but he’s not yet sure on the specific course that he would handle.

“More relaxing life after the Senate and right now, I am preparing for my teaching work this coming semester,” Trillanes said.

“It is in UP [University of the Philippines-Diliman] and Ateneo [de Manila University],” he added.

Despite being retired already, Trillanes didn’t finish the interview without criticizing the Duterte administration, claiming that he never felt any fear on the actions of the President against the opposition.

“Since 2016, when Duterte assumed office, I already had, I think, 10 to 14 cases and counting. Whether I’m a senator or not, it didn’t stop Mr. Duterte from persecuting people like me from the opposition,” Trillanes said.

He believed that the cases filed against the members of the opposition, including Vice President Leni Robredo, is the plan of President Duterte to persecute his critics.

“Everything that’s happening that’s targeting the opposition Duterte would have a blessing, at the very least. And, in some instances, he’s the brains of such moves like when they canceled the amnesty that was given to me,” Trillanes said.

Manila City is not the only place in the National Capital Region that receiving a total makeover.

On July 26, netizen Rachel Garcia, SK Chairperson of Baclaran showed the transformation of their Barangay after the cleanup operation conducted since last week to remove the illegal vendors and other obstructions.

Baclaran which located along the border of Pasay City and Paranaque City was known for being a crowded place, full of illegal vendors and sometimes lawbreakers who victimize passerby.

But the photos posted by Garcia proves that Baclaran can still transform into a cleaner Barangay.

After the cleanup operation, streets in Baclaran are now accessible by vehicles.

Businesses that operate in the right place were not closed by the City Government of Paranaque.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the local chief executives of Pasay and Parañaque on Tuesday also continued the cleanup operation along Baclaran to ensure that the illegal vendors cannot operate their businesses anymore.

“Dati naman kasi kaya pabalik-balik ‘yan, sabi ko nga hindi ganoong kaano ‘yung mandato eh. Kumbaga napagbibigyan. Pag ginusto talaga, mawawala, hindi babalik,” MMDA General Manager Jose Arturo “Jojo” Garcia said.

MMDA also said that they’re not anti-vendor and they only wanted to bring back the streets to the motorists.

“Hindi kami anti-vendor. Inaayos lang natin, itinatama lang natin. Nililinis lang natin. Kasi nga ‘yung common good. Para madaanan ng mga motorista. Kumbaga kung may isang daang pamilya ang mga vendors, ang naaapektuhan niyan libu-libong motorista,” he said.

Paranaque City Mayor Edwin Olivares vowed to sustain the cleanliness of Baclaran.

According to him, Baclaran has much room for businesses and illegal vendors should rent to available commercial spaces if they wanted to continue working in the said Barangay.

“Ang ginagawa natin sustainable dapat, hindi ‘yung isang araw lang makikita natin malinis, second day malinis. So in-organize na ng atingMMDA, ng ating city government at ng yung mga barangay to be sustainable itong ating lugar na ito at kasama rin natin ang police dito,” Olivares said.

“Kung makikita natin dito sa Baclaran may mga bakante tayong mga building dito na commercial spaces naman, na doon natin ilalagay sila para maging ligal na sila doon sa kanilang pagtitinda,” he added.

The cleanup operation happened after President Rodrigo Duterte and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) ordered the Metro Manila Mayors to clean up their cities within 60 days.

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa is pushing for an investigation over the leftist groups’ alleged recruitment of minors for their armed struggle.

According to Resolution No. 58 filed by Dela Rosa, urged the Senate to investigate the said issue.

“We really wanted to know the real score behind this issue. An investigation on this case could ferret out the truth and in the end, we could also recommend actions that will ensure the peace in the country as well as protect and preserve the welfare of our children,” Dela Rosa said.

The cop-turned-senator revealed that some parents visited his office to inform him about their missing children who allegedly recruited by leftist groups.

According to one parent, their 16-year-old child left their home for almost a week for a “leadership training” without their knowledge.

Because of their concerns, they attempted to search their child and found that the latter is in a political rally in Quezon City.

Another parent also narrated to Bato that their child is also missing after attending a non-existent seminar.

Dela Rosa after hearing the stories expressed alarm over the alleged activities of the leftist group.

“There was an alarming report that communist is recruiting minors as their fighters as young as 10 years old. The same news report also claimed that the communist group has been doing this for decades but their recruitment efforts were intensified now because their armed group has been depleted due to frequent clash with government troops,” Dela Rosa explained.

The Senator also said that the Commission on Higher Education failed their duty to protect the students from alleged indoctrination of the leftist groups.

Meanwhile, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año claimed that the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) / National Peoples’ Army (NPA) / National Democratic Front (NDF) are trying to brainwash minors to fight the government.

“They teach the innocent how to use a gun, how to fight in armed combat, how to gain people’s sympathy, to sing a different version of the national anthem and to join rallies calling for the overthrow of the government,” Año said in a statement.

Senator Manny Pacquiao met with Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno during a courtesy call on Monday to discuss different things that could make them serve the people more effectively.

Pacquiao who just came from the Philippines last week after his victory over Keith Thurman praised Moreno for his style of governance, saying that the Manila Mayor might reach a higher office in the future.

The Senator who also attended the Monday flag ceremony in Manila told the Manilenyos that they should also be thankful that they got a hardworking Mayor like Moreno.

“Mayor, ipagpatuloy mo lang ang ginagawa mo. Malayo pa ang mararating mo. Baka hindi lang dito sa Maynila ang iyong seserbisyuhan,” Pacquiao told Moreno.

The Filipino Champ also had a photo op together with the other officials of Manila City.

According to Pacquiao, Moreno knows the needs of the poor because he also experienced poverty during his younger years.

Moreno earned a living during his teenage years as a scavenger before being discovered by a talent scout who brought him to show business.

“Hindi lang niya alam ang kahirapan, nararamdaman niya rin ito. Ganyan kaming mga lider na mahihirap,” Pacquiao said who also experienced poverty during his younger years.

In his Facebook post, Pacquiao also compared himself to Moreno who “came from nothing and now trying to help others to do the same,”

Moreno in an official statement compared Pacquiao to the Manilyenos who escaped poverty because of hard work.

“Tulad ng aking mga kapwa Batang Maynila, si Pacman ay galing sa hirap at nagsumikap sa maraming aspeto ng buhay, mapa-pulitikal man o sa larangan ng boksing,” Moreno said in a statement.

Moreno was being compared to President Duterte, who also became a Mayor and elected by the people as the chief executive because of his style of governance.

Senator Nancy Binay told the Philippine National Police (PNP) not to waste their time working on the closure of thousands of lotto outlets nationwide to follow President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to stop Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s (PCSO) gaming activities.

In a press release, Binay told the PNP to avoid wasting their energy and resources traveling around to close down lotto outlets instead of doing their job to investigate cases and help civilians.

“Instead of wasting their time in closing down lotto outlets, bakit di nila pagdiskitahan habulin at hulihin ang mga nasa wanted list nila, o yung mga insidente sa Negros? Mobilizing the police force to quell gambling activities over investigating the demise of unarmed civilians only shows the PNP’s misplaced sense of priority,” the senator said.

Binay explained that there’s no point for the PNP to close down the lotto outlets because PCSO already closed its gaming servers since last week.

“Sa totoo lang, offline na lahat ng lotto outlets at na-shutdown na ang main servers noong Biyernes pa lang. Kaya, there’s no point for police operatives to padlock non-operational betting stations that are already out of business. Medyo overkill at OA na yun,” Binay stated.

“Please veer away from the theatrics. Let the full force of the law crush down on hardened lawbreakers. Ano ba ang kailangan mas i-prioritize ng PNP–ang pag-padlock ng lotto outlets, o pagsugpo ng krimen? Place the highest priority on going after lawbreakers,” added Binay.

After President’s order, PNP and AFP participated in the closure of lotto outlets nationwide, saying that they already closed 5,000 outlets.

Duterte ordered the closure of all gaming activities under PCSO because of alleged corruption, pointing out that 60% of the funds of the agency went to the wrong pockets.

Many netizens are still confused why President Rodrigo Duterte decided to suddenly close down the operations of all gaming franchise under the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) including Lotto and Small Town Lottery (STL).

Fortunately, a blogger tried to make a lengthy post to explain the issue to the netizen in the simplest way possible.

Radio Host and Blogger Mark Lopez tried to explain the issue of PCSO, explaining the mandate of the agency and how its profits should be distributed to the prize money, Presidential Social Fund (PSF), operating expenses and other funds being returned to PSF.

He also made a sample computation so the netizens could see big the amount of money should be contributed by PCSO to the government.

“Ang PCSO o Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office ay isang government owned corporation na attached po sa Office of the President. Ang pinaka layunin po ng ahensya na ito ay fundraising para sa mga social programs ng gobyerno lalu na patungkol sa health and charity.”

“Para makapag fundraising, ang PCSO ay nag mamanage ng mga palarong Lotto, Small Town Lottery, Online Keno, Scratch Cards at yung Sweepstakes.”

“So kung sa isang buwan ang PCSO ay makakolekta ng P5Billion -“

“2.75Billlion ay nakatabi para sa papremyo”

“1.5Billion ay pupunta sa charity o medical assistance via the PSF”

“750Million eh sa operating expense.”

“250Million eh contingency.”

“So lumabas po na kung sa P5Billion buwan buwan, meron ang gobyerno na P1.5 Billion buwan buwan o P18BILLION kada taon para pa ipang serbisyo sa mga mahihirap nating kababayan.”

“Ang nalilikom po na fund ng PCSO ay direchong napupunta sa Presidential Social Fund.”

“Ang allocation ng PCSO fund ay meron pong ganitong hatian:”

“55% ay para sa mga prize money”
“30% ay para sa PSF”
“15% ay para sa OPEX ng ahensya”
“5% at ano pang balanse eh binabalik sa PSF kung wala na itong kailang pag gamitan o contigency.”

According to him, the issue started because PCSO is allegedly not giving the whole share to the Presidential Social Fund, which is distributed to the poor Filipinos that asking for medical assistance.

He even said that there’s a possibility that PCSO tried to corrupt the prize money and operating expenses that they’re getting from the gaming franchises.

Lopez said that the President decided to stop the operations of PCSO because he wanted to clean the agency from corrupt officials.

“Isipin nyo naman kung meron dapat P1.5Bilyon para sa social fund buwan buwan pero baka ay binibigay lang ay P500 million at hindi na alam kung san napupunta yung P1B a month!”

“At sa tono po ng pananalita nya kahapon, ramdam ko na hindi nya pinanghihinayangan na mawala ang pondo na yan dahil hindi din naman umaabot talaga ng buo para sa taumbayan.”

“Ang gusto ng ating presidente ay magastos ang pondo ng PCSO para sa mga beneficiary ng social programs ng gobyerno, hindi para gawing gatasan at alkansya ng mga corrupt na officials.”

The radio host also believes that the President knows that he could find other money to help the beneficiaries affected by the closure of PCSO.

“Sa aking palagay, mas gugustuhin po ni PRRD na mawala lahat yan at magkaron ng panibagong sistema kesa naman yung patuloy ang matinding corruption sa PCSO.”

“Alam ko kumpyansa ang ating pangulo na makakahanap ang gobyerno ng mga kapalit na revenue streams sa pansamantala para sa social fund.”

“Ang kagandahan po kasi sa ating gobyerno ngayon ay ang kaban ng bayan ay talagang ginagastos na para sa atin.”

“Madaming pera po talaga ang ating gobyerno, pero ngayon lang natin ito nakikita at nararamdaman na nilalaan talaga para sa atin.”

Source

Malacanang revealed the reason why President Rodrigo Duterte decided to terminate all the gaming franchise under the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

In an interview, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that there’s a conspiracy happening under PCSO that caused the government to lose share from the agency’s profit.

Panelo claimed that 60% of PCSO’s revenue only went to the wrong pockets.

“All players, all participants of the gaming corporations are involved, including even court [that] issues injunctions in favor of these operations,” Panelo said.

The Presidential Spokesperson also said that President Duterte would reveal the names of the people who are part of the massive conspiracy in PCSO.

Panelo also said that the beneficiaries of PCSO will be redirected to Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

PCSO was created in 1954 to raise funds that could help the Filipinos who need medical assistance. However, several netizens shared how hard to get help from PCSO, saying that the agency workers told them that they don’t have enough funds.

On Saturday, President Duterte decided to close down PCSO because of alleged massive corruption.

As a response, PCSO complied to President’s order, however, they’re still planning to appeal to Duterte to reconsider his decision.

Presidential Spokesperson Sal Panelo tells CNN Philippines that 60% of PCSO revenues are lost to corruption, and those involved will be named by President Duterte in due time #NewsroomWeekend https://t.co/msCLmwV0u6 pic.twitter.com/szsBOEPJa0

— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) July 27, 2019