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JUN
17
2020

On the “cyber libel” conviction of Maria Ressa

I wish Maria Ressa victory on her appeal and hope that her conviction will be overturned. That is also the clarity the nation wants to see in the application and interpretation of a law with ambiguities and frightening consequences on our freedom. Democracy thrives when truth can
JUN
17
2020

SMC’s profit is the labor of thousands of its officers and employees.

But SMC’s decision to give more than P1 billion in the national pandemic fight, in ways longer than its product catalogue, was the corporate implementation of Danding’s philosophy to help the needy. It was this trademark of giving which drove SMC to donate gas to frontliners; to
JUN
10
2020

Imports not a way to honor sacrifices of local chicken growers –Recto

Ipinagmalaki mismo ng DA sa kanilang State of the Food Report noong Mayo 21 na aabot sa minimum ng 160 days ang supply ng manok, at sa best case scenario ay 314 days. Sa average scenario naman, garantisadong may supply sa loob ng 220 na araw. All of the three projections point to
JUN
10
2020

Rush Google-like justice system database for fast verification of arrest warrants—Recto

Government should rush the establishment of “its own Google search-like app for arrest warrants” to spare namesakes of fugitives from being denied security clearances, held at ports or harassed by unscrupulous public officers. This was the call of Senate President Pro Tempore
JUN
08
2020

‘No ride, no work; no back ride, no jeepney ride’ pushing up joblessness – Recto

You want to restart the economy? Then let PUVs restart their engines. There are three important T’s today: tests, trabaho, transportasyon. Screening for coronavirus is no longer a requisite for returning to work. But without a ride, there is no work. And no work, no pay. Allowing
JUN
07
2020

PNP must be a Malasakit Center that is kind to hungry protesters

Policemen, in general, have acted as officers and gentlemen who serve and protect the people during this pandemic. These frontliners deserve the nation’s thanks. It is, however, hard to find gallantry or valor in the acts of the few who arrested hungry drivers demanding work,
JUN
06
2020

Give OFWs red carpet, not sidewalk treatment; help OCWs—Out-of-job Construction Workers—too

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto today welcomed the government’s “gone in five days” policy for returning OFWs transiting through Manila on their way home “as one that is painfully overdue.” But as more airports reopen to receive flights from abroad, Recto said th
JUN
04
2020

Cash aid to health workers who got COVID-19 to be tax-free, released within 90 days

After it was revealed that not one of the hundreds of health workers who had fallen ill or died from COVID-19 had received a centavo of the compensation mandated by the Bayanihan Act, senators have amended the law to expedite the release of the cash aid and make it tax-exempt.
JUN
03
2020

Senator Recto’s interpellation on SB 1561: Bayanihan to Recover As One Act

Senator Ralph Recto interpellates Senator Sonny Angara, sponsor of Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, on budget details needed by the government to respond to crisis brought about by Covid-19. 1 June 2020 – PART 1 2 June 2020 – PART 2
JUN
03
2020

Recto: No delay, no tax in compensation for health workers struck by COVID-19

Senators amend the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act/Bayanihan II After finding out that health workers who got infected by COVID-19 have not yet received the promised compensation from the government (P1 million to families of those who died, and P100,000 to those who got infected