MANILA, Philippines – How much a kilo of rice costs has a major impact on how Filipino families eat, or if they will eat at all. 

In November 2017, a kilo of rice cost P42.17. This has increased since, rising to P49.37, even to as much as P55 to P66 in some provinces as of the 4th week of September. 

Despite the price increases, the President and his spokesperson have denied there is a rice shortage in the country. But should we get worried?

Take a quick look at the numbers and controversies revolving around our staple food.

Rice crises, past and present

Rice available in the market has two types: regular milled rice (RMR) and well-milled rice (WMR). The latter is more expensive, but the prices for both have been increasing since 2007. Rice prices data with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) go back to January 2007 only.

RMR is rice in which 10%-30% of the lengthwise streaks of the bran layer (hard external layer) are still present on the kernel, while WMR has only less than 10% of bran layer presence. In short, RMR is less polished than WMR. 

In July 2008, a global rice crisis occurred from January to May. The year started with the WMR retail price pegged at P25.67 in January reaching P39.76 in July. This subsequently decreased to P32.50 in December. Globally, the cost of a ton of rice increased by 300% ($300 to $1,200) in the first 4 months of 208.

{source}<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-SbBc5" src="//datawrapper.dwcdn.net/SbBc5/6/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important;" height="400"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">if("undefined"==typeof window.datawrapper)window.datawrapper={};window.datawrapper["SbBc5"]={},window.datawrapper["SbBc5"].embedDeltas={"100":589,"200":481,"300":427,"400":427,"500":427,"700":400,"800":400,"900":400,"1000":400},window.datawrapper["SbBc5"].iframe=document.getElementById("datawrapper-chart-SbBc5"),window.datawrapper["SbBc5"].iframe.style.height=window.datawrapper["SbBc5"].embedDeltas[Math.min(1e3,Math.max(100*Math.floor(window.datawrapper["SbBc5"].iframe.offsetWidth/100),100))]+"px",window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if("undefined"!=typeof a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var b in a.data["datawrapper-height"])if("SbBc5"==b)window.datawrapper["SbBc5"].iframe.style.height=a.data["datawrapper-height"][b]+"px"});</script>

{/source}

A 2009 research done for the Center for Global Development attributed the escalating prices during the crisis to 4 reasons:

• government failed to secure adequate amount of stock rice
• statements and actions of government officials "encouraged" long lines and hoarding
• government set a low buying price for domestic rice during the dry seasons, resulting in low stocks
• the National Food Authority's (NFA) decisions "destabilized" both the local and global market 

The Arroyo administration in April 2008 launched P43.7-billion worth of agricultural assistance named "Fields" to ensure food security (fertilizer, irrigation, extension and education, loans and insurance, dryers, and seeds).

There was also a spike in rice prices in 2014 during Benigno Aquino III's administration. The year started with increasing prices since May 2013. WMR retail was at P39.49 in January 2014 and reached its highest on September 14 at P44.02. Since then, prices have decreased till January 2018.

The Aquino government resorted to importing 500,000 metric tons (MT) in addition to the 800,000 MT for the year 2014. Rice hoarding also reached 2.3 million MT under Aquino from 2011-2014. At the end of his administration, RA 10845 or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016 was signed into law.

According to economist JC Punongbayan, the 2008 rice crisis was more global in nature while the crises in 2014 and 2018 were "self-inflicted" due to bad policies and corruption. 

{source}<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-y0aFR" src="//datawrapper.dwcdn.net/y0aFR/8/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important;" height="400"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">if("undefined"==typeof window.datawrapper)window.datawrapper={};window.datawrapper["y0aFR"]={},window.datawrapper["y0aFR"].embedDeltas={"100":562,"200":454,"300":427,"400":427,"500":400,"700":400,"800":400,"900":400,"1000":400},window.datawrapper["y0aFR"].iframe=document.getElementById("datawrapper-chart-y0aFR"),window.datawrapper["y0aFR"].iframe.style.height=window.datawrapper["y0aFR"].embedDeltas[Math.min(1e3,Math.max(100*Math.floor(window.datawrapper["y0aFR"].iframe.offsetWidth/100),100))]+"px",window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if("undefined"!=typeof a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var b in a.data["datawrapper-height"])if("y0aFR"==b)window.datawrapper["y0aFR"].iframe.style.height=a.data["datawrapper-height"][b]+"px"});</script>

{/source}

According to the rice and corn price index of PSA, as of the 4th week of September 2018, for RMR, the wholesale and retail prices of rice stand at P43.12 and P45.83 per kilo, respectively. WMR wholesale and retail prices were pegged at P46.04 and P49.37, respectively.

Since January 2007, the highest price for retail WMR was felt in the 4th week of September, when it reached a national average of P49.37. For Metro Manila alone, it was P48.

In 2018, the province of Sulu in Mindanao had the highest price of retail WMR at P66 per kilo as of the 4th week of September, almost P17 higher than the national average. Second is Zamboanga del Norte at P58 and third are Mountain Province, Palawan, Bohol, Iloilo, and Southern Leyte, each at P55 per kilo. The cheapest price is in Tawi-Tawi at P34 per kilo.

But with rice shortage, surging prices, and weevil-infested rice, a crisis was again felt in the country.  

Do we have enough rice?

The National Food Authority (NFA) is the public agency tasked to store stocks of rice and stabilize rice prices in the country to ensure food security. However, in early April, rice stocks of the agency were “completely gone.” During that time, the rice reserve went down to two days’ worth of supply instead of 15 days which the NFA is required to maintain.

{source}<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-0sMqu" src="//datawrapper.dwcdn.net/0sMqu/5/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important;" height="400"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">if("undefined"==typeof window.datawrapper)window.datawrapper={};window.datawrapper["0sMqu"]={},window.datawrapper["0sMqu"].embedDeltas={"100":508,"200":481,"300":427,"400":427,"500":400,"700":373,"800":373,"900":373,"1000":373},window.datawrapper["0sMqu"].iframe=document.getElementById("datawrapper-chart-0sMqu"),window.datawrapper["0sMqu"].iframe.style.height=window.datawrapper["0sMqu"].embedDeltas[Math.min(1e3,Math.max(100*Math.floor(window.datawrapper["0sMqu"].iframe.offsetWidth/100),100))]+"px",window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if("undefined"!=typeof a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var b in a.data["datawrapper-height"])if("0sMqu"==b)window.datawrapper["0sMqu"].iframe.style.height=a.data["datawrapper-height"][b]+"px"});</script>

{/source}

The NFA rice is subsidized by the government, therefore making it cheaper. Household rice is what people stock for themselves while commercial rice is what can be bought in the market. 

To replenish the supply, the agency can buy from local farmers or import from foreign suppliers. The NFA said they cannot buy from local farmers since they would rather sell their yield to other buyers instead of the agency which has a low buying price of P17 per kilo. Selling to private entities can yield as high as P29 per kilo.

Instead, the NFA chose to import 250,000 metric tons of rice from Vietnam and Thailand. The latter delivered 133,000 sacks of rice on August 2 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Later on, the majority of the sacks were discovered to have been infested with rice weevils.

Since 2012, “NFA rice” or the cheaper version of commercial rice reached its lowest stocks inventory level yet in June 2018 according to the agency’s Beginning Rice Stock Inventory, reaching up to only 21,000 metric tons.

There was also the issue of weevil infestation. On August 22, NFA authorities said that at least 100,000 sacks of imported rice from Thailand were infested by bukbok or rice weevil.

The NFA said that rice is safe to eat after fumigation. Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Manny Piñol even did a demo on live television on August 31, showing that eating the rice is safe. 

The President initially denied the problem of rice shortage and said there is “ample” rice supply. He later admitted that prices of goods, particularly rice, have increased and suggested ancient barter trade as a solution.

Is rice still affordable?

While denied by Piñol, there are reports of the price of rice reaching as much as P70 per kilo in Zamboanga City. Rice prices have been on a steady increase since the start of 2018. (READ: Rice prices soar as Duterte marks 2nd year in office)

{source}<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-QXskg" src="//datawrapper.dwcdn.net/QXskg/9/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important;" height="621"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">if("undefined"==typeof window.datawrapper)window.datawrapper={};window.datawrapper["QXskg"]={},window.datawrapper["QXskg"].embedDeltas={"100":810,"200":675,"300":648,"400":648,"500":648,"700":621,"800":621,"900":621,"1000":621},window.datawrapper["QXskg"].iframe=document.getElementById("datawrapper-chart-QXskg"),window.datawrapper["QXskg"].iframe.style.height=window.datawrapper["QXskg"].embedDeltas[Math.min(1e3,Math.max(100*Math.floor(window.datawrapper["QXskg"].iframe.offsetWidth/100),100))]+"px",window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if("undefined"!=typeof a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var b in a.data["datawrapper-height"])if("QXskg"==b)window.datawrapper["QXskg"].iframe.style.height=a.data["datawrapper-height"][b]+"px"});</script>

{/source}

This could be traced back to low supply and the administration's Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law as mentioned by a  2018 study by the Philippine Rice Institute (PhilRice) under the DA. The study found that operational expenses of farmers increased (including the cost of gasoline used for machines), while decreasing profit by 10%.

An increase in operational expenses leads to an increase in market price as well. 

The PSA announced that the inflation rate which hit a 9-year high of 6.7% in September also affected rice prices.

How do leaders propose to solve the crisis?

The crisis has elicited various solutions from lawmakers and experts. (READ: Taming rice prices: What lawmakers, experts say)

House Speaker Gloria Macapal Arroyo wants to import more rice and file charges against smugglers, which is different from Piñol’s suggestion of legalizing rice smuggling. 

Senator Cynthia Villar proposes to declare a state of calamity on rice, impose price controls, and put a high tariff on high imports while providing subsidies to local farmers to make them competitive with foreign suppliers. A tariff is a payment on imports or exports that enter and exit a country’s market.

There are also calls to abolish the NFA and fire its executives, along with Piñol.

On October 8, 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte decided to greenlight the lifting of restrictions on rice importation following a "fierce" discussion between Piñol and Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez during a Cabinet meeting.

Dominguez reportedly pushed for lifting restrictions, while Piñol wanted to impose an obligation for rice to be sold at certain prices. — Rappler.com

Part 1: Crime City? Killings in Cebu rise as mayor, cops feud
Part 2: Tommy Osmeña: Cebu City's own

CEBU CITY, Philippines – There is an unspoken rule for any local police chief: the mayor reigns supreme.

Yet this relationship is not necessarily true lately in Cebu City, where Tomas “Tommy” Osmeña is the chief local executive. 

Osmeña is known to be controlling, and Senior Superintendent Royina Garma was told by her superiors about this before she assumed the post last July 1 as Cebu City’s first female police chief. 

Garma knew that the local police needed Osmeña's support for resources and his cooperation as their bridge to the locals, but she refused to stay silent or be a yes-person.

When Osmeña said SWAT personnel should tag along with cops in all operations, Garma blocked it, saying it was not allowed. When Osmeña said Cebu City had turned into a "criminal city," Garma insisted Cebu remained peaceful, and only criminals should be afraid. When Osmeña said he was receiving death threats, likely from cops, Garma responded with a challenge: “Prove it.”

Garma is not out to please the mayor; she has the favor of the President.

The fall and rise of Garma

In 2005, Garma was in the middle of a sex scandal that rocked Davao City.

Chief Inspector Roland Vilela, the head of the city’s police anti-vice unit, had been accused of raping a minor sex worker. The girl, only 17 years old, was said to have asked Vilela for help to sue her aunt who forced her into prostitution.

Instead of helping the girl file a complaint, Vilela allegedly holed her up in a hotel and penetrated her twice in a single night.

“He took advantage of a child,” said Garma, then the wife of Vilela.

The tragedy was not just that her husband was accused of a crime he was tasked to prevent, but Garma – then known as an officer of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) whose advocacy was to protect women and children – was completely blindsided. She still stood by Vilela. 

“Husband ko siya eh (It’s because he’s my husband),” Garma said. Even if she doubted him, she still loved him.

It was neither a good place nor time to be accused as a scalawag cop, as the mayor then was the unforgiving Rodrigo Duterte, who wanted Vilela exiled not just out of the city, but out of the Davao Region.

Garma knocked at the door of the mayor’s office and “nakihangyo (pleaded).”

“I went to the mayor, I cried to the mayor, I was like a child.” Garma recalled asking the mayor, “’Wag mo siyang ire-assign, i-relieve mo na lang siya or kahit i-floating mo na lang siya.” (Don’t re-assign him, just relieve him or put him on floating status.)

A cop Duterte had known to deliver in the CIDG, especially in anti-drugs operations, Garma was granted her plea.

Two years later, Vilela abused Garma’s trust once more.

This time, it was caught on tape and, even without the internet, quickly spread across the city. This time, Garma did not plead with Duterte. She let her husband get sacked. She then filed for the annulment of their marriage. 

It was the end of her marriage to Vilela, but the beginning of her friendship with Duterte.

From thereon, she said, she had gone to Duterte for other personal problems. The mayor became the shoulder she could cry on.

They saw less of each other when Duterte moved up to Malacañang and she was assigned to Cebu City.

Close ties with the President

Prior to Duterte's presidency, Garma had worked with him for over a decade.

Throughout her career, Garma has been able to deliver wherever she was assigned, Davao cops who had worked with her told Rappler.

“Kilala naman talaga siya sa lahat ng pulis diyan. 'Pag di mo kilala si Colonel Garma sa Davao, patay ka,” said one former Davao cop who now works in Camp Crame. (She is really known among all cops there. If you do not know Colonel Garma in Davao, you are dead.)

When Duterte was on his first 3rd term as Davao City mayor, from 1996 to 1998, Garma headed the anti-vice unit, accomplishing record apprehensions for illegal drugs, gambling, and prostitution.

From 1999 to 2004, Garma headed the women and children’s protection desk of Davao City, alongside Mayor Benjamin de Guzman. From 2004 to 2007, she went back and forth between Davao and Manila as a CIDG officer.

She finally settled in Davao again in 2009, during the last term of Mayor Duterte. Garma worked as an administrative officer of the city police, working under recently retired PNP No. 2 official, Ramon Apolinario.

“Noong admin officer siya noon bawal talaga ang malaking tiyan, kaya lahat ng parading officers noon, maninipis. Disciplinarian kasi si ma’am,” said a junior Davao cop who saw her rise. (When she was an admin officer, big tummies were forbidden, so all parading officers then were thin. She was a disciplinarian.)

The cop added that Garma was notorious for sending cops with dirty shoes and haircuts home to touch up before they were allowed to appear in flag ceremonies and meetings.

Between 2011 and 2015, Garma served as the station commander of two problem areas of Davao City: Sasa, which covers their seaport and airport, and Sta Ana, which encompasses Davao’s bustling Chinatown.

During these times, Garma stood out in their command conference with Duterte – she was always the only policewoman commander in the war room.

She is among the PNP Academy’s first batch of women police lieutenants, graduating just a year after the first batch of the academy with women.

While Garma has enjoyed close ties with Duterte, she has a track record as well of delivering – all this while taking care of her adopted daughter.

Her affiliation with Duterte has even gotten her into trouble.

Jude Sabio, the lawyer of Davao Death Squad whistleblower Edgar Matobato, accused her in his complaint before the International Criminal Court of “oversee[ing] and supervis[ing] the death squad operations in [the] war on drugs.”

New ground

The secret to her success in the service, Garma said, was the support of the Dutertes.

“They trust the police, and then they will ask you, ‘What do you need?’ They will provide everything, and they don't intervene [in police operations]. If we need them to intervene, they’re ready anytime,” Garma said.

This support, Garma said, came to her despite not knowing Duterte before her assignment in Davao City. Garma is not a native of Davao, but hails from the northern province of Cagayan.

“We are very fortunate, we who are assigned to Davao City, because we are not exposed to that  (politicizing cops). So our career grew to a very professional [level]. And we were given the opportunity to bloom on our own,” Garma said.

It’s a stark contrast to her experience in Cebu City, she said, where locals are divided on their support for cops.

She is not on speaking terms with her mayor, Tommy Osmeña, who has repeatedly accused the police force she leads as being behind the killings.

Asked why she thinks Osmeña has been hostile to her, she said, “I’m not his choice.”

Garma even said she is already itching to leave the post. She has thought of resigning during her first month in office. But she has decided on staying as, according to her, “every police officer's dream is to have a command.”

And so she will move forward and continue to talk back to Osmeña. She said she’s on the side of the right. More than that, even if she finds herself cornered, she would always have the man in Malacañang standing by her side. – Rappler.com

Claim: The Facebook page “Vip protection agent of the Philippines organization of license bodyguard” called out to companies on Sunday, October 7, to tell them that mandatory 14th month pay has been approved by the government.

Their post read: “Attention to all companies::: ANG HINIHINTAY NA PANGARAP NA 14 MONTH PAY. LUMABAS NA AT NA APPROVED NA.”

(Attention to all companies: the dream that we’ve been waiting for, 14th month pay, has been approved.)

The post is accompanied by photos of House Bill (HB) 8095, titled “An act mandating 14th month pay for all employees in the government and private sector regardless of status and employment.”

Rating: MISLEADING

Facts: HB 8095 is not yet an enacted law, but a bill that has been pending with the House of Representatives’ (HoR) Committee on Labor and Employment since August 15, 2018.

Meanwhile, Senate Bill (SB) No. 2, “An act requiring employers in the private sector to pay 14th month pay,” has been pending with the committee since July 26, 2016.

The bill must be approved by both the HoR and the Senate, and then submitted to the President for approval. Only then does it become binding law. – Vernise L Tantuco/Rappler.com

If you suspect a Facebook page, group, account, a website, or an article is spreading false information, let Rappler know by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.

When he entered the room for filing certificates of candidacy on Friday, October 12, senatorial hopeful Ronald dela Rosa chose not to file his COC immediately.

The former Bureau of Corrections chief arrived at the COC filing room of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) at around 10:50 pm on Friday. But instead of having his COC processed at once, he proceeded to a holding area behind a colorful backdrop. 

Members of the media asked, what was happening? Did he get the wrong COC form like other candidates? (READ: New certificates of candidacy confuse bets)

Dela Rosa explained, “Ang aking kuwan kasi ay dapat 11 o’clock ako magfa-file. Eh pagdating ko do’n, 10 minutes to 11 pa (I was supposed to file at 11 o’ clock. When I got there, it was 10 minutes to 11)."

Why 11 am?

"Feng shui. Feng shui ba (It’s feng shui)," Dela Rosa said, eliciting laughter from reporters. 

It was also a feng shui expert who advised that October 12 should be the COC filing date. (READ: Astrologer bares 'lucky dates' for COC filing)

"Wala namang masama kung maniwala ka sa feng shui, ‘di ba? ‘Yan ang advice sa akin ng feng shui expert, 11 o’ clock," he added. (Nothing’s bad about believing in feng shui, right? That’s the advice of the feng shui expert, 11 o’ clock.)

"Kasi ‘pag 11 o’clock daw, the sun is directly above you, so lahat ng energy ng sun, pupunta sa ulo ni Bato (Because if it’s 11 o’clock, the sun is directly above you, so all the energy of the sun will go to the head of Bato)," he added, as the media broke into laughter more loudly. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – In many ways, the famed Boracay Island has exceeded its capacity, which led to its temporary closure.

Officials have repeatedly said in the past that these excesses have included population, infrastructure, and waste which contributed to environmental degradation.

Because of this, President Rodrigo Duterte had ordered the 6-month shutdown of the island, which he called a "cesspool." Tourists have been banned from entering the island since April 26, the day the government began its rehabilitation efforts. 

Boracay is set to be reopened to the public this October, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is determined to adhere to its carrying-capacity study to the letter. 

Below are the key findings of the study, as visualized by Rappler in charts and maps:

Population

The DENR's commissioned study found that Boracay Island can accommodate only a total of 54,945 people at a time.

The study computed for the total number of tourists and non-tourists on the island, considering the island's land area, limiting factors such as environmental considerations, as well as hours spent for activities.

If the "real carrying capacity"recommendation is to be followed, there should only be 19,215 tourists and 35,730 residents.

{source}<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-EE6lt" src="//datawrapper.dwcdn.net/EE6lt/2/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important;" height="230"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">if("undefined"==typeof window.datawrapper)window.datawrapper={};window.datawrapper["EE6lt"]={},window.datawrapper["EE6lt"].embedDeltas={"100":576,"200":362,"300":303,"400":272,"500":247,"700":230,"800":230,"900":230,"1000":230},window.datawrapper["EE6lt"].iframe=document.getElementById("datawrapper-chart-EE6lt"),window.datawrapper["EE6lt"].iframe.style.height=window.datawrapper["EE6lt"].embedDeltas[Math.min(1e3,Math.max(100*Math.floor(window.datawrapper["EE6lt"].iframe.offsetWidth/100),100))]+"px",window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if("undefined"!=typeof a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var b in a.data["datawrapper-height"])if("EE6lt"==b)window.datawrapper["EE6lt"].iframe.style.height=a.data["datawrapper-height"][b]+"px"});</script>{/source}

The study revealed that it was not the average number of tourists that was problem, but the total number of people living on the island.

According to the study, the number of non-tourists – composed of locals, migrant workers, and stay-in workers – exceeded capacity by 16,796. There were a total of 52,526 people inhabiting the island prior to the closure.

This means that almost a third of the population in Boracay needs to be relocated. (WATCH: For residents, uncertainty looms over Boracay relocation plan)

The DENR is currently eyeing to relocate some 6,000 workers to mainland Malay town in Aklan. But this is a challenge, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu earlier said, as a relocation site has yet to be identified 5 months into the island's closure.

{source}<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-Q56D0" src="//datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Q56D0/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important;" height="167"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">if("undefined"==typeof window.datawrapper)window.datawrapper={};window.datawrapper["Q56D0"]={},window.datawrapper["Q56D0"].embedDeltas={"100":310,"200":226,"300":209,"400":184,"500":167,"700":167,"800":167,"900":167,"1000":167},window.datawrapper["Q56D0"].iframe=document.getElementById("datawrapper-chart-Q56D0"),window.datawrapper["Q56D0"].iframe.style.height=window.datawrapper["Q56D0"].embedDeltas[Math.min(1e3,Math.max(100*Math.floor(window.datawrapper["Q56D0"].iframe.offsetWidth/100),100))]+"px",window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if("undefined"!=typeof a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var b in a.data["datawrapper-height"])if("Q56D0"==b)window.datawrapper["Q56D0"].iframe.style.height=a.data["datawrapper-height"][b]+"px"});</script>{/source}

On regular days, the number of tourists in Boracay is not an issue. In 2017, an average of 18,255 tourists visited the island – well within the maximum allowed.

The cap, which set a total of 19,215 persons per day, was computed by following the World Tourism Organization standards for swimming and beach areas:

{source}<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-XW8md" src="//datawrapper.dwcdn.net/XW8md/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important;" height="303"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">if("undefined"==typeof window.datawrapper)window.datawrapper={};window.datawrapper["XW8md"]={},window.datawrapper["XW8md"].embedDeltas={"100":579,"200":395,"300":342,"400":342,"500":328,"700":303,"800":303,"900":289,"1000":289},window.datawrapper["XW8md"].iframe=document.getElementById("datawrapper-chart-XW8md"),window.datawrapper["XW8md"].iframe.style.height=window.datawrapper["XW8md"].embedDeltas[Math.min(1e3,Math.max(100*Math.floor(window.datawrapper["XW8md"].iframe.offsetWidth/100),100))]+"px",window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if("undefined"!=typeof a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var b in a.data["datawrapper-height"])if("XW8md"==b)window.datawrapper["XW8md"].iframe.style.height=a.data["datawrapper-height"][b]+"px"});</script>{/source}

But the problem becomes more evident during the peak months, when tourists crowd the island beyond its daily capacity as indicated in the study. The study recommended that only 6,405 tourists enter the island daily, assuming that they stay at least 3 days.

In 2017, the Department of Tourism found that the island exceeded its daily capacity during the months of February, April, and May. 

{source}<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-jl65h" src="//datawrapper.dwcdn.net/jl65h/2/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important;" height="400"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">if("undefined"==typeof window.datawrapper)window.datawrapper={};window.datawrapper["jl65h"]={},window.datawrapper["jl65h"].embedDeltas={"100":652,"200":512,"300":456,"400":417,"500":400,"700":386,"800":386,"900":386,"1000":386},window.datawrapper["jl65h"].iframe=document.getElementById("datawrapper-chart-jl65h"),window.datawrapper["jl65h"].iframe.style.height=window.datawrapper["jl65h"].embedDeltas[Math.min(1e3,Math.max(100*Math.floor(window.datawrapper["jl65h"].iframe.offsetWidth/100),100))]+"px",window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if("undefined"!=typeof a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var b in a.data["datawrapper-height"])if("jl65h"==b)window.datawrapper["jl65h"].iframe.style.height=a.data["datawrapper-height"][b]+"px"});</script>{/source}

The peak was during the month of April, when an excess of 1,969 tourists stayed on the island. This was followed by an extra 735 people in the month of May.

Aside from being a favorite summertime destination, tourists also flock to Boracay because of the annual Labor Day parties dubbed "Laboracay."

When Boracay reopens, the government will be giving out access cards to tourists in order to monitor the number of people going to the island. Flights to the Caticlan and Kalibo airports will be limited as well, to keep arrivals well within the threshold.

Moreover, parties on the beach will no longer be allowed.

Facilities

The study also found that the number of hotels and rooms being offered have exceeded the ideal number.

The Boracay inter-agency task force found that there are 525 hotels on the island. The figure is way above the 430 existing hotels and beach resorts in the DOT registry.

But the study said if the total number of allowed tourists will be followed, there should only be 249 hotels. This means there is a surplus of 276 hotels.

{source}<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-DWVjQ" src="//datawrapper.dwcdn.net/DWVjQ/2/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important;" height="230"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">if("undefined"==typeof window.datawrapper)window.datawrapper={};window.datawrapper["DWVjQ"]={},window.datawrapper["DWVjQ"].embedDeltas={"100":528,"200":334,"300":278,"400":261,"500":230,"700":230,"800":230,"900":213,"1000":213},window.datawrapper["DWVjQ"].iframe=document.getElementById("datawrapper-chart-DWVjQ"),window.datawrapper["DWVjQ"].iframe.style.height=window.datawrapper["DWVjQ"].embedDeltas[Math.min(1e3,Math.max(100*Math.floor(window.datawrapper["DWVjQ"].iframe.offsetWidth/100),100))]+"px",window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if("undefined"!=typeof a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var b in a.data["datawrapper-height"])if("DWVjQ"==b)window.datawrapper["DWVjQ"].iframe.style.height=a.data["datawrapper-height"][b]+"px"});</script>

{/source}

The number of hotel rooms is also way too excessive. There were 14,456 rooms, but the carrying capacity requires only 8,355 rooms. The number of existing facilities does not include the unregistered ones being rented out.

The government earlier suspended the environmental compliance certificates (ECCs) of all establishments on the island to check if they are compliant with local and national laws. Days before the dry run, the suspension was lifted to allow establishments to apply for necessary permits to operate.

On October 12, the government approved the permits of 68 hotels and resorts, which translates to a total of 3,519 rooms. The initial list of establishments consists of those who were able to comply with permit and clearance requirements of the interior and environment departments. 

Waste

The study also found that waste management remains to be a problem in an overly inhabited Boracay.

Assuming that the carrying capacity will be followed, the average weight of solid waste that will be generated should not exceed 80.77 tons per day.

But the study revealed that 90 tons of solid waste were generated daily in Boracay, which means an excess of around 9.23 tons per day. 

{source}<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-x2OqG" src="//datawrapper.dwcdn.net/x2OqG/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important;" height="204"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">if("undefined"==typeof window.datawrapper)window.datawrapper={};window.datawrapper["x2OqG"]={},window.datawrapper["x2OqG"].embedDeltas={"100":550,"200":353,"300":294,"400":221,"500":221,"700":204,"800":204,"900":204,"1000":204},window.datawrapper["x2OqG"].iframe=document.getElementById("datawrapper-chart-x2OqG"),window.datawrapper["x2OqG"].iframe.style.height=window.datawrapper["x2OqG"].embedDeltas[Math.min(1e3,Math.max(100*Math.floor(window.datawrapper["x2OqG"].iframe.offsetWidth/100),100))]+"px",window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if("undefined"!=typeof a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var b in a.data["datawrapper-height"])if("x2OqG"==b)window.datawrapper["x2OqG"].iframe.style.height=a.data["datawrapper-height"][b]+"px"});</script>{/source}

In addition, the island lacked facilities to treat wastewater. Prior to the closure, the island generated an estimated 18.23 million liters of wastewater daily. (READ: Boracay: From pristine island to fragile paradise) 

The current capacity of sewerage treatment plants (STP) is only at 12 million liters per day (MLD). Boracay Island Water Company's STP has an 11.5-MLD capacity, while Boracay Tubi has an 0.5-MLD capacity.

{source}<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-uBNhu" src="//datawrapper.dwcdn.net/uBNhu/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important;" height="179"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">if("undefined"==typeof window.datawrapper)window.datawrapper={};window.datawrapper["uBNhu"]={},window.datawrapper["uBNhu"].embedDeltas={"100":477,"200":325,"300":252,"400":210,"500":179,"700":179,"800":179,"900":162,"1000":162},window.datawrapper["uBNhu"].iframe=document.getElementById("datawrapper-chart-uBNhu"),window.datawrapper["uBNhu"].iframe.style.height=window.datawrapper["uBNhu"].embedDeltas[Math.min(1e3,Math.max(100*Math.floor(window.datawrapper["uBNhu"].iframe.offsetWidth/100),100))]+"px",window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if("undefined"!=typeof a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var b in a.data["datawrapper-height"])if("uBNhu"==b)window.datawrapper["uBNhu"].iframe.style.height=a.data["datawrapper-height"][b]+"px"});</script>{/source}

Establishments and households not connected to sewerage treatment plants triggered the increase of water pollution to extreme levels. (WATCH: How green can Boracay get?)

In a bid to address the lack of treatment facilities, the DENR in a memorandum dated September 18 required hotels and resorts along White Beach with 40 rooms and above to construct their own STPs. Those outside the said beach with 50 rooms and above were required to do the same.

Hotels along White Beach with less than 40 rooms, as well as those outside the said beach area, but with 49 rooms and below, have the option to do the same. They may choose to have a clustered STP.

The DENR said that all treatment plants should discharge Class SB water or treated domestic used water suitable for recreational activities such as swimming or skin diving.

Traffic volume

The study also identified heavy traffic congestion along Boracay roads, stretching from Cagban Port to Lake Town in Station 2.

The most dense among the routes is the Rotonda in Barangay Manoc-manoc to Kingfisher in Station 3. It has a traffic volume of 3,798.78 passenger-car unit (PCU) per hour, for a total length of roughly 200 meters for a two-way, two-lane road.

At its congested state, it might take a passenger around two hours and 25 minutes to travel from Cagban Port to Rotonda. The road from Cagban has an average of 1,938.6 PCU per hour.

The capacity of Boracay roads for one-lane streets and two-lane streets is only 720 PCU per hour and 1,200 PCU per hour, respectively. But routes from Cagban Port to Station 2 exceeded the said figures.

The public works department has a 5.2-kilometer road widening project from Cagban Port to Pinaungon in Balabag. Illegal structures affected by the 12-meter main road construction were demolished in late April. (WATCH: Demolitions on first day of Boracay shutdown)

Initially funded with P490 million, this "top priority project" is set to be completed during the second phase of rehabilitation works in Boracay, or by April next year. (LOOK: Boracay to open with war zone-like roads?)

The local government also ordered the shift to electric passenger tricycles, from the motorized tricycles that used to be the main mode of transportation on the island.

Rehabilitation

Boracay may reopen on October 26, but government officials said the island's full rehabilitation will not be completed by then.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Puyat said that only the first phase will be done this October, with only major road networks completed. The island's full rehabilitation is expected by December 2019.

Meanwhile, public works are expected to be done during the second phase. Sewerage systems, as constructed by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, should be done also by December 2019.

But these targets will only possible if the weather does not impede construction work, Puyat said.

Despite the "slow pace" of rehabilitation, groups such as the Boracay Foundation insisted that the closure should not be extended. (OPINION: Small people bear brunt of Boracay closure)

After all, thousands of workers were displaced due to the 6-month shutdown, forcing some to leave the island to look for other livelihood opportunities. Others opted to take the P323/day jobs offered by the government. (READ: 'Gov't assistance during Boracay closure not enough' – residents)

Still, locals believe that the rehabilitation is overdue. They are looking forward to the reopening of the island and the promise of a "new and improved Boracay." 

But when it reopens, Boracay won't be the same anymore. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – A "deviation" from the plan.

This was how Harry Roque described a series of events that threaten to derail a plan one year in the making – his 2019 senatorial bid.

Ironically, it was the man for whom he had put at stake his name, reputation, and principles, who had catalyzed the dizzying chain of events.

“Whatever has happened in the last few days were really major deviation from plans that even the President knew about,” said a beleaguered Roque on Tuesday, October 9.

Roque had reason to be concerned. Mere days away from filing his certificate of candidacy for senator, President Rodrigo Duterte had done 4 things that looked bad for Roque:

• Dismissing Roque’s chances of winning as senator in a public speech
• Not immediately telling Roque about his recent hospital visit
• Not sharing with Roque details of his Hong Kong trip 
  
• Naming Chief Presidential Counsel Salvador Panelo his new spokesman even before Roque announced his resignation

All this happened in a little over a week – from October 4, when Duterte gave a speech before Philippine Military Academy (PMA) alumni, to October 11, when presidential aide Bong Go announced Panelo would start his work as spokesman while Roque was on leave.

Duterte’s comments about Roque in front of PMA alumni might have partly been uttered to elicit laughter, but they did damage. 

Here was Roque counting on the endorsement of a popular president and the same president saying there’s no way he’ll win, even with that endorsement.

So close to the finish line, Roque did not expect any surprises. But surprised he was.

“Come on, for the past 5 or 6 months, he’s been calling me senator, for all intents and purposes, endorsing my bid for the Senate. So I was taken aback with his statement also with the PMA alumni. So it was a game changer so to speak. It was a change in tone,” he told reporters.

He said his agreement with Duterte was he would serve as his spokesman for only a year. This confirmed speculations that Roque was using the Malacañang post as a platform to prime the public for his senatorial bid.

The speculations became knowing smirks when Roque began holding press conferences in different parts of the country, including one in Cebu where fans bearing his face were distributed.

“When I came on board it was clear it was to be for a year. And the general context was, it was to prepare me for what will happen a year later,” Roque said on Friday, October 5.

Aside from voicing his doubts about Roque's chances in 2019, Duterte disclosed his Cardinal Santos Medical Center visit, which struck many – including the spokesman – as a blow to his credibility.

"It's difficult to continue unless people believe me and now I think people will not believe me because of the incident on his health," Roque said during an October 5 press briefing.

Not knowing about the hospital trip made Roque look like he had been lying to the public or that he had been kept out of the loop on purpose. Both are unflattering perceptions.

To be fair to Roque, he never outrightly claimed Duterte had not visited the hospital. In response to a reporter asking if Duterte had been “hospitalized,” he uttered the now infamous statement that had been turned into memes: “Absolutely no truth to it. He just took his day-off.”

Thus, Roque’s remark was truthful in that Duterte merely visited Cardinal Santos Medical Center and was not admitted as an in-house patient.

But most people didn’t see it that way.

Roque's tantrum

The day after Duterte’s speech, Roque spoke like a hurt lover.

In front of Palace reporters, he complained that he had been “kept in the dark.” 

“I do concede that his going to the diagnostic exam was something that I did not know and therefore I am inclined to believe that perhaps I am not in a position to continue with this kind of function,” he said before almost walking out.

Reporters persuaded him to stay and continue with the press conference where one television correspondent asked if his words, along with his attempt at a quick exit, meant he was resigning.

“Let’s just say I will think twice about my options. I need a weekend now to decide,” he said.

Roque also took the opportunity to gripe about a longstanding concern he had aired about before – almost a year as spokesman, his proposed executive order creating a separate Office of the Presidential Spokesperson had yet to be signed by Duterte.

Since there was no EO, Roque was dissuaded from hiring more personnel of his own. 

Then, he again alarmed reporters when he said he might not be holding press conferences the following week but eventually assured them he would announce his final decision – whether to run or stay – on Monday, October 8.

Indecision 

But come Monday, Roque was nowhere to be found. 

Media, some of whom already left their homes to be present at his highly-anticipated press briefing, were told he had taken a leave. 

The surprises weren’t over. Reporters were soon told Roque would be joining the Cabinet meeting that evening. He said he was on leave from holding press conferences, but not from his other functions.

Presidential aide Bong Go even shared a photo of Roque with him and other Cabinet members – former foreign secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and outgoing political adviser Francis Tolentino. The 3 were making childish poses, as if trying to grab Roque, while the spokesman smiled on.

Roque did not resign during the Cabinet meeting, as some thought he would.

The next day, and again to the shock of reporters, Roque held a press conference. This time, he said, he had to hold a briefing to make major announcements. 

Still, no decision had been made between Duterte and himself, he said. 

He denied taking a leave just to file his candidacy at the Commission on Elections.

That leave, he said, was requested a long time ago and was for him to attend a conference in China. He’d be back the following week. 

The confusing turn of events reflected Roque’s indecision which was eventually bared by Duterte himself the next day, Wednesday, October 10, when reporters had a chance to question him on his spokesman’s status.

It seemed the President himself was confused and even a bit frustrated by Roque’s indecision.

“It’s not my fault actually. Sabi niya tatakbo siya. Hindi siya tatakbo. Tatakbo. Tapos sabi ko – namili na kaagad ako. Para walang paralysis sa flow ng functions. Ngayon na hindi na siya tatakbo, hindi ko na alam kung saan siya ilagay. Eh pa-ano-ano siya eh,” said Duterte.

(He said he’s running. Not running. Running. Then I said – I had to choose quickly so there is no paralysis in the flow of functions. Now, he isn’t running but I don’t know where to put him. He’s always changing his mind.) 

In that press conference, Duterte announced he would replace Roque with Chief Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo. The official Malacañang order on Panelo's new designation would be signed two days after.

‘Cariño brutal’ 

What drove Duterte to deal what some would call a death blow to his spokesman’s own senatorial aspirations?

The President had no intention of abandoning Roque to the wolves. He had wanted Roque to stay on as his spokesman. In fact, Duterte was prepared to expand Roque’s portfolio by offering him the post of Press Secretary which would give Roque the powers of Presidential Communication Secretary Martin Andanar.

Duterte made Roque the offer moments before his PMA alumni speech where he thumbed down his spokesman's senatorial bid.

To some extent, Roque recognized this. 

“I think the manner by which he mentioned it was typical Duterte, ‘cariño brutal (tough love)’ if you need to put it. But I think he’s sent the message that he prefers me to stay,” the spokesman said.

But whether intended to harm or not, Duterte’s move struck most as a thousand times more damaging because of how Roque had gone out on a limb just for the President.

Say what you want about Roque, but he’s given defending Duterte his best shot. 

It was Roque who consistently took the punches, not just for Duterte but for the entire administration, for rising inflation, rice shortage, West Philippine Sea incidents, murders of mayors and teenagers, and the President’s own alarming statements. (READ: Duterte Dictionary: How Harry Roque interprets what the President says)

In Duterte’s name, Roque has saucily rebutted reporter’s questions, heaped scathing insults on former allies, and struck shaky alliances with pro-Duterte online personalities.

He’s had to mouth positions shockingly contrary to his own not a few years ago on issues said to be close to his heart – the International Criminal Court, international ruling on the West Philippine Sea, and press freedom. (READ: Harry Roque pirouettes for Duterte)

Several times, his old self came back to haunt him. Netizens unearthed his blog entry where he heaped praises on opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and a video where he urged his audience not to vote “self-professed murderer” Duterte for president.

But Roque bit the bullet and forged on, eyes on the prize. 

But will the prize elude him? What has he got to show for his tumultuous one-year stint as Duterte’s mouthpiece?

In March 2018, 5 months into being spokesman, Roque garnered a 70% awareness rating in Pulse Asia’ Research, Incorporated's senatorial survey. Based on the poll, 8.7% of respondents said they would vote for him, giving him a rank of 27th to 36th.

Come September, or a month before candidacy filing, that awareness rating increased only slightly to 76% but the percentage of respondents who said they would vote for him dipped to 7.7%. He slid in ranking to 29th to 36th. 

In short, the year spent bending over backwards for Duterte did not take him even in the vicinity of the vaunted Magic 12, the circle of probable winners that promises electoral victory.

Messy exit 

Duterte chose not to wait for Roque to announce his resignation before naming Panelo as his new spokesman, though possibly only temporarily.

Because Roque has not yet resigned and was not fired, as confirmed by Go, the President has two spokesmen at the moment.

Far away in China as headlines teased the tenuousness of his status, Roque adamantly told reporters that he would answer all queries on Monday, October 15. 

If this week was a week full of uncertainty for Roque, the next will be make or break. Will he forge on with his 2019 plans or stay with Duterte?

Will what his critics see as a deal with the devil bring 2019 victory or will Harry Roque lose his gamble on Duterte? – Rappler.com

Header image from Malacañang

MANILA, Philippines – Charter change is alive at the House of Representatives.  

Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 15, penned by no less than Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and 21 other legislators, is proposing the draft constitution that would shift the Philippines to a federal system of government. (READ: No set number of federal states under Arroyo's draft constitution)

This draft federal charter has been drawing flak for its provisions lifting term limits of legislators and removing Vice President Leni Robredo in the line of succession during the transition to federalism. 

Following criticism, Arroyo told Cebu City 1st District Representative Raul del Mar to make a motion at the plenary to recommit RBH 15 to the House committee on constitutional amendments, which is now expected to put the Vice President back in the line of succession. 

Constitutional amendments panel chairperson Vicente Veloso said the House is targeting to pass RBH 15 on 3rd and final reading by February or March 2019.

But it will be an uphill battle because senators already said the draft federal charter would be "dead on arrival" at the Senate.

Here are highlights of the House's draft federal constitution as compared with the 1987 Constitution:

Preamble

• No changes

Article I – National Territory

• Adds a new phrase that says the Philippines has sovereignty over territorial islands, waters, and airspace "recognized under our domestic laws, international laws and conventions, and judgments of competent international courts and tribunals."

Article II – Declaration of Principles and State Policies

• Removes the 1987 Constitution's anti-political dynasty provision
• Adds a new line saying the State shall recognize "regional autonomy towards federalism within the framework of national unity and the Constitution"
• Adds a phrase saying the State "condemns any act of terrorism"
• The "Government of the Philippines," not the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), is the protector of the people and the State. But the AFP still has the goal of securing the sovereignty of the State and the integrity of the national territory.
• Relations between church and State shall be inviolable and "shall be governed by benevolent neutrality"
• Adds a new line for the State to give the "highest priority" to the enactment of measures that "protect and enhance" the right of every person to human dignity; reduce social, economic, and political inequalities; and remove cultural inequities by equitably distributing wealth and diffusing political power for the common good.
• Adds a new line that says the State shall now protect and promote the right of all citizens to "quality education at all levels" and to take the necessary steps to make such education accessible to all
• Adds a new line saying the State shall "foster the preservation, enrichment, and evolution of a Filipino national culture"
• Adds a new line for the State to prioritize research and development, invention, innovation, and their utilizaiton
• Workers will have the right to self-organization, collective bargaining and negotiation, peaceful concerted activities, equitable treatment and freedom from discrimination on matters of employment tenure, working conditions, and wage levels. The State will also regulate worker-employer relations.
• Removes the State's policy to "promote comprehensive rural development and agrarian reform" in the present Constitution. Instead, the State shall promote "rural development, higher agricultural productivity, and equitable land ownership arrangements."
• Removes the State's policy to encourage non-governmental, community-based, or sectoral organizations that promote the welfare of the nation
• Removes the State's policy to "ensure the autonomy of local governments"

Article III – Bill of Rights

• No major changes, just minor changes in style (like from "he" to "their")

Article IV – Bill of Duties

• This entirely new section makes it the duty of every citizen to "be loyal to the Republic of the Philippines, honor the Philippine flag, defend the State, contribute to its development and welfare, uphold the constitution and obey the laws, pay taxes, and cooperate with the duly constituted authorities in the attainment and maintenance of the rule of law and of a peaceful, just, humane, and orderly society."
• The clause recognizing the value of the dignity of every human person and the guarantee on the full respect for human rights – which is in the Declaration of Principles and State Policies in the current Constitution – is under this new section.

Article V – Citizenship

• No changes 

Article VI – Suffrage

• Exempts "qualified Filipinos abroad under the system for absentee voting" from the requirement to have resided in the Philippines for at least one year, and in the place where they propose to vote for at least 6 months immediately preceding the election 

Article VII – Political Parties

• An entirely new section that brings back the two-party system in the country
• The first two "dominant" parties which would garner the most number of electoral seats during the first national elections under federalism would be the official parties.

Article VIII – The Legislative Department

• Removes the provisions imposing a two-term limit for senators and a 3-term limit for district and party-list representatives
• Instead of just being able to read and write, senators and members of the House of Representatives will be required to have a college degree. But this requirement will not apply to those already elected before ratification of the new constitution.
• Each term for lawmakers will be 4 years long.
• Increases the number of House members to not more than 300 elected from legislative districts. Party-list representatives will still constitute 20% of the total number of representatives, including those under the party list.
• Reduces the number of Supreme Court (SC) justices in the Electoral Tribunal to just 3, while the remaining 6 seats will be allotted for members of the Senate or the House. The most senior SC justice in the Electoral Tribunal is still chairperson.
• The Speaker, not the Senate President, will be the chairperson of the Commission on Appointments.
• Gives Congress the power to increase appropriations for the legislative branch and the judicial department more than the allocations recommended by the President
• Adds a new line requiring the creation of a bicameral conference committee to reconcile conflicting provisions of the House and Senate versions of a bill passed on 3rd and final reading
• A new line allows the removal of lawmakers from office "through recall as may be provided by law"

Article IX – Executive Department

• The president and the vice president must be from the same party and shall be elected as a team. A vote for the presidential candidate will also be counted as a vote for his or her running mate.
• The president and the vice president will each serve a term of 4 years and will be eligible for one reelection. 
• Increases the age qualification for presidential and vice presidential candidates to at least 45 years old on the day of the elections. They are also required to have earned college degrees.
• Like in the present Constitution, the Vice President is next in line should the President die, have a permanent disability, be removed from office, or resign. 
• Specifies that the President has the power to grant amnesty with the concurrence of a majority of all the members of Congress, which will be voting separately
• Adds a new line in Section 21 saying that no foreign military bases, troops, and facilities may be allowed in the Philippines except under a treaty concurred in by the Senate. If Congress requires it, the treaty will also have to be ratified by a majority of the votes cast by the people in a national referendum.

Article X – The Judiciary

• Instead of a Judicial and Bar Council, a Judicial Appointments and Disciplinary Council will be created to recommend appointees to the judiciary. Ex-officio members include the SC chief justice, SC court administrator, representative from the Senate minority, representative from the House minority, Civil Service Commission (CSC) chairperson, and Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary. The regular members are a representative from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, a law professor designated by the Philippine Association of Law Schools, and a retired member of the SC to be designated by the Association of the Retired Justices of the Supreme Court.

Article XI – Constitutional Commissions

• Includes the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) among the list of independent constitutional commissions. The CHR will have the power to investigate all forms of human rights violations involving civil and political rights.
• Removes the provision establishing a free and open party system in the 1987 Constitution
• Adds a new line saying the power of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to investigate and cause the prosecution of election-related crimes shall be vested in the DOJ

Article XII – Local Governments and Federal States 

• The territorial and political subdivisions of the Philippines are the provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays. But new provisions give these political units the option to become a federal state.
• Does not impose a specific number of federal states to be established
• Sets term of office for elective local officials to 4 years, except for barangay officials, "which shall be determined by law"
• A federal state may be created upon a petition addressed to Congress by contiguous, compact, and adjacent provinces, highly urbanized and component cities, and cities and municipalities in metropolitan areas through a "resolution of their respective bodies." The resolution must be approved by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite to be held in the political units affected.
• In "exceptional cases," a province may be established as a federal state based on area; population; necessity; geographical distance; environmental, economic, and fiscal viability; and "other special attributes."
• A federal state will be led by a unicameral territorial assembly, whose members shall be elective and representative of the constituent political units.
• Gives Congress the task of passing an organic act that will define the basic structure of government for the federal states
• Federal states must support the national government in "maintaining the integrity and independence of the Republic and shall comply with and enforce this constitution and all national laws."
• When a law of a federal state or a local government is inconsistent with the national law, the latter will prevail.
• A federal state will have jurisdiction over the following:
• Administrative organization, planning, budget, and management
• Creation of sources of revenues and finance
• Agriculture and fisheries
• Natural resources, energy, environment, indigenous-appropriate technologies and inventions
• Trade, industry, and tourism
• Labor and employment
• Public works and transportation, except railways, shipping, and aviation
• Health and social welfare
• Education and the development of language, culture, arts
• Ancestral domain and natural resources
• Housing, land use and development 

Article XIII – Accountability of Public Officers

• Adds a new line that will include in the list of public officers the directors and trustees who represent the interests of the State in government-owned or controlled corporations with original charters as well as persons appointed to official positions in these entities
• Removes the phrase "other high crimes or betrayal of public trust" among the reasons to impeach the president, vice president, SC justices, members of constitutional commissions, and the Ombudsman
• Removes the requirement for the Ombudsman to have at least 10 years or more serving as a judge or engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines. Instead, "the Ombudsman must have at least been a judge or engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines."
• Removes the line saying public officers and employees owe the State and the constitution "allegiance at all times"

Article XIV – National Economy and Patrimony

• Removes provision saying the State shall "promote industrialization and full employment based on sound agricultural development and agrarian reform"
• Instead of Congress being tasked to "create an agency to promote the viability and growth of cooperatives," the legislative branch will only be tasked "to strengthen the viability and growth of cooperatives"
• Congress will be tasked to periodically review the social and economic viability of government owned or controlled corporations "as often as may be deemed necessary," but at least once every 5 years.
• Adds a new line directing the State to enhance the economic efficiency and promote free competition in trade, industry, and commercial activities. No anti-competitive agreement or abuse of dominant position allowed.
• Specifies that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will be the central monetary authority unless "Congress otherwise provides"

Article XV – General Provisions

• Imposes a fixed term "as prescribed by law" for the tour of duty of the chief of staff, vice chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, and chiefs of major services of the AFP. The president is allowed to extend this tour of duty by just one year in times of war declared by Congress or "in the interest of defense and national emergency as determined" by the president.
• Removes the line establishing one national police force
• Removes the line saying the ownership and management of mass media "shall be limited to citizens of the Philippines or to corporations, cooperatives or associations, wholly-owned and managed by such citizens"
• Removes the line limiting the engagement in the advertising industry just for Filipino citizens or corporations or associations with at least 70% of the capital owned by Filipinos. Also removes the line limiting the participation of foreign investors in the governing body of entities based on their proportionate share in the capital.
• Adds a new provision exempting from the payment of taxes and duties all revenues and assets of non-stock, non-profit educational institutions used actually, directly, and exclusively for educational purposes
• A new line also directs the State to assign the "highest budget priority" to education

Article XVI – Amendments or Revisions

• No changes

Article XVII – Transitory Provisions

• Puts the Senate president – not the vice president – as next in line should the president be unable to perform his functions
• All branches of the government will function in a transitory character until all their successors are elected or appointed and are duly qualified.
• The term of the president and the vice president will end on June 30, 2022 and will not be extended.
• Bars the incumbent President from running for the same position during the 2022 elections 
• Sets the first national and local elections for the new president, vice president, senators, representatives, and local officials on the second Monday of May 2022. They will assume office at 12 pm on June 30, 2022.
• Upon ratification of the new constitution, the incumbent President and Vice President will continue exercising their powers and functions until the election of their successors.
• Seats allocated for party-list representatives shall be filled by election in accordance with Republic Act No. 7941 or the Party-list System for the May 2022 National Elections. 
• All existing laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, letters of instructions, and other executive issuances "not inconsistent with this Constitution" shall remain operative until amended, repealed, or revoked.
• All existing treaties or international agreements which have not been ratified will not be renewed or extended without concurrence of at least 2/3 of all senators
• All courts existing when the new constitution is ratified will continue exercising their jurisdiction "until otherwise provided by law."
• Incumbent members of the judiciary will be in office until they reach the age of 70, become incapacitated to perform their duties, or are removed for cause or by the abolition of their office.
• Within 6 months after the new constitution's ratification, the SC, Court of Appeals, Court of Tax Appeals, and the Sandiganbayan must adopt a systematic plan to expedite the decision or resolution of pending cases.
• The legal effect of the lapse of the applicable period for the decision or resolution of the cases or matters submitted for adjudication by the courts before the ratification of the new constitution will be determined by the SC "as soon as practicable."
• Incumbent members of the CSC, Comelec, and the Commission on Audit will stay in office for one year after the ratification of the new constitution, unless they are "sooner removed for cause," become incapacitated to perform their duties, or have been appointed to a new term. No member shall serve longer than 7 years, including the service before the ratification of the new constitution.
• Gives separation pay and retirement and other benefits to career civil service employees who are separated from the service "not for cause" but as a result of the reorganization under the new constitution
• The constitution will "take effect immediately" upon its ratification by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite and will supersede all previous constitutions.  

Read below the full copy of RBH No. 15:

– Rappler.com

With presidential aide Bong Go filing his candidacy for senator on Tuesday, October 15, efforts have been undertaken to ensure the Chief Executive will never lack a special assistant.

Duterte revealed on Tuesday, October 9, that Go's replacement as his top aide may be a woman.

Three independent sources in Malacañang told Rappler that Davao City lawyer Charmalou "Sweetheart" Aldevera is being considered to take over Go's functions.

She is said to already be undergoing "training" to prepare her for the high-stakes job as the Chief Executive's assistant. 

Aldevera did not wish to be contacted for this story. Go also has not replied to Rappler's queries.

Paolo's childhood friend

Aldevera was legal counsel to the President's good friend, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

She had been on the frontlines for him in 2015 when it was found that Kingdom of Jesus Christ members had distributed the durian candies that poisoned over a thousand people in Surigao del Sur.

But Aldevera also enjoys warm ties with Duterte's own family members.

Former Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte counts her as a childhood friend. She even served as his lawyer, representing him when the Board of Canvassers proclaimed his electoral victory in May 2016.

Aldevera was a crucial member of President Duterte's 2016 campaign team, serving as its sortie secretariat head.

In 2015, she had been named Davao City Water District director.

SAP title?

Whoever Go's replacement will be, another question is, will they be given his title of Special Assistant to the President (SAP), which comes with the title of "Secretary" and a seat in Cabinet meetings?

The Office of the SAP was especially created for Go. No other administration has had a SAP since Go's functions nowadays were usually carried out in previous administrations by the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) head and presidential assistants.

Duterte has heavily relied on Go to call up persons or arrange meetings, monitor the government projects or initiatives particularly important to him, and choose appointees.

Part of this reliance is borne out of two decades of working together. Go became Duterte's assistant in 1998, when he was still a congressman.

In those years, Go and Duterte weathered political highs and lows together. In his own words, Go was Duterte's "utility man," doing everything from buying his groceries to bringing him to the hospital. (READ: The man they call Bong Go)

It would be hard to match that level of trust and intimacy for any Go replacement.

But then Go himself said he'll likely still be seen beside the President even if he runs for senator.

While doing so means he is deemed automatically resigned from his post as SAP, nothing will stop him from assisting the President even without receiving a salary.

"Kung gusto ko magsilbe sa isang tao na libre at walang sahod hindi naman bawal 'yun (If I want to serve a person even without pay, that's not prohibited)," said Go in a radio DZXL interview on Tuesday. – Rappler.com

Claim: Two Facebook albums show various "achievements" by the current administration which are allegedly not reported by the "mainstream media."

On September 11, Facebook user Evets Fabz posted 26 photos of the administration's achievements in an album which has garnered at least 22,000 reactions, 33 comments, and 83,000 shares as of October 11.

Facebook user GD Garcia posted 10 more photos on September 14. The album had 4,900 reactions, 49 comments, and 25,000 shares as of October 15.

Both albums consisted of content from Facebook page "Flying Ketchup" which has a following of at least 150,000 users. It reports on the administration's achievements.

Rating: MIXED

The facts: Most of the issues were reported by media outlets, contrary to the claim.

Here is a list of the 40 headlines listed in the Facebook albums, and links to news reports about it by news organizations.

Out of the 40, at least 33 were reported on by at least one news organization.

"Boracay rebuilds drainage system with latest technology"

• TIEZA eyes completion of Boracay drainage system by late 2019, ABS-CBN News, July 16, 2018 (pre-construction)

• DPWH applies modern road, drainage approach in Boracay, Business Mirror, August 2, 2018

"Navotas fishport gets P225-M for upgrade"

• Rehab sa Navotas fish port ikakasa na, Pilipino Star Ngayon, August 10, 2018

• Govt allots P225M to Navotas fishport, The Manila Times, August 14, 2018

"P700-M rehabilitation center rises in Bukidnon"

• Duterte opens Chinese-donated Bukidnon drug rehab center, Rappler, August 3, 2018

• P700M rehabilitation center rises in Bukidnon, Manila Bulletin, August 3, 2018

"NIA Chief turns over irrigation projects in Basilan"

• NIA turns over 5 irrigation projects to Basilan groups, Business Mirror, August 9, 2018

"DOST to unveil 'historic' 1st batch of 21st century-model classrooms"

• DOST inaugurates 21st CLEM Classroom, Manila Bulletin, August 14, 2018

• Lipa unveils 21st CLEM classrooms on Monday—DOST, Manila Standard, August 11, 2018

"P2.1B set to upgrade 6 airports"

• P2.1 billion set aside for upgrade of 6 VisMin airports, SunStar Cebu, August 12, 2018

• P2.1 B set to upgrade 6 airports, Manila Bulletin, August 13, 2018

"P200M friendship dome in Marawi City"

• Filipino-Chinese 'friendship dome' to rise in Marawi, Rappler, August 15, 2018

• Marawi – Filipino Chinese Friendship Dome, MindaNews, August 15, 2018

"More than 9,000 Dole PH workers to be regularized soon - DOLE"

• More than 9,000 Dole PH workers to be regularized soon – DOLE, Manila Bulletin, August 22, 2018

• Dole Philippines ordered to regularize over 9,000 workers, The Manila Times, August 17, 2018

"P44-B fund for Solar Power Irrigation Systems across PH receives go signal"

• Government to spend P43.7 billion for solar irrigation systems, Business Mirror, August 7, 2018 (pre-approval)

"More than half a million foreign tourists visited PH in July"

• More than half a million foreign tourists visited PH in July, Manila Bulletin, August 23, 2018

"DPWH completes new evacuation center in Ilocos Norte"

• 7 evacuation centers to rise in Ilocos region, Manila Bulletin, August 25, 2017 (pre-construction)

"BOC posts P2 billion revenue surplus in August"

• Customs exceeds revenue target in August by over P2B, GMA News, September 4, 2018

• Customs’s August revenue surplus hits P2.326 billion, Business Mirror, September 4, 2018

• BOC exceeds revenue goal for 7th-straight month in August, Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 4, 2018

"Construction sector posts 4 million jobs in 2018"

• Government offers more than 450k jobs in construction sector, Manila Standard, August 2, 2018 (figure is mentioned in story)

• Jobs, Jobs, Jobs: Construction sector posts 4 M jobs, Manila Bulletin, August 4, 2018

"DAR provides farm machines to farmers orgs"

• Ilocos Sur farmers get equipment from DAR, Business Mirror, August 16, 2018
  

• 13 ARBOs in Ilocos Sur receive P17 M worth of farm machineries, Manila Bulletin, August 20, 2018

"DAR distributes 112.32 hectares of land in Cavite"

• 160 Cavite farmers receive CLOAs from DAR, Manila Bulletin, August 27, 2018

• Cavite farmers get land titles under CARPer, Business Mirror, August 27, 2018

“More than 2,000 hectares of lands in Caraga set for distribution"

• More than 2,000 hectares of lands in Caraga set for distribution, Manila Bulletin, September 6, 2018

"President Duterte signs Occupational Safety and Health Law"

• New law aims to ensure safer workplaces, Rappler, August 20, 2018

• Duterte signs Occupational Safety and Health law, Manila Bulletin, August 20, 2018

• Duterte signed stronger occupation safety law, Villanueva says, GMA News, August 20, 2018

• Duterte signs occupational safety law, Cebu Daily News, August 20, 2018

• Duterte signs law ensuring safety in workplaces, CNN Philippines, August 20, 2018

• Duterte signs workers' safety law, ABS-CBN News, August 20, 2018

• Duterte strengthens occupational safety, healthy standards, SunStar, August 20, 2018

"President Duterte pledges P25M assistance for PNP's medicines, hospitalization"

• Duterte to shoulder P25M police hospital bills monthly, Rappler, August 8, 2018

• Duterte pledges P25M for cops’ medical expenses, GMA News, August 8, 2018

• Duterte pledges P25M a month for cops' medical bills, SunStar, August 8, 2018

"Mactan-Cebu Int’l Airport Terminal 2 unveiled"

• Duterte leads inauguration of new Mactan airport passenger terminal, Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 7, 2018

• Cebu's new pride: Mactan-Cebu International Airport Terminal 2, ABS-CBN News, June 8, 2018

• Mactan-Cebu airport's new terminal to begin operations on July 1, Rappler, June 28, 2018

"17.9-M expansion and rehab of Kalibo Airport to start July 2"

• Kalibo airport rehabilitation to begin on July 2, Rappler, July 1, 2018

• Kalibo International Airport rehabilitation starts, Business World, July 1, 2018

• P17.9-M expansion and rehab of Kalibo Airport to start July 2, The Manila Times, July 2, 2018

"DPWH-UP signs MOA on construction, renovation of 20 UP school facilities"

• 20 building projects in various UP campuses slated – DPWH, Manila Bulletin, September 11, 2018
  

• DPWH to do P2.76 billion worth of projects in UP campuses, Business Mirror, September 11, 2018

"Duterte hikes Asian Games gold winners’ bonus P8-M each"

• Duterte lauds Asian Games medalists, Manila Bulletin, September 12, 2018

• Asian Games medalists get another surprise from Duterte, Rappler, September 12, 2018

"Foreign investment pledges surge 70% in Q2"

• Approved foreign investment pledges up by 70% in second quarter, Business World, September 6, 2018

• Foreign investment pledges surged 70.4% in Q2, Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 7, 2018

"DPWH inaugurates 3 new bridges in Pampanga and Bataan"

• DPWH opens new bridges in Pampanga, Bataan, Business World, September 6, 2018

• 3 bridges replacing old ones opened in Pampanga, Bataan, Manila Bulletin, September 7, 2018

"PH bags US$82.9 million investment deals from Israel"

• PH, Israeli businessmen sign 21 deals during Duterte trip, Rappler, September 5, 2018

• PHL, Israel sign business deals worth nearly $83M, GMA News, September 5, 2018

• $82.9-million in business deals signed during Duterte's Israel visit, ABS-CBN News, September 5, 2018

• $82.9M in business deals signed during Duterte's Israel trip, Philippine Star, September 5, 2018

• PH signs ₱4.4 billion investment deals with Israel, CNN Philippines, September 5, 2018

• Philippines, Israel firm up three deals on labor, trade, Manila Standard, September 5, 2018

• PH secures US$82.9-M investment deals from Israel, Manila Bulletin, September 6, 2018

"DPWH completes P50-million slope protection structure in Samar"

• P50M slope protection project completed, Samar News, May 15, 2018

• DPWH completes P49.9-M slope protection project in Samar, SunStar, September 11, 2018

"Employment rate rises to 10-year high"

• 10-year high: Employment rate inches up to 94.6% in July, Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 5, 2018

• Jobless rate eases, underemployment rises in July 2018, Philippine Star, September 6, 2018

"DAR, DSWD, to increase 36k farmers' income through livelihood projects"

• DAR, DSWD roll out livelihood programs to boost farmers’ incomes, Manila Bulletin, September 8, 2018

"Joblessness down by 19.7% – SWS"

• SWS: Job optimism down even as joblessness rate drops in Q2, Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 13, 2018

• Survey says joblessness drops in PH by 19.7%, Manila Bulletin, September 13, 2018

• Fewer Filipinos jobless at 8.6 million in June 2018 – SWS, Rappler, September 13, 2018

• Joblessness drops to 19.7% in Q2 2018: SWS, ABS-CBN News, September 13, 2018

• SWS survey: Joblessness down in Q2, The Manila Times, September 14, 2018

• Adult joblessness rate drops to 19.7% in 2nd quarter — SWS, Business World, September 14, 2018

"Three Philippine chocolate brands wow in Academy chocolate Awards in London"

• Philippines chocolate brands among world’s best, Philippine Star, July 22, 2018
  

"Mushrooms growing brings sustainable income to ex-OFW"

• 'Mushroom-ing' career, Manila Bulletin, August 13, 2018

"Japan turns over BSL-3 lab to PH"

• Japan turns over lab to Phl in fight vs diseases, Philippine Star, September 5, 2018

• Japan aids in scientific research outcomes, health-care delivery,BusinessMiror, September 13, 2018

"Senior citizens received long-awaited certificates of land ownership from DAR"

• 30th Anniversary DAR gives land titles to Bohol farmers, The Freeman, August 31, 2018

Here are the news bits reported only by government agencies:

"IPs and residents receive agri-fishery aid"

• IPs and residents receive agri-fishery aid, Department of Agriculture (DA), August 9, 2018

"DOLE provides employment to 467 Zamboanga indigents"

• DOLE provides employment to 467 Zamboanga indigents, Philippine News Agency (PNA), August 13, 2018

"DPWH-10 allocates P1.84-B fund for flood mitigation projects in CDO"

• DPWH 10 allocates P1.84B fund for flood mitigation projects in CDO, Philippine Information Agency (PIA), August 28, 2018

"Iligan City to bring back National Steel Corporation"

• Iligan City to bring back National Steel Corporation, PIA, June 18, 2018

"5,000 farmers graduate from DA’s School-on-the-Air program"

• 5,000 farmers graduate from DA’s School-on-the-Air program, PIA, August 31, 2018

"1,233 farmer-beneficiaries in Western Samar receives agri lands from DAR"

• 1,233 farmer-beneficiaries in Western Samar receives agri lands from DAR, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), August 30, 2018

"IAs, rice farmers coops receive hauling trucks from DA"

• DA 12 turns-over new hauling trucks to three IAs, rice farmer coops in SouthCot, Provincial Government of South Cotabato, August 12, 2018

— Miguel Imperial/Rappler.com

If you suspect a Facebook page, group, account, a website, or an article is spreading false information, let Rappler know by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time. 

He was defense minister during the Marcos dictatorship, architect of Martial Law, former Senate president, and senator for many years.

Then he became a "businesswoman."

That's according to the certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator that Enrile's lawyer, Joseph Sagandoy, submitted on his behalf around 3 pm on Tuesday, October 16.

The 94-year-old Enrile – a veteran of many elections and COC filing periods – is running as independent candidate in the 2019 polls.

Two hours after Enrile filed his COC through his lawyer, reporters learned that they have amended the COC.

Enrile's team erased the letters "w" and "o" using correction fluid.

As of 5 pm on Tuesday, Enrile's profession is now "businessman." – Rapler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Wednesday, October 15, finally sealed his bid for a seat in the Senate.

Filing his certificate of candidacy (COC) with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), he ended days of uncertainty that had frustrated even President Rodrigo Duterte.

The former human rights lawyer's indecision and ever-changing plans stemmed from a public statement by Duterte that he shouldn't run for senator because he wouldn't win. 

What happened during these days of indecision? Here is a short timeline.

October 4, 2018 

President Rodrigo Duterte on October 4 expresses his opinion about Roque’s bid for a Senate seat. In a speech before alumni of the Philippine Military Academy, he says his spokesperson will lose because he’s not supported by the military. 

Roque also confirms that the President, during a command conference later that day, asked him to stay, offering him another position.

"We had a command conference where the President asked me to stay and offered me a position, which currently does not exist yet. While there was no categorical agreement on what to do, I did say I would consider it and I wanted the weekend to think it over," says Roque. 

October 9

Roque confirms he has already shot for his campaign ad despite being unsure of his plans because “it’s been paid for.”

“We’ve had plans. Whatever’s happend in the last few days were really major deviations from plans,” he says during a press briefing. 

Later in the day, in a chance interview, Duterte says he is frustrated about what’s unraveling..

“It’s not my fault actually. Sabi niya tatakbo siya, hindi siya tatakbo, tatakbo. Tapos sabi ko – namili na kaagad ako. Para walang paralysis sa flow ng functions. Ngayon na hindi na siya tatakbo, hindi ko na alam kung saan siya ilagay. Eh paano-ano siya eh,” he said.

(He said he’s running, not running, running. Then I said – I had to choose quickly so there would be no paralysis in the flow of functions. Now that he isn’t running, I don’t know anymore where to put him. He’s dilly-dallying.)

October 11

Kabayan party-list group says Roque reached out to them, his former group, hoping to be named as a nominee for the 2019 elections.  

The group, in a statement, says they are “quite pleased that Mr Roque considers the value of Kabayan party list, even at this very late hour,” but emphasizes that he is not a member anymore.

In January 2017, Kabayan’s board of trustees decided to remove Roque as a member – a move he contested before the Commission on Elections.

Roque denies that he sent feelers to Kabayan.

October 12

Duterte says he will talk to Roque regarding his indecisiveness over his plans to run.

“Bigla akong nahilo, saan ba tayo pupunta nito? I’ll just talk to him better. Ano ba talaga? Tatakbo, hindi, tatakbo, hindi?" Duterte told reporters. “Buti pa paabutin 'yan ng 2021, longer space to make a choice with finality.”

(I got confused, where are we going with this? I’ll just talk to him better. What’s really the plan? Are you running or not? Maybe it’s better if it reaches 2021, longer space to make a choice with finality.)

October 15

Roque announces on October 15 that he will be a nominee of Luntiang Pilipinas the party list.

Luntiang Pilipinas was established in 1998 as an urban forestry program by Senator Loren Legarda.  A 2003 Newsbreak report found that it failed to deliver on its environmental thrusts.

Roque says he will file his certificate of nomination and certificate of acceptance of nomination to be a representative of Luntiang Pilipinas.

Explaining his decision-making process, Roque says Duterte adviced him to work for a seat in the House of Representatives, adding that the Senate race is already crowded.

"The decision to go for Congress is an advice I took," he says. 

October 16

Roque is a no-show at the Commission on Elections on the day he was supposed to file certificate of nomination and certificate of nomination acceptance as party-list representative for Luntiang Pilipinas. 

October 17 

Roque finally appears at the Comelec to file his COC for senator. 

The former presidential spokesperson will run under the the People’s Reform Party, adding that it was Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio, the President's daughter, who arranged his nomination from the political party of the late senator Miriam Defensor Santiago.

He says he hopes to become the "voice of Santiago" if he wins.

He also wishes that Duterte will endorse him because “he is the best president under existing conditions, and I will continue to defend the President.” – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – There are 152 names on the roster of senatorial hopefuls for the 2019 elections.

There were a lot of private citizens – businessmen, labor leaders, activists – who filed their certificates of candidacy for senator.

There are also familiar faces that already graced the public spotlight in one way or another in the past. 

But perhaps the most “familiar” of them all are those who have been accused of violating certain laws.

The Local Government Code and the Omnibus Election Code state that only those convicted with finality of crimes punishable by at least 12 months of imprisonment are disqualified from holding public office.

Rappler lists the senatorial aspirants who are currently facing cases, complaints, or probes, as well as those who have been acquitted or the cases against them dismissed. 

ONGOING CASE, COMPLAINT, OR INVESTIGATION

Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada
Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino

Former senator Jinggoy Estrada is facing plunder and graft charges for allegedly misusing P183.793 million of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). (READ: Pork barrel: A story of corruption)

He was granted bail in 2017 after more than 3 years in detention, after Sandiganbayan Special 5th Division said the evidence, so far, did not point to him as a "main plunderer.” 

But the Supreme Court, in August 2018, affirmed the charges against him. (DOCUMENTS: SC decision, dissent in upholding Estrada plunder)

Juan Ponce Enrile
Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino

Former senator Juan Ponce Enrile is facing plunder and graft charges in relation to the pork barrel corruption scandal too. The 94-year-old politician and former defense minister is accused of pocketing P172 million out of the P345 million PDAF from his office that was diverted to fake non-governmental organizations. (TIMELINE: Enrile and the pork barrel scam)

He was granted bail in 2015 after more than a year under hospital arrest. 

His filing of his certificate of candidacy makes him the oldest senatorial hopeful in the current roster. (READ: Enrile, 94: Who knows? I might outlive other senators) 

Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr 
Lakas-CMD

Former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr is facing one count of plunder and 16 counts of graft after allegedly receiving P224.5 million in commission from his misused pork barrel. He is awaiting decision on his case after his Sandiganbayan trial ended in August 2018. (READ: Trial wraps for Revilla: Did prosecution tie loose ends?)

He filed his COC through his wife, Bacoor City Mayor Lani Mercado Revilla.

Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos
Nacionalista Party

The provincial government of Ilocos Norte headed by Imee Marcos is the subject of a motu proprio investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman in relation to the misuse of tobacco funds. 

The House committee on good government and public accountability also recommended the filing of administrative and criminal charges against officials for purchasing vehicles amounting to P64.45 million without public bidding.

Although the committee did not list the officials to be charged, they said in a later statement that it was Marcos who requested the purchase of the vehicles.

Bureau of Corrections Director General Ronald dela Rosa
PDP-Laban

Former Philippine National Police chief and recently-resigned BuCor chief Ronald dela Rosa is one of the respondents in a complaint filed by Edgar Matobato before the Office of the Ombudsman in relation to killings allegedly carried out by the Davao Death Squad (DDS). 

Dela Rosa was Davao City police chief during the time of Rodrigo Duterte was mayor. 

In August 2017, then-ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales confirmed that a preliminary investigation was ongoing. 

The Office of the Ombudsman had also investigated the possible liability of Dela Rosa for accepting an all-expenses paid trip to Las Vegas from Senator Manny Pacquiao.

Dela Rosa is also named in the communications filed by several groups before the International Criminal Court in relation to the violent war on drugs by President Duterte.

Larry Gadon
Kilusang Bagong Lipunan

Lawyer Larry Gadon is facing at least two disbarment cases over his offensive actions and remarks deemed by many groups as not befitting a lawyer.  

In 2016, lawyers Algamar Latiph and Musa Malayang filed a complaint agains Gadon for improper conduct after he made an anti-Muslim remark on national television. 

In 2017, another group of lawyers filed a disbarment case against Gadon for “gross misconduct, gross immoral conduct, and violations of the lawyer’s oath.” The lawyers cited an incident where he cursed and flashed the middle finger at supporters of then Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno in Baguio City.

Jude Sabio
Independent

Lawyer Jude Sabio is facing a warrant of arrest for non-payment of fine after he was found to have appeared before a court despite non-compliance with the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) requirements.  

Sabio, who represented self-confessed DDS hitman Matobato, has filed an urgent motion to lift his arrest warrant. He told Rappler that this was the reason he didn’t personally file his COC with the Commission on Elections.

DISMISSED CASES OR ACQUITTED

Jose Victor “JV” Ejercito
Nationalist People's Coalition

Senator JV Ejercito, together with 5 others, was acquitted in December 2016 by the Sandiganbayan of graft charges for allegedly misusing the calamity funds of San Juan City when he was mayor.

The case alleged that P2.1 million in calamity funds were unlawfully diverted for purchase of high-powered firearms for the local police in 2008. The graft court’s 5th decision, in its resolution, said the prosecution’s evidence failed to overcome the presumption of innocence.

The Commission on Elections, in 2014, also sued Ejercito for supposedly overspending in his San Juan congressional campaign in 2010, but no judgement has been rendered yet. 

Ejercito is a reelectionist, but will be using "Ejercito Estrada JV" as his official name in the 2019 ballots, to take advantage of the popularity of the surname of his father, former president Joseph Estrada.

Cynthia Villar
Nacionalista Party

The Office of the Ombudsman in 2010 cleared then-Las Piñas representative Cynthia Villar, together with her husband, then-senator Manny Villar, of plunder complaints in relation to an alleged fraudulent deal with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in 1998. 

Lito Lapid
Nationalist People's Coalition

The Sandiganbayan in 2016 dismissed a graft case filed against former senator Lito Lapid in relation to the fertilizer scam. The case, filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2015, alleged the purchase of overpriced fertilizer when Lapid was still governor of Pampanga in 2004. 

The anti-graft court dismissed the case for the “inordinate delay” in the investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman. 

Mar Roxas
Liberal Party

The Office of the Ombudsman in June 2018 cleared former interior secretary Manuel Roxas II in the plunder complaint related to allegedly anomalous Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT 3) contracts.

The complaint was filed by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) under the Duterte administration.

Francis Tolentino
PDP-Laban

Labor groups in 2015 filed a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman against then-Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairperson Francis Tolentino for sponsoring a controversial dance performance at a lawmaker's birthday party.

The complainants accused Tolentino of violating Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta for Women. 

The controversy led to Tolentino, then seeking to run as senator, asking to be excluded from the Liberal Party (LP) slate for the 2016 elections.

Manuel Montarde
Philippine Green Republican Party

Manuel Montarde faced a complaint filed by the Comelec for overspending during the 2013 elections, when he ran for Catanduanes governor but lost.

Abner Afuang
Labor Party Philippines

Former policeman and Pagsanjuan, Laguna, mayor Abner Afuang faced a complaint filed by the Senate in 2009 for allegedly violating Article 144 of the Revised Penal Code or disturbance of proceedings. He had poured water over Hayden Kho during the hearing on the latter's leaked sex videos. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will spend the next few weeks assessing the applications of party-list groups seeking to join the 2019 polls.

From October 11 to 17, 185 groups filed with the Comelec their certificates of nomination and their nominees’ certificates of acceptance, hoping to get seats in the House of Representatives – specifically, 20% of the House seats, as provided in the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

In 2013, the Supreme Court upheld the Constitution's intent that the party list is not only for the marginalized sectors. (READ: Fixing the party list) 

Throughout the years, however, the system has become a backdoor or shortcut to the House for those who cannot run in the district elections.

The 2019 exercise is no different, as the list of nominees submitted to the Comelec shows people with familiar surnames, belonging to political dynasties, longtime politicians, and government officials. 

Alberto “Bobby” Pacquiao
1st nominee, OFW Family Club

Alberto “Bobby” Pacquiao, brother of Senator Manny Pacquiao, has been involved in politics since 2013, when he ran and won as a barangay (village) councilor. In 2016, he became a councilor in General Santos City. 

Prior to joining the government, Bobby worked as a professional boxer like Manny. 

OFW Family Club was established in 2000 by the late Roy Señeres Sr, labor attaché to Abu Dhabi during the 1980s.

Leyte Representative Yedda Marie Romualdez
1st nominee, Tingog Sinirangan

Leyte 1st District Representative Yedda Romualdez is the first nominee of Tingog Sinirangan. The group vows to introduce policies to benefit Eastern Visayas. 

She first became a legislator in 2016 – replacing her husband, Martin Romualdez, who eventually lost in his bid for a Senate seat. 

Husband and wife are both gunning for a seat in the House of Representatives in 2019 – with Yedda taking the party list route while Martin seeks to take over the Leyte congressional seat. 

Gina de Venecia
1st nominee, Inang Mahal

Former Pangasinan congresswoman Gina de Venecia is the first nominee of Inang Mahal party-list group, vowing to fight for policies benefiting Filipino mothers. 

De Venecia is the wife of former House speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. 

She previously served as Pangasinan 4th district representative from 2010 to 2016. Her son, Christopher de Venecia, replaced him in the position in 2016 and is seeking reelection in 2019.

Mike Defensor
2nd nominee, Anakalusugan

Long-time government official Mike Defensor now seeks a seat in the House of Representative as second nominee of Anakalusugan.

The group, according to its website, “advocates health issues in the country by pushing for implementation of health and wellness benefits and their inclusion in the government’s top social agenda.”  

Defensor served as Quezon City councilor from 1991 to 1995, and as 3rd district representative from 1995 to 2001, before joining the Cabinet of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. 

He first led the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and the National Housing Authority before becoming  Department of Environment and Natural Resources secretary from 2004 to 2006, and Malacañang chief of staff from 2006 to 2007.

He is the son of former QC representative Matias Defensor Jr.

Emelita Apostol Alvarez
1st nominee, Movement for Economic Transformation and Rights Opportunities (Metro)

Emelita Apostol Alvarez, the estranged wife of former House speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, is the first nominee of the Movement for Economic Transformation and Rights Opportunities (Metro).  

Her nomination puts an end to speculations that she would run against her estranged husband for Davao del Norte 1st district representative.

She formerly headed the Congressional Spouses Foundation Incorporated. 

Eddie Villanueva
1st nominee, Citizen's Battle Against Corruption

Jesus is Lord (JIL) founder Eddie Villanueva is the first nominee of the Citizen's Battle Against Corruption (Cibac), which used to be represented by his son, now Senator Joel Villanueva.

The well-known evangelist seeks to battle corruption in the government if he gets to sit in the House of Representatives.

Villanueva is not new to elections. This is his 4th attempt after losing in both 2004 and 2010 presidential elections and the 2013 senatorial elections.  

Ciara Anna Sotto
2nd nominee, Luntiang Pilipinas

Ciara Sotto is the second nominee of Luntian Pilipinas, a group initially established in 1998 as an urban forestry program by Senator Loren Legarda.

She is the daughter of Senate President Vicente Sotto III and sister of Quezon City Councilor Gian Sotto, who is running for vice mayor in 2019.  

Rudys Ceasar G. Fariñas I
1st nominee, Probinsyano Ako

Rudys Fariñas I is the first nominee of Probinsyano Ako, a group seeking to represent Ilocanos in the House of Representatives. He is the son of former House majority leader Rodolfo Fariñas of the influential political clan in Ilocos Norte.

His sister, Ilocos Norte 1st district board member Ria Cristina Fariñas, is seeking seeks to replace her father in the Congress while his brother, Rodolfo Christian Fariñas III, filed his COC for provincial board member.

Rafael Louie Alunan
1st nominee, One Philippines

Rafael Alunan is the first nominee of One Philippines. He is the son of former interior secretary Raffy Alunan, who is also running for senator in the 2019 polls. 

– with reports from Michael Bueza / Rappler.com

This article will be updated once the Comelec releases the official list of nominees.

Claim: According to Commission on Audit (COA) reports, former Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano had P600 million and P1 billion unliquidated funds, respectively, before they resigned from their posts this year.

Known opposition Facebook page “Silent No More PH” posted the claim on October 11. The post garnered at least 2,900 reactions, 409 comments, and 2,154 shares.

The post did not cite or link to any COA report.

This claim was sent by a reader.

Rating: FALSE

The facts: COA did not flag such unliquidated funds.

An unliquidated fund is an amount spent that is not backed up by a receipt.

For Uson’s supposed P600-million unliquidated fund, there are no mentions of this in COA’s 2017 annual audit report on the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

There are, however, “cash advances (CA) that were not liquidated within the due dates” and “cash advances granted despite the non-liquidation of CAs” by the PCOO, as noted by COA in its 2017 audit report on the PCOO. This means a total of 24 CAs were granted but liquidated "beyond the prescribed dates of liquidation" which is December 31, 2017. Five Accountable Officers were also granted CAs despite having unliquidated CAs previously.

The P600-million figure might have come from a report by tabloid Hataw! Dyaryo ng Bayan that ran the headline “P647.11 milyon hinahanap ng COA, Usec ng PCOO nagresign” on May 9.

The tabloid report was referring to the anomalies flagged by COA regarding PCOO’s P1.67-billion budget for the 2017 ASEAN Summit.

In a May 11 Philippine News Agency (PNA) report, PCOO Audit team Supervising Auditor Edna Salaguban said in a letter to former Communications Usec Noel Puyat that COA “(does) not have any knowledge on an ongoing investigation of a P647.11 million fund.” This was also reported by Inquirer on May 18. 

Puyat had officially resigned on May 30 and denied any anomalies in the spending of the ASEAN Summit budget. He added that there were an unspent P600 million in the ASEAN budget but PCOO has returned it to the National Treasury.

For Cayetano's alleged P1-billion "unliquidated fund," there are no mentions of this in COA’s 2017 annual audit report on the Department of Foreign Affairs. In the COA report’s Observation and Recommendations section, there were no significant findings on unliquidated funds. Cayetano assumed office as DFA Secretary in May 2017.

COA, nonetheless, flagged DFA’s unremitted P9.776 million aid for overseas Filipino workers and typhoon victims in its 2017 audit report.

There was, however, a 2018 P1-billion Assistance to Nationals (ATN) fund Duterte approved on August 22, 2017.

In a May 18 Abantereport, Lawyer Bruce Rivera asked Cayetano about the status of the ATN fund.

Any financial anomaly of government agencies and offices in 2018 will be reflected in COA’s 2018 audit reports, which will be published in 2019.

Uson has resigned on October 3 after lawmakers, citizens’ groups and Uson’s own colleagues at the PCOO called on her to step down or for President Rodrigo Duterte to fire her. She then filed a bid to run as a party-list representative in the May 2019 polls.

Cayetano resigned on October 9 to run for Taguig congressman in the 2019 elections.

This is the second misleading claim of Silent No More PH. On July 2, the page posted misleading “Build, Build, Build” figures. — Miguel Imperial/Rappler.com

Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.

Claim: Senator Franklin Drilon has been killed in an ambush in Iloilo City.

The blog thetmz.info posted the claim on the second week of October.

According to Facebook’s Claim Check dashboard, the post was published on the site on October 9. It was enqueued on the dashboard’s algorithm and flagged by Rappler on October 17.

The post garnered minimal social media engagement.

Rating: HOAX

The facts: The senator is still alive.

Media relations officer Gino Arellano confirmed to Rappler on October 19 that Drilon was in Geneva, Switzerland, attending the International Parliamentary Union Assembly.

The post embedded a 7-second YouTube video entitled “Drilon Ambush” published on October 9 by “INQ Reports.” The video is a clip of an October 2 State of the Nation news report on the murder of La Union Mayor Alexander Buquing on October 1.

A low-quality photo of what seems to be Buquing was also overlaid in the embedded video to replace the photo of Buquing. The photo came from Facebook page “Duterte kami.”

Here are screenshots showing the original and edited video.

This type of post usually contains a legitimate news report about a different incident. This time, the video was reuploaded and edited to leave out the details pertaining to the case. Rappler has observed also that this type of post usually shifts to a different content later on.

The post has also been fact-checked by Inquirer,  VERA Files, and Agence France-Presse.

Rappler has also checked death hoaxes about Gary Valenciano, Joshua Aquino, Jessy Mendiola, Jet Li, and Christine Estepa. — Miguel Imperial/Rappler.com

If you suspect a Facebook page, group, account, a website, or an article is spreading false information, let Rappler know by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.

MANILA, Philippines – The observant among the country's news hounds have spotted a curious darkening of President Rodrigo Duterte's face in recent months.

Duterte himself likely heard the chatter, prompting him to mention his complexion during his speech on Thursday, October 18, in Manila.

Photos of the President from his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July 2016 to a military camp visit earlier this week indeed show a marked darkening of his face.

The change in color is most apparent on the sides of his face. Based on the photos in the slideshow above, the darkening started to become apparent in November 2017 when the sides of his face were browner than the rest. Photos from the month before show less or no contrast.

In the months after November 2017, the darker brown tinge remained.

Some months later, by his SONA last July, the darker shade had taken on a grayish tinge still apparent these days.

The President claims his skin only got darker because of his frequent visits to military camps all over the country and his trip to Jordan where he attended an outdoor demonstration of Jordanian defense equipment.

He admitted a dermatologist checked his skin and recommended a regimen to make it lighter.

Duterte knew his complexion was being linked by some to health issues. There has been talk that medical procedures like dialysis could lead to skin discoloration or that it points to kidney ailments. (READ: President's health: Touchy topic for Duterte, public concern for Constitution)

The President lightheartedly alluded to the speculations in his Thursday speech.

"They said it must be the kidney, he is sick because of the dark skin.... You ask me – 3rd stage, cancer of the brain. So what else? Part of my kidney is already gone and my heart beats 120 miles per hour. Who wouldn't die from that?" he said.

In early October, Duterte's health dominated headlines after he admitted his doctors found a "growth" during an upper endoscopy. A few days later, however, Duterte claimed the biopsy results showed the growth was not cancerous. – Rappler.com

AT A GLANCE

• Sexual harassment can happen to anyone and anywhere, but the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 focuses on acts committed by a person who has "authority, influence, and moral ascendancy" over the victim
• What should be highlighted in a sexual harassment case are the act itself and the allegations presented, and not whether the parties are heterosexual or members of the LGBTQ community
• Incidents remain largely unreported due to fears of retribution or being judged

MANILA, Philippines – Reporter and news anchor Gretchen Fullido on October 5 became one of the first news personalities to speak up against sexual harassment in Philippine media.

In a criminal complaint she filed with the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office, Fullido, who covers the entertainment industry for ABS-CBN, accused her former boss, ex-TV Patrol supervising producer Cheryl Favila, and segment producer Maricar Asprec of sending her text messages with sexual innuendos and requests for favors that she deemed were sexual in nature.

The two have denied the allegations.

Fullido said her rejection of Favila's supposed sexual advances negatively affected her work on TV Patrol. She said that she initially decided against speaking out because being "a mere subordinate," she "wanted to keep the peace in her workplace.”

Favila and Asprec, in public statements, rejected Fullido's accusations and insisted they were not in a position of power over her. The reporter is not a victim but a "clever user and manipulator," they claimed.

The complaint originally stems from an investigation that ABS-CBN conducted in the first half of the year, triggered by Fullido's decision to lodge sexual harassment charges against the two with the company.

After a probe, the media giant in July 2018 dismissed Fullido's complaint, citing the reporter's admission that neither Favila nor Asprec "demanded, requested or required any sexual favor from her."

But ABS-CBN dismissed Favila nonetheless after finding her guilty of gross misconduct. ABS-CBN concluded that Favila's "use of sexual-oriented language in communicating with Fullido is inappropriate" given the two's working relationship. 

Three months later, Fullido decided to make the complaint public and bring Favila and Asprec to court.

It's never simple

The move comes against the backdrop of the #MeToo movement worldwide and shines a spotlight on incidents of sexual harassment that usually go unreported in the Philippines.

It has gained public attention and sparked discussions in circles outside the parties' social networks.

For Nathalia Africa Verceles, director of the University of the Philippines-Center for Women's and Gender Studies, sexual harassment should not be talked about "very simplistically."

The issue is complex, to say the least, she said. (READ: The many faces of sexual harassment in PH)

In the case of Fullido, what should be highlighted in a sexual harassment case are the act itself and the allegations presented, and not whether the parties involved are heterosexual or members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community, Verceles said.

Favila and Asprec are part of the LGBTQ community.

(Below are the allegations hurled against each other by both sides)

Key issue is the act itself

Evalyn Ursua, the lawyer of Favila and Asprec, said in a statement that the complaint showed discrimination against LGBTQ individuals. In a separate statement, the two said that "this case is ripe for the reinforcement of gender stereotypes."

Many also expressed fears that the complaint might be used against a community already subjected to discrimination and offensive remarks, among others.

While these concerns may be valid, the key issue is still sexual harassment, according to Verceles.

An expert on women's and gender studies, Verceles said the public should be wary of focusing the conversation on the sexual orientation, gender identity and  expression (SOGIE) of the actors involved.

"I think we should look at the act and the veracity of the accusations rather than who the accused is or are," she said. "We should really focus on sexual harassment as a phenomenon without thinking of whom we may inadvertently or advertently harm because of the accusations. That is not the point."

Talks highlighting or dwelling too much on the fact that the accused are lesbians or gays, regardless of whether this benefits them or not, hinder the goal of raising awareness of sexual harassment.

But that is not to say that the public should be given a free pass to spew homophobic remarks either.

For Verceles, everyone must remember that anyone accused of having committed sexual harassment does not represent the community that he or she belongs to.

"Veer away from the sexual orientation or gender identity of accused," she said. "Look at them as individuals who do not represent anybody but themselves."

Power imbalance

Rooted in a patriarchal culture in most societies, especially in the Philippines, the law on sexual harassment involves the power dynamic between the parties involved.

This is clear in the law, Republic Act No. 7877, or the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995, which states that harassment is committed when a person who has "authority, influence, and moral ascendancy" demands, requests, or requires any sexual favor from a person in a work, education, or training setting. 

This definition highlights the inherent power imbalance between the victim and perpetrator – a boss to his or her employee, for example, or a teacher to his or her student. This power imbalance is such that harassment often ends up unreported, with victims choosing to walk away from what he or she would consider a situation that favors his or her supervisor.

Reluctance and fear of speaking out against sexual harassment is common in workplace environments because there's too much at stake in these situations, Verceles said.

Regardless of the setting, coming out as a victim "takes too much courage" at the risk of reliving one's trauma, Verceles said. The reality is that in most cases, people who report on these incidents gain nothing and expose themselves to backlash, even from the public.

Limits of the law

The two parties, based on their latest statements, have decided to further address the issue in court. It is "where the real battle should be," said Favila and Asprec.

The Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 states that harassment occurs when "a person demands, requests, or requires sexual favors from another person in exchange for another thing."

This provision was apparently the basis of ABS-CBN in dismissing Fullido's sexual harassment complaint against Favila. The company concluded that Favila never demanded anything from Fullido.

In the criminal complaint she filed before a Quezon City prosecutor, Fullido debunked this defense and asserted that the demands were "implicit."

Indeed, while the law is specific in spelling out that sexual favors should be demanded, requested, or required, the Supreme Court (SC) previously ruled on another case and declared that a request of sexual favor "can be discerned, with equal certitude, from the acts of offender."

In Domingo vs Rayala, a stenographic reporter filed a complaint of sexual harassment against her boss, former National Labor Relations Commission chairperson Rogelio Rayala, after he touched parts of her body and tickled her ears.

Rayala argued that the act did not constitute sexual harassment because, citing the law, "there must be a demand, request, or requirement of sexual favor." He never made any, Rayala said.

The SC, in rejecting Rayala's petition questioning his dismissal from office, stressed that "it is not essential that the demand, request, or requirement be made as a condition for continued employment or for promotion to a higher position. It is enough that the respondent's acts result in creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for the employee."

The 2008 SC decision also highlighted the responsibility that people in power carry.

"It is incumbent upon the head of office to set an example on how his employees should conduct themselves in public office, so that they may work efficiently in a healthy working atmosphere," the Court said in the decision penned by then-associate justice Antonio Nachura. "Courtesy demands that he should set a good example."

Integrity of processes

On the other hand, Verceles said that a company or government agency should also make sure its processes do not encourage wrongful accusations.

"It's also important to emphasize that we should look into the integrity of the processes through which we ferret out the truth," she said. "We do not want to wrongly accuse and wrongly convict a person who is possibly innocent." 

She added: "Galit ako sa sexual harassment, pero gusto ko rin na tama ang proseso at hindi nadedehado ang walang kasalanan (I am angry at sexual harassment but I want the process to be right and not disadvantage the innocent)."

These investigations should be "done very well and also sensitively with respect to the rights and feelings of the accuser."

The apparent limitations imposed by the law should not stop victims from seeking justice. It should also not hinder schools or offices from addressing the so-called culture within their walls that may perpetuate sexual harassment.

"We also hope that subcultures in workplaces and educational institutions are more favorable towards women with respect to issues of sexual harassment, and not just women, but all human beings who are actual and potential victims of sexual harassment," Verceles said.

Administrative mechanisms are very important, but these should be effective, according to Verceles, for victim-survivors to seek other forms of justice outside the courts.

"Hindi natin alam kung kailan pa maaamyendahan ang batas na iyan (We don't know when they will amend the law)," she said. "But in the meantime, there must be a way that we can get justice for those who need justice."

Not yours alone

The recent #MeToo movement has inspired many people to come out with their own stories, seeking to hold to account those who used their power to sexually harass others.

While the decision to talk about it publicly is a personal matter, this could lead to better awareness of the problem itself.

Verceles said this will help victims realize that what they experienced is "a shared problem which is not something you should blame yourself for."

"Sexual harassment exists because of unequal gender relations, which is a systemic and structural problem. With that understanding, you gain confidence to confront it because it's not just yours alone," Verceles said. – Rappler.com

Claim: Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano supposedly said he is "obviously better" than former Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, and that Go "has not proven anything yet and is unlikely to win."

The Facebook page Mga Balitang Pinas posted the claims on October 16, almost 50 minutes apart. Both posts garnered at least 1,700 reactions, 1,200 comments, and 400 shares combined as of October 19.

The full quotes read:

Di hamak na mas magaling naman siguro ako kumpara kay Bong Go na sunod-sunuran sa amo niyang si Duterte.

Wala pang napatunayan si Bong Go kaya malabong manalo.

This claim was flagged via social monitoring platform CrowdTangle.

Rating: HOAX

The facts: There are no such quotes from Alejano.

"I categorically deny issuing these statements," Alejano told Rappler. The congressman also said he "cannot imagine himself joking [about it] or saying it."

A Google search of the quotes leads to web entries containing parts of the quotes and Facebook pages that have shared the memes. There are also no news reports containing the quotes.

Mga Balitang Pinas' post on Facebook also did not cite any source, news article, or video that contains the quotes.

In July, there was also a fabricated quote attributed to the lawmaker. The quote reads, "Wala tayong mapapala sa mga OFW, nabayaran na ang kaluluwa nila kay Duterte." Alejano called it "fake news."

That was after Alejano called President Rodrigo Duterte a "hypocrite" for his Hong Kong trip last April. Duterte has previously fired officials over unnecessary overseas trips.

{source}<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGaryAlejano%2Fposts%2F1614665175326115&width=500" width="500" height="721" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe>

{/source}

"I also hope that while we are in the heat of the upcoming elections, let us not play dirty. Politics is not dirty. People who use negative propaganda against political opponents are the ones making politics dirty," said Alejano to Rappler.

Alejano and Go are both running for senator in the 2019 elections.

Mga Balitang Pinas also posted a photo supposedly of Typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut) relief operations when, in fact, the photo was taken in 2015 during relief operations for Typhoon Lando (Koppu). – Miguel Imperial/Rappler.com

If you suspect a Facebook page, group, account, a website, or an article is spreading false information, let Rappler know by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time. 

Claim: A quote about Boracay after its rehabilitation was attributed to Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV.

The full quote reads:

Ngayon dahil napaganda na natin ang boracay, sana matuto na tayo, alagaan natin ang kalikasan, wag abusuhin dahil para din yan sa atin at sa susunod na henerasyon.

Facebook page “The Daily Sentry” posted the claim on October 14.” The post garnered at least 2,600 reactions, 2,400 comments, and 1,746 shares as of October 22.

Facebook pages “magTXT” and “Pinoy Trending” also posted the claim.

The claim was flagged via Facebook’s Claim Check Dashboard. This was also by sent by readers.

Rating: FALSE

The facts: There is no such quote from Senator Aquino.

“Senator Bam has not said or released any comment on the Boracay rehabilitation in the past month,” said Media Relations Officer Nicco Atos.

The office of Senator Aquino also said that they had “no hand” in the rehabilitation. "It is best to thank the government agencies involved and the locals  who had to sacrifice their livelihood to make it happen."

A Google image search of the quote leads to Facebook pages that have shared the meme. There are also no news reports containing the quote.

Aquino said on April 25 that the government should not “burden” Filipinos with the closure if there is no “clear plan” yet for "small businesses and freelancers." The senator, an advocate for small and medium enterprises, is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act.

There was also another claim related to the Boracay rehabilitation. This time, a Facebook post supposedly posted by Aquino on October 17 “credit-grabbing” the success of the rehabilitation. The post was also shared by updatedtayo.info and band.netviral.com.

The senator said on Facebook that they did not post the “fake” post and caption.

{source}<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FBenignoBamAquino%2Fposts%2F1357526867717682&width=500" width="500" height="720" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe>

{/source}

This is not the first time the senator has been attributed to a false quote.

In June, the senator supposedly said that he will “provide monthly allowance and benefits” to loiterers or tambays.

In October, the senator supposedly said that Filipinos should be “thankful” of pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Pasteur for “experimenting” the “adverse effects” of the Dengvaxia vaccine.

Aquino is running for reelection as senator in the 2019 national elections. — Miguel Imperial/Rappler.com

If you suspect a Facebook page, group, account, a website, or an article is spreading false information, let Rappler know by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.

Bookmark this page to watch and join the discussion live on Tuesday, October 23, at 2 pm

MANILA, Philippines – In a span of 6 years, two Supreme Court (SC) chief justices, Renato Corona and Maria Lourdes Sereno, were ousted. Sereno's ouster, for one, happened against the backdrop of infighting between members of the bench.

By the end of 2018 alone, the High Court would have gone through 3 leaderships. Teresita de Castro, who replaced Sereno, recently retired, and the Judicial and Bar Council is in the process of drawing up a shortlist for her replacement.

On Tuesday, October 23, Rappler editor-at-large Marites Vitug speaks with lawyer Cristina Bonoan of the Angeles State University to discuss the qualities needed in a chief justice, the problems he or she is expected to face once at the helm, and how the performance of the SC has been under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Bonoan, with Dr Bjorn Dressel of the Australian National University and Dr Tomoo Inoue of Seikei University, authored the pioneering study on the Philippine Supreme Court that tracks the influence of informal factors on the justices' decision-making. They tracked SC decisions from 1986 to 2015.

By 2022, it is expected that the SC will be filled by Duterte appointees. How will these affect the institution? Join us on Tuesday, 2 pm, for the discussion! – Rappler.com