Aquino names new DepEd, DND officials

Friday, December 13, 2013

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has appointed new officials in the Department of Education (DepEd)
and the Department of National Defense (DND), a Palace official said Friday.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said during the regular press briefing that the Chief
Executive signed on December 11 the appointment letters of the new presidential appointees.
In a transmittal letter signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. addressed to Education Secretary
Armin Luistro, Aquino appointed Luz Arriola, Germelina Pascual and Ramir Uytico as Acting School
Division Superintendents.
The President also appointed Delfin N. Lorenzana as Presidential Representative/Head, Office of
Veterans Affairs, Washington, D.C., United States of America.
According to the transmittal letter signed by Ochoa to Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, the term of
office of Lorenzana would be co-terminus with the appointing authority. (SDR/Sunnex)


ANALYSIS:
Power of Appointment

SECTION:
Section 16:
The President shall nominate and, with the consent of the commission of appointments, appoint the heads
of the executive departments, ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, or officers of the armed
forces from the rank of colonel or naval captain, and other officers whose appointments are vested in him in
this constitution. He shall also appoint all other officers of the government whose appointments are not
otherwise provided for by law, and those whom he may be authorized by law to appoint.






Aquino yet to take side on juvenile law
Saturday, October 15, 2011, (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has yet to take a stand on proposals to lower the age of criminal liability of youth
offenders, Malacaang said Saturday.
It is something we need to discuss with the President. (When the issue) reaches President Aquino, that is when we can
give an assessment because the President will need to hear both sides, Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte
said over state-run dzRB radio.
In a statement released Friday, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima and Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD) Secretary Dinky Soliman rejected proposals from Congress to lower the age of criminal
liability from 15 years old to nine.
House Deputy Majority Leader Romero Frederico Quimbo, who has a pending measure seeking to amend the Juvenile
Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, hopes the Cabinet secretaries would change their stand on the issue. The law needs to be
reexamined urgently. I urge them to open their ears to the cries of those victimized by 16 and 17-year-old rapists and
murders, he said in a text message.
Several pending measures on the same are still pending with the House Committee on Revision of Laws.
For his part, Senator Vicente Sotto III is proposing to reinstate the criminal liability to 11 years old from 15 under the
current law signed during the term of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Sotto said this is to properly
commensurate the degree of liability of a teenager who still lacks the discernment, with the degree of awareness and
understanding of a teenager.

ANALYSIS:
Power to control of all executive departments, bureaus, and offices / Control Power

SECTION:
Section 17:
The president shall have control of all the executive departments, bureaus, and offices. He shall ensure
that the laws be faithfully executed.





Arroyo places Maguindanao under Martial Law
By Vernadette Joven | Updated December 5, 2009 - 7:43am
MANILA, Philippines To prevent possible lawless violence, President Gloria Arroyo declared a state of martial
law in Maguindanao, executive secretary Eduardo Ermita announced this morning (Dec. 5).
After the national security council meeting and several consultations, the proclamation was crafted and signed
by the president, 9p.m. last night, said Ermita.
Press secretary Cerge Remonde stressed, the said decision was taken as a bold step in answer to the cry of
justice of the victims of the Maguindanao massacre.
Ermita revealed that reports from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police
(PNP) there are already armed groups in Maguindanao that planning to take hostile action if the Ampatuans
are arrested.
We feel that this is an imminent threat and so we recommended for this proclamation, said AFP chief Gen.
Victor Ibrado.
Ibrado added, As of last night we have started inviting personalities and as of 7a.m. this morning, Gov. Zaldy
Ampatuan of ARMM was invited by the AFP and PNP. Some personalities that we have invited have already
sent fillers that they will surrender while the location of the other alleged suspects are still being determined.

ANALYSIS:
Military Power

SECTION:
Section 18:
The president shall be the commander-in-chief of all armed forces of the Philippines and whenever it
becomes necessary, he may call out such armed forces to prevent or suppress lawless violence, invasion
or rebellion. In case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it, he mat, for a period not
exceeding sixty days, suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or place the Philippines or any part
thereof under martial law.



Philippine President Pardons Estrada
Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007 By AP/JIM GOMEZ -- TIME Magazine
MANILA, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo pardoned her ousted predecessor Thursday,
paving the way for Joseph Estrada's release a month after he was sentenced to life in prison for
corruption.

Acting Executive Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the pardon would restore Estrada's civil and political rights
and would take effect upon his acceptance. Arroyo cited her government's policy of releasing convicts
who have reached 70, Estrada's 6 1/2 years' detention and his public pledge not to seek any public office
in deciding to pardon her political nemesis.

"Arroyo is fully convinced that this pardon is in order," Bunye told reporters. A Sandiganbayan court
spokesman, Renato Bocar, said it would order Estrada's release after receiving a copy of Arroyo's grant
of pardon.

Estrada was convicted last September after a landmark six-year trial on charges that he took bribes and
kickbacks while in office. He was sentenced to life in prison. Estrada has denied the charges and accused
Arroyo of masterminding his removal in a conspiracy with leaders of the Roman Catholic church and
senior military officers.

ANALYSIS:
Pardoning Power

SECTION:
Section 19:
Except in cases of impeachment, or as otherwise provided in this constitution, the president may grant
reprieves, commutations, pardons, and remit fines and forfeitures, after conviction by final judgment.
He shall also have the power to grant amnesty with the concurrence of a majority of all the members of the
congress.


P21.3B in new World Bank debts for Yolanda goes to DSWD
Wednesday, 26 February 2014 00:00 -- Tribune
The Aquino administration which has been boasting of a huge available budget for the rehabilitation of areas devastated by
typhoon Yolanda just borrowed from the World Bank, an equivalent of P21.3 billion but the funds are not going to the newly
created Office for Rehabilitation and Recovery of former Sen. Panfilo Lacson but to the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) of Corazon Dinky Soliman.
The World Banks (WB) board said the $479 million loan will be used for the Kalahi-CIDSS or Kapitbisig Laban sa Kahirapan
Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services project of the DSWD which will prioritize municipalities affected by
the disaster. The approved $479 million loan from the World Bank will contribute to the $8 billion needed for the
Reconstruction Assistance on Yolanda Plan. The NCDDP will assist our efforts in the swift reconstruction of disaster-affected
areas through financing and implementing community-driven projects, Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima said.
The use of community-driven development approaches in post-disaster situations has shown to be effective in accelerating
community reconstruction and efficiently putting money for priority needs of communities around the world, Sean Bradley,
World Banks Social Development Specialist, said.
According to World Bank Country Director for the Philippines Motoo Konishi, programs that apply CDD approaches have good
track records in the Philippines in terms of contributing to improvements of poor peoples lives.

ANALYSIS:
Power to contract or guarantee foreign loans / Borrowing Power

SECTION:
Section 20:
The president may contract or guarantee foreign loans on behalf of the Republic of the Philippines with the
prior concurrence of the Monetary Board, and subject to such limitations as may be provided by law. The
Monetary Board shall, within thirty days from the end of every quarter of the calendar year, submit to the
congress a complete report of its decision on applications for loans to be contracted or guaranteed by the
Government or government-owned and controlled corporations which would have the effect of increasing
the foreign debt, and containing other matters as may be provided by law.



Senate approves 2002 Rome Statute
MailaAger,INQUIRER.net 4:28 pm | Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011

MANILA, PhilippinesThe Senate has approved on third and final reading a resolution concurring in the ratification of
the treaty, Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the worlds first permanent tribunal for war
crimes.
Seventeen senators voted Tuesday in favor of the resolution with only Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile casting
the dissenting vote. There was no abstention.
Under the treaty, military officers would assume command responsibility for crimes, or atrocities, committed by forces,
under certain conditions.
If a state becomes a party to the Rome Statue, any past leaderparticularly head of state, member of Congress or
any high-ranking government officialcould be investigated and prosecuted if he or she commits a core crime.
Core crimes, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago previously explained, include genocide, crimes against humanity,
war crimes and crimes of aggression.
Aside from Santiago, the following senators voted in favor of the resolution: Vicente Sotto III, Jose Estrada, Francis
Escudero, Francis Pangilinan, Panfilo Lacson, Gregorio Honasan, Aquilino Pimentel III, Pia Cayetano, Alan Peter
Cayetano, Edgardo Angara, Teofisto Guingona III, Loren Legarda, Ramon Revilla Jr., Ferdinand Bong-Bong
Marcos Jr. Antonio Trillanes IV and Manny Villar.

ANALYSIS:
Diplomatic Power of the President

SECTION:
Section 21:
No treaty or international agreement shall be valid and effective unless concurred in by at least two-thirds of
all the Members of the Senate.






Aquino submits 2013 budget to Congress
Tuesday, July 24, 2012 (Jill Beltran/Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday submitted to Congress the proposed P2.006-trillion national budget for 2013.
In his budget message, Aquino said this year's budget is important in the administration's continuing pursuit of good governance.
The expenditure program is consistent with our macroeconomic and fiscal aspiration for the next fiscal year and in the medium-
term. Above that, this budget is a crucial step in our continuing pursuit of good governancegovernance that will give our
impoverished countrymen the opportunity to lift themselves out of their situations; governance that will ensure that this country
moves forward together," the President said.
The 2013 Empowerment budget is 10.5 percent or P190 billion higher than this year's budget. It represents 16.8 percent of the
country's projected gross domestic product (GDP), said Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said.
The Department of Education (DepEd) will continue to receive the bulk of the 2013 budget, in line with Aquino's agenda to
improve the quality of public education in the country. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) takes the
second-largest share which is in line with Aquino's goal of strengthening the country's infrastructure base and fueling economic
growth. The DOH will receive the highest budgetary increase for the next fiscal year with P56.8 billion allotted to the agency, up
by 24 percent from its allocation in 2012. The increase will help the administration advance its universal health care agenda for
all Filipinos, particularly the poor and vulnerable. General Public Services take the third largest share of the budget with a
P346.1-billion allocation, higher by eight percent than its current appropriation of P320.3 billion.
In a press conference at the House, the Budget Secretary said the executive targets the enactment of a General Appropriations Act
by December 13, 2012. House committee on appropriations chairman Joseph Emilio Abaya, for his part, committed to finish
budget deliberations in a month.

ANALYSIS:
Budgetary Power of the President

SECTION:
Section 22:
The President shall submit to the congress within thirty days from the opening of every regular session, as
the basis of the general appropriation bill, budget of expenditures and sources of financing, including
receipts from existing and proposed revenue measures.



President Aquino 'Pnoy' 4th SONA on July 22, 2013 highlights
Saturday, July 13, 2013 Posted by Admin

Manila, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III 'Pnoy' on Monday, July 22, 2013 will deliver his 4th State of the
Nation Address (SONA) at the opening of the first regular session of the Sixteenth Congress at Batasan Pambansa.

The fourth SONA of the president will highlight the accomplishment of different department of the government
and the results of his promises during SONA 2012.

According to reports, Pnoy's speech will tackle mainly on the passage of the laws on Reproductive Health (RH) and
sin tax.

The controversial RH Law, which is now being questioned at the high court for allotting billions for contraceptives
despite the insufficient budget allotted to state hospitals. On the other hand, Malacanang is confident that the
Reproductive Health (RH) Law could withstand legal questions and could be implemented soon.

On his last SONA, PNoy received loud applause from the audience multiple times, which the loudest applause was
when he gave a hint that he is supporting the RH Bill (Reproductive Health Bill), which he said he believes that its
approval will help a lot to improve the countrys economy. The sin tax measure, meanwhile, aims to generate state
revenues by imposing higher taxes on tobacco and alcohol.

SONA 2013 will also highlight different aspects of the nation - economy, jobs, asset reform, education, sports,
government and ethics, health and environment, tourism, justice, urban poor, issues in Mindanao, foreign affairs
and national security.



ANALYSIS:
SONA / Informing Power

SECTION:
Section 23:
The President shall address the congress at the opening of its regular session. He may also appear before
it at any other time.












COMPILATION
OF
EXECUTIVE POWERS