Issues

Sen. Bam: Fake news and disinformation, new enemies of People Power

Days before the 32nd anniversary of EDSA People Power 1, Sen. Bam Aquino called on the Filipino people to harness the spirit of People Power by speaking out against bashers, online misinformation, government controversies and issues of national interest.

“Kung dati, tangke ang karahap natin sa EDSA, ang kalaban natin ngayon ay mga nagpapakalat ng pekeng balita at trolls sa social media,” Sen. Bam said in a television interview.

The lawmaker said the Filipino people must harness the spirit of People Power by speaking out against cyberbullies and online misinformation, while engaging in discussion about government controversies and issues of national interest.

“Kailangan natin mahanap ang ating boses. Magsalita tayo at makilahok tayo sa mga nangyayari sa ating bayan, lalo na kapag may nakikita tayong mali,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam stressed that today’s battle is different from the one won thirty-two years ago, but we are still fighting for the same ideals.

“Ipagdiwang natin ang EDSA at alalahanin ang mga ipinaglaban noon – wakasan ang korupsyon, patibayin ang malayang media, at itaguyod ang karapatan ng mga Pilipino,” Sen. Bam said.

 “Beyond politics, beyond political colors, beyond political parties, EDSA People Power is about fighting dictatorship and the restoration of democracy in our country,” added Sen. Bam.

Through this peaceful revolution, Sen. Bam said the world caught a glimpse of the best version of the Filipino.

 “Let’s celebrate People Power this year by being the best, most courageous and most compassionate versions of ourselves,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam on government’s plan to obtain higher interest loans from China

The government owes it to the people to secure the best agreement, and not pursue a “friendly deal” that will later burden the Filipino people.

It’s not about China or Japan. It’s about finding the best option for our people. The government must bear in mind that in the end, it is the Filipino people who will bear the brunt of these loans through our taxes.

Hindi dapat ipagpalit ng pamahalaan ang kapakanan ng taumbayan sa “pagkakaibigan.” 

Napakabigat ng kapalit ng pagkakaibigang ito dahil Pilipinas ang mababaon sa utang sa mas mabigat na interes na hinihingi ng China. Ito ang dapat isaalang-alang ng ating pamahalaan.
 
We have resolved to file a resolution to ensure transparency in all government dealings with China or any other country and ensure that our people are getting the best deal.

Minority senators demand: #FreeLeilaNow

Minority senators have joined calls for the “immediate release” of opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima, who will mark her first year of illegal arrest and unjust detention on Saturday, February 24.
 
They filed late Wednesday Senate Resolution (SR) No. 645 making an impassioned call for the freedom of De Lima, the first prominent political prisoner under the Duterte regime.  
 
“As her colleagues at the Senate, we are pained by the reality that a member of this Chamber is locked up in jail on trumped-up charges when she should be here with us, engaging in productive discussions, legislating laws, and serving her constituents and our country,” they said. 
 
The resolution was signed by Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon, Senators Francis Pangilinan, Antonio Trillanes IV, Bam Aquino, and Risa Hontiveros.
 
They noted that De Lima’s continued unjust detention was instigated by her investigation of the Davao Death Squad as then chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and later investigation of the spate of extra-judicial killings (EJKs) in the country as a senator — which earned the ire of then Davao Mayor and now President Duterte.
 
De Lima’s colleagues nevertheless lauded her spirit, which remains unbroken despite Duterte’s effort to tarnish her reputation and oppress her. 
 
“The road to her incarceration was tormenting — revealing in public her intimate relationships, publicly shaming her by threatening to screen in the House of Representatives her alleged sex videos, and branding her an immoral woman,” they said.
 
“Only a tenacious person with an unshakable resolve like Senator De Lima can withstand all these, unbowed, unbent, and unbroken,” they added.
 
The five senators acknowledged the increasing number of organizations and human rights advocates who have launched petitions seeking her freedom from incarceration.
 
They cited a March 2017 resolution by the European Parliament in Strasbourg calling for “the immediate release of Senator De Lima” and the Geneva-based Inter-Parliamentary Union’s call for her freedom in a report prepared by its human rights committee, among others.
 
“In the narrow confines of her detention cell and under restrictive conditions in the PNP Custodial Center, her physical body has deteriorated; only her dogged spirit to carry on is keeping her alive,” they said.
The same senators filed SR No. 505 in September 2017 asking the Senate leadership to allow De Lima to participate in the sessions and deliberations of important legislative measures. The resolution has not been acted upon. 

Sen. Bam to executive: Implement free college before Cha-cha propaganda

Why focus on Charter change over free tuition law?

 Senator Bam Aquino questioned the Commission on Higher Education’s move to use state universities and colleges (SUCs) to push the government’s Charter change agenda, especially when they have yet to implement the free college law.

Instead of promoting Charter change, Sen. Bam said it would be best for CHED to pour resources into refunding the tuition fees and miscellaneous fees collected by state universities and colleges (SUCs) during the second semester of academic year 2017-2018 and ensure the implementation of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

“Gawing prayoridad sana ng CHED ang pagtulong sa mga estudyante ng ating public universities and colleges. Unahin natin ang pagpapatupad ng libreng kolehiyo imbis na gumastos para sa propaganda ng Charter Change,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor and co-author of RA 10931.

Sen. Bam issued the pronouncement after CHED officer-in-charge Popoy de Vera revealed his plan to conduct a massive information drive in SUCs nationwide to help the youth fully understand Charter change.

 Sen. Bam has been urging the CHED to implement the free college law in the second semester of school year 2017-18, saying that the legislative intent was to implement it by the second semester of 2017-18.

Also, Sen. Bam said the CHED itself assured the Senate during the budget deliberation for RA 10931 that the P41 billion budget for its implementation was sufficient to cover the tuition and other fees in SUCs starting second semester of 2017-18.

Last Monday, the Senate unanimously adopted Sen. Bam’s Resolution No. 620, which rallied the Upper Chamber to express a united front in support of the full implementation of the free college law.

 Principally sponsored by Sen. Bam, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act provides free tuition and miscellaneous fees to students in SUCs, local universities and colleges (LUCs) and TESDA-run vocational schools.  Under the law, students of both public and private college and universities can also apply for scholarship grants and student loans.

 The measure was languishing in the legislative mill for years before it was passed during Sen. Bam’s time as chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress. This was Sen. Bam’s 19th law in his four years as senator.

Sen. Bam to CHED: Heed Senate’s call to implement free college law ASAP

Senator Bam Aquino urged the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to heed the Senate’s call to implement the free college law in the second semester of school year 2017-18 to help alleviate the plight of Filipino families.

 Last Monday, the Senate unanimously adopted Sen. Bam’s Resolution No. 620, which rallied the Upper Chamber to express a united front in support of the full implementation of the free college law.

 “Nagkaisa ang Senado na manawagan sa CHED na gawing libre na ang tuition pati miscellaneous fees sa SUCs, ipatupad na ang batas as soon as possible,” said Sen. Bam, the principal sponsor and co-author of the Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act

“Hindi nila napatupad sa napagkasunduang timeline, kaya ang kompromiso natin ay refund. Dapat lang ibalik ng mga SUC ang anumang tuition fee at miscellaneous fee na siningil nila sa mga estudyante,” Sen. Bam added.

 Sen. Bam reiterated that during the bicameral conference committee for RA 10931, representatives from both Houses of Congress expressly agreed on the legislative intent to implement it by the second semester of 2017-18.

In addition, Sen. Bam reminded CHED of its assurance during the budget deliberation for RA 10931 that the P41 billion budget for its implementation was sufficient to cover the tuition and other fees in SUCs starting second semester of 2017-18.

“May pondo na, ito ang gusto ng parehong executive at ng legislative, nararapat lang na ipatupad na ng CHED ang libreng kolehiyo,” said Sen. Bam.

Principally sponsored by Sen. Bam, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act provides free tuition and miscellaneous fees to students in SUCs, local universities and colleges (LUCs) and TESDA-run vocational schools.  Under the law, students of both public and private college and universities can also apply  for scholarship grants and student loans.

The measure was languishing in the legislative mill for years before it was passed during Sen. Bam’s time as chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress. This was Sen. Bam’s 19th law in his four years as senator.

 

Sen. Bam: PH Rise is not for China to name

Benham Rise is clearly Philippine territory and its features are not for China to name.

It is only right that the government counter any further moves to name features of our territory and propose remedies for the two formally named by China through the International Hydrographic Organization.

I hope that the hearing I will chair on February 26 will bring clarity to the issue and help determine next steps.

It is imperative that we protect our territory from any foreign interest.

Dapat nang magkaroon ng matibay at malinaw na plano ang pamahalaan sa Philippine Rise, lalo ngayong unti-unti nang kumikilos ang China para ito’y angkinin.

Huwag nating isuko na parang West Philippine Sea ang napakahalagang yamang ito.

Sen. Bam challenges Congress to pass anti-political dynasty law before any Cha-cha talks

Senator Bam Aquino has filed a measure seeking to prohibit political dynasties in the country, stressing that the passage of an anti-dynasty law is a necessary precursor to any moves to amend the 1987 Constitution.

 “Kailangan nating ipasa ang anti-political dynasty law nang mabilisan, lalo na ngayong may banta ng Cha-Cha at pinipilit ang Pederalismo,” said Sen. Bam, author of Senate Bill No. 1688.

“I call on Congress to pass the Anti-Political Dynasty Act before any moves towards Federalism,” Sen. Bam added.

Sen. Bam said that no less than the 1987 Constitution itself prohibits political dynasties, but there is a need for an implementing law to enforce it.

 “There are already 6 anti-political dynasty bills filed and we have the Constitution on our side. I am confident we will have the votes to pass an anti-political dynasty law in the Senate,” Sen. Bam affirmed.

If passed into law, Senate Bill No. 1688 will prohibit the spouse, or any person related within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity to an incumbent elective official seeking re-election from holding or running for any elective office in the same province in the same election.

 If the incumbent elective official is a national one, the aforementioned relatives shall be disqualified from running only within the same province where the former is registered voter.

If none of the candidates are related to an incumbent elective official but are related to one another within the said prohibited degree, they and their spouses, shall be disqualified from holding or running for any local elective office within the same province in the same election.

 In all cases, no person within the prohibited civil degree of relationship to the incumbent official shall immediately succeed to the position of the latter.

 Sen. Bam hopes an anti-political dynasty law will give the Filipino people a greater variety of candidates to vote for, with new names, faces, platforms and solutions for the country.

 “We must encourage and empower more excellent Filipinos with a passion for service, to run for office and change the Philippine government from within,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam calls on CHED, SUCs to refund students for tuition and miscellaneous fees

Senator Bam Aquino wants state universities and colleges (SUCs) to refund the fees they collected from students in the second semester of school year 2017-18 with the free college law now in effect.

In a radio interview, Sen. Bam said the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) should be implementing Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act for the second semester of Academic Year 2017-18.

Sen. Bam said some SUCs have already complied with the law and stopped collecting tuition and other fees from students. However, there were some schools which continue to do so despite the law’s enactment, possibly due to lack of funds.

“Mayroon nang mga SUCs ang hindi nangolekta ngayong semester. Sa mga nangolekta na, ang gusto natin ay i-refund ang ibinayad ng mga estudyante at kanilang pamilya,” said Sen. Bam, the principal sponsor and co-author of RA 10931 in the Senate.

During the interview, Sen. Bam renewed his call to CHED to fully implement RA 10931, saying Filipino families need it more than ever, especially amid the rising prices in goods and services due to the passage of the tax reform law.

“Kung tutulong tayo, huwag nang magtimpi. Lubus-lubusin na ang tulong, ipatupad na ang libreng tuition at miscellaneous fees,” stressed Sen. Bam.

On Monday, the Senate unanimously supported Sen. Bam’s push for the full and immediate implementation of RA 10931 in the second semester of school year 2017-18.

After Sen. Bam delivered a sponsorship speech for Senate Resolution No. 620 that he filed, the senators adopted it immediately.

In Senate Resolution No. 620, Sen. Bam urged the Senate to express a united front in support of the full implementation of the free college law, in light of the announcement of a June 2018 implementation by CHED.

During his sponsorship speech, Sen. Bam said that representatives from both Houses of Congress expressly agreed on the legislative intent to implement it by November 2017 during the bicameral conference committee on Republic Act 10931.

Sen. Bam also insisted that during the budget deliberation for Republic Act 10931, the CHED-UNIFAST declared to the members of the Senate that the P41 billion budget allocation was sufficient to cover the tuition and other fees in SUCs starting second semester of 2017-18.

The commitment was contrary to the latest statement by CHED officer-in-charge Popoy de Vera that it plans to fully implement the law stating June 2018 for Academic Year 2018-19, with CHED still in the process of finalizing the law’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR).

Sen. Bam believes that with RA 10931 now in effect and an approved budget to support its execution, there’s no reason for CHED not to attend to its immediate implementation.

Sen. Bam rallies Senate to support full, immediate implementation of free college

Senator Bam Aquino enjoined his colleagues to push for the full and immediate implementation of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act at the start of the second semester of school year 2017-18.

 “Let’s push for the fulfillment of the free college law and relieve our students and their family members of financial burdens,” said Sen. Bam, the principal sponsor and co-author of the free college law, during his sponsorship speech of Senate Resolution No. 620 that he filed recently.

 In Senate Resolution No. 620, Sen. Bam urged the Senate to express a united front in support of the full implementation of the free college law, in light of the announcement of a June 2018 implementation by Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

 “Students in public universities and colleges have the right to demand for the implementation of the free college law. Naisabatas at may pondo na ito,” asserted Sen. Bam.

 According to the senator, representatives from both Houses of Congress expressly agreed on the legislative intent to implement it by November 2017 during the bicameral conference committee on Republic Act 10931.

Sen. Bam also insisted that during the budget deliberation for Republic Act 10931, the CHED-UNIFAST declared to the members of the Senate that the P41 billion budget allocation was sufficient to cover the tuition and other fees in SUCs starting second semester of 2017-18.

The commitment was contrary to the latest statement by CHED officer-in-charge Popoy de Vera that it plans to fully implement the law stating June 2018 for Academic Year 2018-19, with CHED still in the process of finalizing the law’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR).

 “The non-issuance of IRR should not prevent the Executive faithfully executing the law. Ano pa ang hinihintay natin,” Sen. Bam pointed out in his resolution.

Sen. Bam believes that with RA 10931 now in effect and an approved budget to support its execution, there’s no reason for CHED not to attend to its immediate implementation.

After his speech, the Senate unanimously adopted Sen. Bam’s resolution.

 The Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, principally sponsored by Sen. Bam, provides free tuition and miscellaneous fees to students in SUCs, local universities and colleges (LUCs) and TESDA-run vocational schools.

Scholarship grants and student loans will also be made available to students of both public and private college and universities.

The measure was languishing in the legislative mill for years before it was passed during Sen. Bam’s time as chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress. This was Sen. Bam’s 19th law in his four years as senator.

Sen. Bam expresses concern after study cites PH as 3rd most ignorant nation on key issues

A senator stressed the need to strengthen the fight against fake news and ramp up quality education efforts to keep Filipinos, especially our youth, fully aware of the issues hounding the country.

This was emphasized by Sen. Bam Aquino as he expressed concern over the survey that ranked the Philippines third among countries “most ignorant” on their nation’s key issues, based on a study by news website Indy100.

The survey also ranked Filipinos third among those most confident, despite giving inaccurate answers. South Africa topped the survey while Brazil ranked second. In 2016, the Philippines ranked 16th in the survey participated in by 38 countries.

“Clearly, we need to strengthen quality education and launch a solid attack on disinformation and fake news,” said Sen. Bam.

“Maraming Pilipino ang nalilito sa datos at hindi na nakikilala ang katotohanan. This is even more distressing when we consider how Filipinos resort to threats and hate speech online instead of reasonably discussing opposing views,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said that the survey should be a lesson in humility for all Filipinos, saying we should check our facts and genuinely listen to one another instead of turning hostile.

During his stint as chairman of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam conducted a hearing on the responsible use of social media in schools to fight spread of fake news on social media.

In the said hearing, Sen. Bam urged different stakeholders, led by the Department of Education (DepEd), to join forces in combating rampant trolling and spread of misinformation on social media.

Sen. Bam has also urged the Philippine Communications Operations Office (PCOO) to seriously tackle the problem of online disinformation and fake news sites during the recent fake news hearing at the Senate.

Sen. Bam is the principal sponsor of the free college law and is an advocate for access to quality education in the Philippines.

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