Issues

Sen. Bam: Encourage youth to help gov’t anti-drug campaign through SK

Sen. Bam Aquino wants to see the Sangguniang Kabataan elections push through this October and allow the youth to help in the government’s anti-drug campaign.

“Instead of inciting fear, let’s give the youth the opportunity to help solve the drug problem and other issues in their community. Let’s encourage them through the SK,” said Sen. Bam.

During the Senate hearing on measures seeking to postpone the barangay and SK polls, Sen. Bam urged fellow lawmakers and concerned government to look into the possibility of holding a separate SK polls in October this year, saying the implementation of Republic Act 10742 or the SK Reform Act is long overdue.

“The last SK election was 7 years ago. Since then, we’ve reformed the SK and even included an anti-political dynasty provision. I would personally want to see the SK elections push through to empower our youth leaders,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam Aquino has long advocated for the Filipino youth as a student leader and former chairman of the National Youth Commission.

Sen. Bam pushed for the RA 10742 SK Reform law’s passage as co-author and co-sponsor during his time as chairman of the Committee on Youth in the 16th Congress.

The law adjusts age limit of SK officials from 15-17 to 18-24 years old, making them legally capable of entering into contracts and be held accountable and liable for their actions.

The law also requires SK officials to undergo leadership training programs to expose them to the best practices in governance and guide their development as leaders.

The new law also mandates the creation of the Local Youth Development Council (LYDC), a council that will support the SK and ensure the participation of more youth through youth organizations.

The LYDC will be composed of representatives from the different youth organizations in the community – student councils, church and youth faith groups, youth-serving organizations, and community-based youth groups.​

Sen. Bam is also the principal sponsor and one of the co-authors of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

Bam to DepEd: No to student drug list!

Sen. Bam Aquino wants the Department of Education (DepEd) to ensure that the Philippine National Police (PNP) will not get hold of the results of the random drug testing of students in private and public schools so as to avoid abuses and deaths of students.
 
“The DepEd, as the lead agency in the random drug testing of students, must fulfill its promise to keep confidential its results. Hindi nila dapat hayaang mapunta ito sa kamay ng PNP upang hindi magamit laban sa ating mga kabataan,” said Sen. Bam.
 
“Kung makukuha ng PNP ang listahang ito, maaari itong maabuso ng mga tiwaling pulis at gamitin sa panggigipit. Ayaw nating magkaroon ng isa pang kaso na may mamamatay na estudyante sa ating bayan,” he added.
 
During the hearing for DepEd 2018 budget, Sec. Leonor Briones assured lawmakers that the results of the random drug testing will remain confidential and will not result in the filing of charges against minors who will be found positive for illegal drugs.
 
“Panghahawakan natin ang pangakong ito ng DepEd upang matiyak ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kabataan laban sa anumang pang-aabuso ng awtoridad,” said Sen. Bam.
 
During his time as chairman of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam got the assurance from concerned government agencies, such as the DepEd, Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), that the random drug testing will not tread on rights of students but merely to determine the prevalence of illegal drugs in schools.
 
The DepEd and other government agencies also assured that they will extend help to students who will be tested positive through a rehabilitation program and peer counseling.
 
Aside from mandatory random drug testing, the DDB has institutionalized the “Barkada Kontra Droga” program to help keep the youth away from illegal drugs.

Sen. Bam: Senate to assert independence, united against PNP drug killings

Sen. Bam Aquino welcomed the resolution filed by the Senate majority condemning the killing of 17-year-old Grade 11 student Kian Delos Santos and calling for an investigation into the bloody drug war.

The senator called this an opportunity for the Senate to assert independence, uphold justice and stand with the Filipino.

“Marami na sa ating mga kababayan ang malungkot, galit, at nananawagan na tapusin na ang patayan, kung saan ang mga mahihirap na Pilipino ang laging nabibiktima,” stressed Sen. Bam.

 Sen. Bam also filed a resolution seeking to investigate the series of drug raids conducted by police in different parts of Metro Manila and Bulacan that resulted in the death of at least 80 people, including Kian.

“We expect that our filed resolutions will be consolidated so we can get to the bottom of these extrajudicial killings together and reassess the government’s strategy in addressing the drug problem,” said Sen. Bam.

 The senator emphasized that the resolution is aimed at ending police abuse and protecting citizens, especially the helpless and the poor.

 “There is a need not only attain justice for Kian and other victims of abuse by the State in the hands of our law enforcers and authorities,” said Sen. Bam.

In addition, Sen. Bam called on the government to reassess and change the strategy of the administration’s drug war, which targets only the poor and the helpless, while influential personalities are given due process, especially those involved in the P6.4 billion illegal drugs that slipped past the Bureau of Customs last May.

“The government’s all-out war against illegal drugs has failed to address the root causes of the drug menace in the country,” said Sen. Bam, who recently visited the wake of Kian in Caloocan City.

 According to Sen. Bam, there have been thousands of deaths under investigation, including 3,116 killed in police operations and 31 children, since the Duterte government assumed office last July 1, 2016.

Last August 16, 2017, Kian, a Grade 11 student, was among the 12 people killed in simultaneous anti-drug operations in Caloocan City. He was found dead in the site of the encounter, lying face down in fetal position, with three gunshot wounds, one to his back and two to his head.

 Police claimed that Kian fired at them with a 45-caliber pistol but several witnesses attested that the Grade 11 did not have a gun and did not resist arrest. CCTV footage also showed men in civilian attire dragging a young man believed to be Kian before he was shot in a dark alley.

Sen. Bam urges lawmakers to pass FSL for deaf Filipinos

Sen. Bam Aquino urged fellow lawmakers to approve a measure giving deaf Filipinos a national language that honors the country’s diverse cultures and colorful history.

“Kailangan natin ng opisyal na wika upang epektibo ang pakikipag-usap natin sa mga bingi. Naniniwala po kami na ang Filipino Sign Language o FSL ang pinaka-angkop na national sign language,” said Sen. Bam in his co-sponsorship speech for Senate Bill No. 1455.

Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill No. 966 or the Filipino Sign Language Act was incorporated in Senate Bill No. 1455.

In his speech, Sen. Bam mentioned that the use of sign language dates back to 1596, according to Dr. Liza Martinez, an esteemed Filipino Sign Linguist.

At present, Sen. Bam said FSL has evolved to be an effective visual language that is well-researched, based on Filipino culture and history, and even incorporates indigenous elements.

“The Filipino Sign Language Act seeks to recognize Filipino Sign Language or FSL as the national sign language and endeavors to bring FSL to the mainstream,” said Sen. Bam.

If enacted into law, the FSL will become the official mode of communication of the deaf for government services, calling for trained interpreters in various government offices.

The measure also aims to make FSL as means of interpretation in broadcast media, delivering news and information consistently to the deaf community.

“Let’s build a more inclusive Philippine society and give the deaf community better access to government services, information, education, and justice,” Sen. Bam stressed.

In his four years as lawmaker, Sen. Bam has tirelessly worked for the welfare of persons with disabilities (PWDs) by pushing the passage of Republic Act 10754, which exempts PWDs from paying value added tax (VAT), in the 16th Congress as co-author.

He also worked for the passage of Republic Act 10905 or the Closed Caption Law as co-author. It requires television networks to use the closed captioning system for news and current affairs programs and entertainment shows for the benefit of viewers with hearing impairment.

In the 17th Congress, Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 967 requiring Filipino Sign Language insets for local news programs. He also filed Senate Bill No. 1249 seeking to mandate government offices and private companies to allocate a percentage of their workforce for PWDs.

Minority senators demand an end to drug killings

The minority bloc demands that the Senate stand in solidarity against the senseless killings that claimed over 80 Filipinos, including a 17-year-old Grade 11 student Kian Loyd Delos Santos, in just 4 days.

Sen. Sonny Trillanes said he will call for an all-Senators caucus on Tuesday to bring to the fore the alarming resurgence of drug related killings by the PNP.

“Sobra na. Maling mali na talaga to. I cannot, in conscience, let this pass. The Senators should have a united stand to stop this,” declared Trillanes.

Shocked by the death of an innocent teenager in Caloocan City, Sen. Bam Aquino insists that the government rethink its strategy, saying the poor and helpless are casualties in this war while those involved in big drug cases are accorded due process.

“I plan to file a resolution kasi nakababahala na talaga iyong news reports,” said Sen. Aquino.

“We cannot tolerate the alarming police impunity in the country. We need to investigate these killings of alleged drug suspects including a Grade 11 student in police operations,” Sen. Franklin Drilon echoed.

Drilon earlier questioned Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre at the 2018 budget hearing for their failure to investigate extra judicial killings, with only 37 of about 4,000 deaths related to the anti-drug campaign were investigated.

Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Pangilinan was enraged that the poor are marked as a target while more than P6 billion worth of illegal drugs can slip past the Bureau of Customs (BOC) unnoticed.

“Ang ugat ng problema sa droga ay doon nakita sa pagpuslit ng tonetoneladang shabu sa BoC ng mga sindikato kasabwat ang mga opisyal ng gobyerno,” said Pangilinan.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros urged the government to stop the extrajudicial killings, saying the Duterte administration cannot kill its way out of the drug problem.

“We refuse to accept these killings as normal,” said Hontiveros.

Sen. Leila de Lima also criticized Duterte for praising the deadly Bulacan raids, which killed 32 people, saying, “Those are clear words of a deranged mind. If you say that it’s good to kill 32 people a day – that’s a deranged mind.”

Over 80 of our countrymen were killed in Manila, Bulacan and in the Camanava (Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas-Valenzuela) area in the span of 4 days, all in the name of the PNP’s anti-drug and anti-crime operations.

Sen. Bam demands Senate probe on death of teenager

Calling it shocking and worrisome, Sen. Bam Aquino plans to file a resolution to look into the death of a 17-year-old during an anti-illegal drug operation in Caloocan City.

“I plan to file a resolution kasi nakababahala talaga iyong news reports. Hindi lang iyan, may lumalabas pa na may paglilinlang sa pagpaslang,” said Sen. Bam, referring to a 17-year-old Grade 11 student, identified as Kian Loyd Delos Santos.

Police claimed that Delos Santos shot them several times, prompting them to retaliate, killing him. However, CCTV footage from the barangay showed two policemen dragging the victim to the place where he was found dead.

“Makikita naman natin na hindi siya bumunot ng baril dahil dala-dala siya sa sulok kaya kailangan itong maimbestigahan at maparusahan ang mga nasa likod nito,” added Sen. Bam.

While he supports the government’s campaign against illegal drugs, Sen. Bam insisted that the government should rethink its strategy, saying the poor and helpless are casualties in this war while those involved in big drug cases are accorded due process.

In recent drug operations, 74 persons were killed in Manila, Bulacan and in the Camanava (Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas-Valenzuela) area

Sen. Bam: Gov’t losing needed revenue on corrupt Customs

Sen. Bam Aquino said the government is losing much-needed revenue due to corruption in the Bureau of Customs (BoC).

“Not only are we bringing in drugs, we’re also losing money on smuggled goods because of corruption in the BoC,” said Sen. Bam after the hearing on the P6.4 billion worth of shabu that slipped past the bureau’s watch.

“Habang pinoproblema ang tax reform at pagpondo sa libreng edukasyon sa mga state universities and colleges (SUCs), hinahayaan lang na mawala ang kita ng gobyerno sa imports dahil sa korupsyon sa Customs,” added Sen. Bam.

It was reported that the BoC fell short of its target for July by 11.2 percent. Last month, the bureau collected P34.8 billion in import duties and other taxes, short of the P39.2-billion target.

As of end-July, the BoC’s collection was pegged at P246.9 billion, 3.9 percent short of its goal of P257.1 billion during that span.

Instead of bringing in new personnel, Sen. Bam said the government must implement new systems that will make the BoC efficient and corruption-free.

“Kahit araw-araw tayong magpalit ng tauhan sa BoC, wala ring mangyayari kung mananatili ang mga lumang sistema na pinag-uugatan ng katiwalian sa ahensiya,” Sen. Bam stressed.

Earlier, Sen. Bam criticized authorities for allowing the shipment of 600 kilos of shabu slip past their watch.  The senator called it a case of “negligence with corruption”, where some Customs employees accept bribes to deliberately overlook illegal shipments.

Bam: Uber to pay LTFRB fine, compensate drivers for stop in operations

Sen. Bam Aquino reiterated his advice to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to impose a monetary penalty or fine on Uber instead of suspending their operations. 

“Halting operations of Uber will only hurt the drivers and the riding public. A monetary penalty will give us the same result without having to hassle our commuters,” said Sen. Bam after attending the meeting between the LTFRB and Uber in the Senate.  

In the informal meeting, it was also suggested that Uber compensate drivers for the days that they will not be able to use their vehicles.  

 “Hanapbuhay ng mga Pilipino ang pinaguusapan natin rito. Nawawalan sila ng kita para sa kanilang pamilya dahil sa stop order na ito. Natutuwa naman kami na may openness ang Uber dito,” Sen. Bam said, adding that Uber did not challenge this position.  

LTFRB will hold a special hearing on Wednesday to decide on the matter. “If all parties are in agreement, we hope the stop order can be lifted at the soonest possible time,” said Sen. Bam. 

All parties agreed that a new regulatory framework needs to be developed, not just for ridesharing services but also to improve our taxi fleets and their ability to serve the riding public and compensate drivers. 

Sen. Bam is hopeful that LTFRB can propose a new framework and legislation can come in to institutionalize these progressive changes to improve transportation in the country. 

 As early as last year, Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 696 or the Rideshare Support Company, which aims to promote and encourage new, affordable and safe transportation options for the commuting public, like Uber and Grab.

Sen. Bam on CA rejection of DSWD Sec. Judy Taguiwalo

It’s unfortunate that Sec. Taguiwalo did not have enough votes for her confirmation, even with my colleagues vouching for her integrity and work ethic.

Her replacement will have major challenges ahead, like sustaining the success of the 4Ps program and ramping up its implementation.

Our Secretary of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will need a passion to address inequality in the Philippines to ensure the effectiveness of our poverty alleviation programs.

Sen. Bam: Gov’t losing needed revenue on corrupt Customs

Sen. Bam Aquino said the government is losing much-needed revenue due to corruption in the Bureau of Customs (BoC).

“Not only are we bringing in drugs, we’re also losing money on smuggled goods because of corruption in the BoC,” said Sen. Bam after the hearing on the P6.4 billion worth of shabu that slipped past the bureau’s watch.

“Habang pinoproblema ang tax reform at pagpondo sa libreng edukasyon sa mga state universities and colleges (SUCs), hinahayaan lang na mawala ang kita ng gobyerno sa imports dahil sa korupsyon sa Customs,” added Sen. Bam.

It was reported that the BoC fell short of its target for July by 11.2 percent. Last month, the bureau collected P34.8 billion in import duties and other taxes, short of the P39.2-billion target.

As of end-July, the BoC’s collection was pegged at P246.9 billion, 3.9 percent short of its goal of P257.1 billion during that span.

Instead of bringing in new personnel, Sen. Bam said the government must implement new systems that will make the BoC efficient and corruption-free.

“Kahit araw-araw tayong magpalit ng tauhan sa BoC, wala ring mangyayari kung mananatili ang mga lumang sistema na pinag-uugatan ng katiwalian sa ahensiya,” Sen. Bam stressed.

Earlier, Sen. Bam criticized authorities for allowing the shipment of 600 kilos of shabu slip past their watch.  The senator called it a case of “negligence with corruption”, where some Customs employees accept bribes to deliberately overlook illegal shipments.

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