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Sen. Bam eyes permanent residency for religious workers, missionaries like Sister Fox

In light of the deportation order against Sister Patricia Fox, Senator Bam Aquino renewed his call for the passage of his measure seeking to give permanent residency to foreign religious workers and missionaries as recognition of their work to promote the welfare of the poor.

“Foreign religious workers like Sister Fox are partners for change. Many of them are fighting for the rights and welfare of the poor through outreach work and social missions,” Sen. Bam said in Senate Bill No. 702 or the Permanent Residency to Qualified Religious Workers Act.

In his measure, which was filed last July 20, 2016, Sen. Bam emphasized that foreign religious workers have sacrificed a lot, including leaving the comfort of their homes and their families, just to serve the Filipino people.

“These are devoted individuals who intend to live the rest of their lives serving the Filipino people,” Sen. Bam stressed.

The measure seeks to amend Commonwealth Act No. 613, otherwise known as the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, to spare foreign religious from burdensome requirements and procedures to stay in the country and performing their chosen vocation here that benefits our communities.

“This bill seeks to assist the many religious workers who have already dedicated long years of their lives to their missionary work and vocation in the country,” said Sen. Bam.

According to the senator, the measure is also aimed at updating the antiquated immigration law to better address the changing needs and demands of the increasing globalized and interconnected international community.

Earlier, Sen. Bam condemned the deportation order against Sister Fox, saying the government overlooked the missionary’s help to poor Filipinos just because she fought for their cause.

“Binalewala ng administrasyon ang ilang taong pagtulong ni Sister Patricia Fox sa mahihirap na Pilipino dahil siya’y nakikiisa sa kanilang ipinaglalaban,” said Sen. Bam. “Lantaran na ang panggigipit sa mga taong lumalaban at hindi sunud-sunuran.”

Sen. Bam has committed to file a resolution to investigate possible abuses in the deportation of foreign nationals. In the 16th Congress, Sen. Bam filed Senate Resolution No. 260 to ensure that the freedom of expression of foreign nationals is not curtailed.

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Photo taken from PhilStar.com

Sen. Bam on the deportation of Sister Patricia Fox

Binalewala ng administrasyon ang ilang taong pagtulong ni Sister Patricia Fox sa mahihirap na Pilipino dahil siya’y nakikiisa sa kanilang ipinaglalaban.

Lantaran na ang panggigipit sa mga taong lumalaban at hindi sunud-sunuran.

Now, more than ever, we need our laws to protect the rights of people willing to stand up to power and speak out against injustices.

In the 16th Congress, I filed Senate Resolution No. 260 to ensure that the freedom of expression of foreign nationals is not curtailed.

 I will file a resolution once again to investigate possible abuses in the deportation of foreign nationals.

Sen. Bam: No point in Boracay shutdown until gov’t develops solid plan, procedure

Just days before the start of its six-month shutdown, the government has yet to show a clear plan to rehabilitate Boracay Island and to provide assistance to those affected by its closure.

“Ilang araw na lang at isasara na pero wala pang inilalabas na plano para ma-rehabilitate ang Boracay. Kailangan rin ng plano para sa mga maliliit na negosyante at freelancers,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, referring to the impending closure of Boracay on April 26.

“Huwag pahirapan ang mga Pilipino kung wala pang malinaw na plano,” Sen. Bam stressed.

Sen. Bam said the government should delay its plan to close Boracay if it has no definite plan for its rehabilitation and for the delivery of assistance to its residents, who are relying on the island for their livelihood.

Earlier, Sen. Bam called on concerned government agencies to provide assistance to small businesses that will be affected by the six-month closure of the island.

The senator said Negosyo Centers in Aklan and other nearby areas play a crucial role in keeping micro and small enterprises in the area afloat by connecting them to other markets and provide them with alternative livelihood.

 “Maaaring iugnay ng Negosyo Centers ang mga maliliit na negosyante sa iba’t ibang merkado habang naghihintay na bumalik sa normal ang operasyon ng Boracay,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor and author of Republic Act No. 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act.

Sen. Bam to BIR: Ensure zero harassment of small businesses in intensified inspections

While he welcomes the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s move to intensify inspection of businesses, Sen. Bam Aquino said the agency must ensure that this action will not be a tool for harassment and corruption.

“We laud the BIR’s effort to go after tax evaders, but the agency should also guarantee that they will target large businesses and not harass our micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Walang kalaban-laban ang mga maliliit na negosyo kung sila ay gipitin,” said Sen. Bam.

“Lalo na ngayong tumataas ang presyo ng bilihin, inaasahan ng mga pamilya ang kanilang maliit na negosyo, tulad ng sari-sari store at carenderia. Tiyakin dapat ng BIR na hindi papahirapan ng mga inspectors ang mga kababayan nating nasa laylayan,” added Sen. Bam.

Earlier, Sen. Bam pushed for the exemption of micro enterprises earning less than P250,000 annually from paying the required percentage taxes, on top of their income tax exemption, under the Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN) Act.

“Malaki ang naitutulong ng mga maliliit na negosyo at sideline sa mga mahihirap nating pamilya at komunidad. Dapat lang na suportahan sila ng gobyerno,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam is a former social entrepreneur and long-time advocate for MSME development.

His first law, Republic Act 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act, has established more than 800 Negosyo Centers around the Philippines to help Filipinos put up and manage successful businesses.

Sen. Bam also filed Senate Bill No. 169 or the Small Business Tax Reform Act, which seeks to provide small businesses with a lower income tax rate, VAT exemption and simplified filing of taxes.

Under the measure, all small businesses shall be exempt from payment of income tax for the first three years of its operation from date of establishment and will be subjected to lower income tax rates thereafter.

“This bill also proposes the lowering of the income tax rate for MSEs and an exemption from VAT, among other methods to help our small businesses grow,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam lone opposition in top 12

Senator Bam Aquino stood firm as the only member of the opposition within the top 12 of the senatorial race in the Pulse Asia survey conducted from March 23 to 28 – a sign the Filipino people still acknowledge the need for dissenting voices.

“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa tiwala ng taumbayan, sa karangalang maisama sa listahan ng posibleng manalo bilang Senador sa 2019,” said Sen. Bam, whose first term in the Senate ends in 2019.

“Umaasa tayo na madagdagan pa ang kababayan nating pipili ng mga tao na handang tumayo laban sa maling polisiya ng pamahalaan,” the senator added, emphasizing that the country also needs a dissenting voice that will stand up for the people.

 “Sa kasalukuyan, marami nang Pilipino ang nawalan ng boses at hindi na kayang ipaglaban ang kanilang paninindigan. Naririto ang oposisyon para maging tinig at tagapagtanggol nila,” Sen. Bam pointed out.

Sen. Bam underscored the need for an opposition coalition that is willing to stand and oppose government policies detrimental to the welfare of the Filipino people.

 “Kailangan natin ng isang oposisyon na handang tumayo, kahit alam nating hindi ito popular sa kasalukuyan, upang ipaglaban ang karapatan ng taumbayan at protektahan ang demokrasya,” stressed Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said the Liberal Party (LP) will join a coalition slate, which will be made up of people willing to speak out and stand up against Malacanang’s policies that may be damaging to the people.

 

Govt must act to stop escalating militarization of West PH Sea: Liberal stalwarts

Partido Liberal stalwarts on Wednesday slammed the government for its inaction on the country’s territorial claims on the West Philippine Sea amid reports that China’s two war planes landed on the reef.
 
“We demand transparency in the administration’s dealings with China. What else is the Philippines giving up to this new friendship?” asked Sen. Bam Aquino.
 
“Hindi ba dapat ipaglaban ang ating teritoryo, lalo na para sa mga mangingisda natin? Sinayang lang ng administrasyon ang panalo natin sa Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA),” added Sen. Aquino, referring to the PCA’s decision that the Philippines own the disputed territories.
 
Sen. Aquino said if the government is determined and sincere in protecting the country’s territory, then it should assert our victory in the PCA.
 
Senator Francis Pangilinan, Partido Liberal president, said the escalating militarization of the West Philippine Sea, taken with the Philippine government’s obliging attitude and behavior toward China, is unacceptable.
 
“Nagiging barangay na ba ng China ang Pilipinas?” he asked.
 
Pangilinan also pointed out that this sovereignty and security issue should have been discussed in the President’s recent visit to China.
 
“Hindi ba ito napag-usapan ng ating Presidente noong bumisita siya sa China kamakailan?” he asked.
 
What happened to jet ski promise?
 
Former lawmaker Erin Tanada, Partido Liberal’s vice president for external affairs, said that if Duterte cannot fulfill his campaign promise to ride a jet ski and plant a Philippine flag in the disputed territory, he must at least fight for it through the PCA decision.
 
“Ipakita sana ni Duterte ang tapang na ipinakita niya noong kampanya, laban sa China at hindi ang pagtikum-bibig habang nilalabag ang ating kasarinlan,” Tanada said.
 
Tanada reiterated that the presence of Chinese military transport planes on Panganiban Reef is another intrusion in our sovereign territory.
 
“We seek clarification from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of Foreign Affairs on this incident. Are Philippine authorities aware of this? Are these passages or landing allowed?  What is China bringing next after these transport planes — war planes?” Tanada said.
 
“Dapat nating tutulan itong patuloy na panloloob bilang bahagi ng ating paninindigan sa desisyon ng Arbitral Tribunal. We should be on guard against any move that could be prejudicial to order, and peace and security in the territory,” Tanada added.

Sen. Bam: Fact-check coalition will strengthen fight against online disinformation, fake news

Senator Bam Aquino welcomed Facebook’s initiative to push through with a local-fact checking coalition aimed at addressing spread of fake news on its platform.

“We’re glad Facebook has decided to enter into a local fact-checking coalition in the aftermath of its failure to protect millions of personal data from being exposed,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam was referring to Facebook’s move to partner with Rappler and Vera Files for a third-party fact-checking program in the Philippines to prevent fake news from spreading on its social media platform.

“With disinformation spreading like wildfire through social media, it’s encouraging to see Facebook take a stronger stance on this issue and partner with agencies that are genuinely fighting fake news,” added Sen. Bam.

Facebook’s move came days after it was revealed that the accounts of 87 million users worldwide were accessed by Cambridge Analytica, a communications firm accused of harvesting data of millions of Facebook users to help Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.

Of that number, around 1,175,870 Filipino users may have had their Facebook information improperly shared with Cambridge Analytica, according to Facebook’s Chief Technology Officer Mike Schroepfer.

Sen. Bam actively participated in fake news hearings conducted by the Senate. During one of the hearings, Sen. Bam urged Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar to help fight the spread of fake news through Facebook accounts using the name of President Duterte.

Sen. Bam urged the PCOO chief to police his own ranks, saying blogs written by some of his employees in their private capacity hurt the image of the agency.

Also, Sen. Bam called on both supporters and detractors of President Duterte to stop throwing hate speech at each on social media, saying the environment has become toxic.

Dengvaxia report a cover-up to government fiascos: Partido Liberal stalwarts

Partido Liberal stalwarts questioned the timing of the release of the committee report on the Dengvaxia issue, saying it could be a move to cover up controversies hounding the administration.

This is simply a smokescreen of the administration to hide the issues hounding its officials,” said former congressman Erin Tanada, now Partido Liberal’s vice president for external affairs.





“Why was the committee report released to the public before it has been filed or sponsored? Are not the signatures of majority of the committee members required before the report can be filed?” Tanada asked.

“What happens to the report if the majority disagrees? Wala pang pirma eh,” he added.





Sen. Bam Aquino agreed with Tanada. 





“Though this report has not been made available to the members of the Blue Ribbon Committee, if the final report reflects yesterday’s statements and political leanings, we will have serious concerns with the conclusions made,” Aquino said.

Moreover, the senator reiterated that no child has died due to the Dengvaxia vaccine. “Ang isang mahalaga na lumabas sa presscon kahapon ay wala pang napatutunayan na may batang namatay dahil sa Dengvaxia vaccine,” he said.

Tanada pointed out that the release coincided with the impending closure of Boracay Island, the President’s order to the House to hasten the impeachment process against Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno, and the rising prices of goods and services.





“Nais na naman nilang ilihis ang isyu mula sa kapalpakan at kontrobersyang bumabalot sa administrasyong ito para matuon sa LP ang galit ng taumbayan,” said Tanada.

For his part, Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat doubted the fairness of Gordon’s report, saying that it focused mainly on the past administration, but did not dwell on the current government.





“Hindi lang sa nakaraang administrasyon ipinatupad ang bakuna sa Dengvaxia kundi sa kasalukuyang administrasyon. Nakakapagtaka na nakatuon lang ang report ni Sen. Gordon sa nakalipas na administrasyon,” said Baguilat.











Sen. Bam on the resignation of Justice Secretary Aguirre

Natutuwa tayo at nagkakaisa ang oposisyon at ang Pangulo sa isyung ito.  

Sa mata ng taumbayan, pawala na nang pawala ang kredibilidad ni dating Justice Secretary Aguirre sa bawat kapalpakan at palihis na kilos nito.   

The Filipino people deserve a credible, capable and respectable Justice Secretary who will lead with integrity and rebuild our trust in the Department of Justice. 

Muli nating ibalik ang tiwala ng taumbayan sa DOJ bilang tanggapan na nagtataguyod ng hustisya para sa bawat Pilipino, lalo na sa mga walang kalaban-laban.

Sen. Bam on SC’s order requiring gov’t to submit report on drug war

We support the Supreme Court’s call for greater transparency in the War on Drugs.
 
Buhay at seguridad ng mga pamilya at komunidad ang nakataya dito. 
 
We urge the PNP to earn the trust of the Filipino people by submitting accurate reports on drug operations, especially since they cannot seem to suppress the killings.
 
With 20,000 reported deaths due to the Drug War, it is only right that the public have access to real facts and information.
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