Teves disputes Noynoy

Former Finance Secretary Margarito Teves disputed President Aquino’s claim the Macapagal administration was a “lost decade.”

He said the Aquino administration is merely reaping the gains of reforms instituted by the GMA administration.

Teves said the Arroyo administration laid the foundation which resulted in the credit rating upgrades that started during her term and shortly after she had stepped down from the office.

Among the reforms, Teves cited Arroyo’s prudent management of the national government debt and the passage of legislation in support of financial market development like the reformed value added tax.

Teves suggested that infrastructure spending should be increased from the present 3% of the GDP to five percent.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), The World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has reduced the GDP growth rate for 2014 to 6.2 % for the IMF and 6.4% for the WB and ADB.

Former DBM secretary Benjamin Diokno expressed the view that the Philippine economy is losing steam.

Diokno noted that construction screeched to a halt in 2014.

Too many accidents

The MMDA reported a total of 1,438 road accidents in September alone, 553 happened at EDSA alone, while 158 happened on C-5 and 77 on Commonwealth Avenue.

From Oct. 1-14, 664 accidents were recorded with 240 happening on EDSA, 71 on C-5 road and 31 on Commonwealth Avenue.

There was at least one fatal accident per day in Metro Manila in 2013, 141 happened in Quezon City.

These are weekly accidents at NLEX and SLEX.

Traffic accidents is one major cause of traffic jams.

The Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and local police should strictly enforce speed limits.

IBP slams Senate probe

Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) president Vicente Joyas criticized the Senate probe on Binay as no longer in aid of legislation but in aid of election.

Joyas said the Senators are obviously ganging up on Binay instead of using their investigative powers to address more pressing concerns and needs of the people. He bewailed the practice of some Senators in treating resource persons as witnesses in legal proceedings. He emphasized that they should be treated with respect as guaranteed by the Constitutional provision on the rights of persons appearing before legislative investigations. He cited the case of Bengzon vs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee where the Court ruled that Senators should exercise caution so as not to violate this right. According to the Court: “The critical element is the existence of, and the weight to be ascribed to, the interest of Congress in demanding disclosures from an unwilling witness. We cannot simply assume, however, that every congressional investigation is justified by a public need that over-balances any private rights affected. To do so would be to abdicate the responsibility placed by the Constitution upon the judiciary to insure that Congress does not unjustifiably encroach upon an individual’s right to privacy nor abridge his liberty of speech, press, religion or assembly”.

Joyas said the charges against Binay should be left to other investigative bodies especially since a case has already been filed with the Ombudsman.

In addition, the Department of Justice has already ordered the NBI to investigate Vice President Binay.

Joyas said the Senate panel cannot force VP Binay to attend its hearing because they do not have prosecutory powers.

Sanator Koko Pimentel said the Vice President will be invited a second time to attend its hearing on October 30.

Meanwhile, Senator Jinggoy Estrada accused the Department of Justice of railroading the case against the Binays as they did with the case of the 3 senators.

Synod of Bishops

One hundred eighty-three Catholic bishops failed to reach a consensus on opening the church’s doors to remarried divorcees and gays.

The proposal to open the church door to gays and allowing divorcees to receive communion failed to get the 2/3rds vote required.

Pope Francis said he was confident the coming year would allow ideas to mature and find concrete solutions to the many challenges facing the church.

QC benefits for seniors

The Quezon City government will award P7,500 cash benefits to residents aged 75 in furtherance of the QC’s 75th founding anniversary.

The ordinance providing for the benefits to senior citizens age 75 was authored by Councilor Raquel Malanguen of District 4.

Makati and Cebu have ongoing program providing monthly cash benefits for seniors. DSWD gives a P500 monthly allowance to seniors age 77 and above.

Manila is also following suit.

Governor’s wife missing

Josie Tallada, the wife of Camarines Norte Governor Edgar Tallada was reported missing. With her was a friend, Darlene Francisco.

Police found her vehicle, a black Toyota Fortuner abandoned in Barangay Napuledan, Camarines Sur.

The governor’s wife has been missing since Friday.

Government to operate NAIA 3

Malacañang announced that the government will continue to operate NAIA 3 despite a Court of Appeals ruling stopping the government from taking over NAIA until it pays PIATCO $371 million compensation.

Airline operators are asking if NAIA 3 would still be under the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).

PIATCO expressed readiness to operate NAIA 3.