Jason Ivler Can't Be Extradited to the U.S.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Wednesday road rage murder suspect Jason Aguilar Ivler cannot yet be extradited to the United States, where he is wanted for his failure to appear in court to face dangerous drugs charges. 

"Our process of extradition is such that a person who has a pending case here in our country cannot be extradited," NBI Spokesman Atty. Ricardo Diaz said. 

Ivler is accused of shooting to death Renato Ebarle Jr., a son of Undersecretary Renato Ebarle Sr. of the Presidential Management Staff in Malacanang, during a traffic altercation in Quezon City last November 18. 

"If he is convicted, he should first serve his sentence here and undergo the process before he is turned over to U.S. authorities," Diaz said. 

"Before we turn over a person, who is a subject of an extradition request of another country, whether he is a citizen or not of other country, he should first secure a clearance from the Philippines," he stressed. 

Ivler, a son of Marlene Aguilar-Pollard, is also facing criminal charges for direct assault, frustrated murder and attempted murder for resisting arrest and shooting it out with NBI agents while he was being arrested last January 18 in his residence in Blue Ridge, Quezon City. 

Two agents of the NBI were wounded during the shootout. 

The road rage suspect is a member of the United States Marines Corps and had served in Iraq. (PNA)

Filipino Catholic priests have donated P1 million to Haiti

Filipino Catholic priests have donated P1 million to the victims of the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti two weeks ago. 

The donation was collected during the Mass held on Wednesday at the celebration of the 2nd National Congress of the Clergy at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, where 5,500 priests attended. 

According to Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, director of the Media Office of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), the collection was the participants' way of helping the Haiti quake victims. 

"That was a concrete expression of solidarity with the brethren of that country," he said. 

Quitorio also said that the talk of Papal Household preacher Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa had touched the topic of the victims of calamities. 

"At one of the talks of Fr. Cantalamesa, he exhorted the 5,000 priests to find the body of Christ in the Eucharist among the poor — which may include even victims of calamities," Quitorio said. 

Last January 24, all parishes in the country had a second collection intended for the Haiti earthquake victims, upon the request of CBCP president Nereo Odchimar. 

The Tandag prelate said that they are ready to help the victims of the tremors and will continue to pray for the family of those who died, those who were injured and for their immediate recovery. 

"We pray for those who have perished, for the injured and for the displaced at this difficult and sad time," he said. (PNA)

PND Day Celebration

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will lead the Philippine National Police (PNP) 19th anniversary celebration on Friday. 

During the occasion three police officers who showed courage and bravery against criminal elements in separate armed engagements last year will lead individual awardees this year. 

President Arroyo will present the medals and citations to PNP units and personnel. She will be assisted by Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary and National Police Commission (Napolcom) Chairman Ronaldo Puno and PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa. 

Topping this year's awardees is Insp. Christopher Obien, of the 306th Provincial Mobile Group, who will receive "Medalya ng Katapangan" (PNP Bravery Medal) for conspicuous courage and gallantry when he figured in an encounter with three armed robbers who held-up a passenger bus along EDSA on May 21, 2009. 

Obien single handedly neutralized the armed robbery and saved the bus passengers from harm. 

The President will also award similar Medalya ng Katapangan award to two members of the Taguig City Police Station who bravely engaged heavily armed members of the notorious Alvin Flores Group that staged a daring robbery at the Greenbelt 5 Mall in Makati City on October 19, 2009. 

SPO1 Cesar Tiglao and PO1 Efren Ceniza Jr. were cited for gallantry in action for successfully preventing the heavily armed robbers from pulling off the robbery resulting in the killing of one suspect and the recovery of the loot consisting of expensive Rolex and Tudor men's watches. 

The other individual awardees are Supt. Nereo Torrecampo, "Medalya ng Kadakilaan" (PNP Heroism Medal) for conspicuous courage displayed as team leader of the PNP team that rescued some 500 victims of storm Ondoy in Cainta, Rizal on September 26, 2009; Senior Supt. William Macavinta, "Medalya ng Pambihirang Paglilingkod" (PNP Special Service Medal) for highly commendable and invaluable service rendered in co-hosting a marathon broadcast that attended to requests for police assistance from Ondoy's victims last year. 

President Arroyo will also award the "Medalya ng Katangitanging Gawa" (PNP Outstanding Achievement Medal) to selected PNP officers and personnel for outstanding individual achievements, namely, Chief Supt. George Regis, for distinguished achievement in drafting the oath-taking procedures and successful implementation of the conferment of the PNP badge of honor to all PNP uniformed personnel nationwide.

Pinoy Soldiers Died in Haiti Earthquake

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Wednesday set a new timetable for the return of the three of its personnel who died following a recent earthquake in Haiti where they were deployed on a peacekeeping mission, 

"Either over the weekend or early next week," Armed Forces public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner told reporters in a press briefing at the military's general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo on the return of the soldiers. 

The three – Navy Data Processor 3 Pearly Panangui, Army Sgt. Eustacio Bermudez and Air Force Sgt. Janice Arocena – were trapped at the Christopher Hotel, home of the UN in Haiti where they were doing clerical jobs. 

Another Filipino, UN civilian staff Jerome Yap, also died at the hotel. His body may be transported to US where his parents live. 

Brawner last week said that the three, escorted by Filipino peacekeepers led by Maj. Steve Ducusin, will arrive last Monday. On Tuesday, Brawner said the remains of the peacekeepers may arrive Manila today. 

Brawner said the bodies of the peacekeepers are still at the Dominican Republic where UN forensic experts are subjecting them to test. 

"They still have to undergo more forensic tests because forensic experts of the United Nations do not want to release the bodies just like that. They still have to have a 100 percent match between the body and the identity (of the soldiers)," said Brawner. 

Brawner said they have already sent initial fingerprint and dental records of the three to the UN. "Today, we are trying to get (more) records from the NBI..anything that would ascertain their identity" the official said. 

He said forensic examinations on peacekeepers, deployed under the UN, is normal. In one instance, it took a Filipino colonel - who died of malaria while on a peacekeeping mission in Liberia – four days before his body was transported to Philippines.

NBI Files More Cases vs Jason Ivler

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed on Wednesday morning additional charges of direct assaults with frustrated and attempted murder against Jason Ivler in connection with the January 18 shootout in his Quezon City house that resulted in the wounding of the murder suspect himself and two bureau officers. 

NBI Director Nestor M. Mantaring said Ivler's mother, Marlene Aguilar, was also slapped with the same charges as accomplice. 

"Additional charges were filed against Jason Ivler as principal, while his mother, Marlene Aguilar, is facing the same charges as accomplice. The charges were filed at the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office this morning," Mantaring said. 

The direct assaults with frustrated murder was in connection with the wound inflicted on Special Investigator Anna Lira Labao of the NBI Intelligence Services, while the direct assaults with attempted murder was for the wound sustained by lawyer Angelito Magno, chief of the Special Action Unit (SAU), the NBI director added. 

This developed as Asian Development Bank (ADB) British consultant Stephen Pollard, stepfather of Ivler, was invited to appear at the NBI on Thursday to shed light into the incident. 

"He is not yet off the hook. He was invited to appear at the NBI Special Action Unit (SAU) on Thursday," Mantaring said. 

The NBI director said the illegal possession of firearms was absorbed in the indirect assaults charges. 

After "Anak" hitmaker Freddie Aguilar cried foul on the alleged illegal search conducted by the NBI inside his house in New Manila to find his nephew Jason Aguilar Ivler weeks ago, the bureau defended its move, saying it used a warrant of arrest and not search warrant in conducting the operation. 

Head Agent Ross Bautista, executive officer of the Office of the Intelligence Services, said the NBI operatives were armed with warrant of arrest for Ivler's case so the operation was legitimate.

Cha-cha Changing the Philippine Constitution: Good or Bad

By Joe Espiritu

Last week, a nationwide barangay assembly was held and among the usual topics discussed was the information dissemination of the forms of democratic governments existing in the world today. The speakers presented a comparative study of the forms of government systems and although there was no outright campaign for a change, subtle hints for modification of our present system were evident. 

Many problems will be encountered during the change process, which will follow later. First: the citizenry is not familiar with our present form of government such as the divisions of the government, Administrative, Legislative and Judiciary, its scope and functions, how the officials may be installed or removed from office. This was once taught in the elementary grades but now the subject could be only found in college. And not all of us go to college. 

Even if the parliamentary system is discussed in detail, there will be no basis of comparison since information of the other system has been lacking or even if present, hazy. It will then need an intensive information campaign at the grassroots level so the issues will be properly understood. This will need logistics for time money and effort to be expended. Then, who will put up the logistics? 

The shift to the parliamentary system is an uphill struggle. Aside from lack of information, there will be tremendous opposition. The main stumbling block would be the Senate. Since the parliamentary form of government is Unicameral, that is; there is only one lawmaking body composed of Members of Parliament or MP the Senate will be abolished. No senator will accept that proposition. To stay in saddle, he will have to run as an MP. Which is equivalent to a Congressman. 

It will not be only the senators who will object, there will be o politicians other than senators. Those who make the elective office a source of employment would not accept the change. Take away the pork barrel and nobody will run for any legislative position. The traditional politician spends a considerable amount of money for his election expecting that in his term he will recover his investment. In the parliamentary form, the tenure is not fixed since a change of government may happen anytime before his term of office ends. He may not recover his investment. 

Those who live only for election like political leaders and tribal or clan heads responsible for the distribution of largesse would surely object to the change. A politician unsure of the recovery of his investment will not splurge so war chests would run dry. It would be starvation time for trapos and professional leaders. Any attempt to restructure the government would be resisted by groups with vested interest in the status quo. Suggestions for a change are resisted because they imply an unpleasant variation of hierarchy and an exchange of rituals. 

Yet there are times when systems must change. In a time characterized by rapidly varying external physical and social environment accommodation to and acceptance of change is mandatory if we are to survive and grow. Changes are necessary if adoption to new environmental circumstances is to be achieved. Abraham Lincoln once said; the dogmas of the quirt past are inadequate for the stormy present. 

The Unitary Presidential system imposed on us by the United States when the Philippines had a population of twelve million is no longer adequate for the more than eighty million Filipinos today. As a consequence of the enormous social and technological changes of the last centuries our present system of government is not working well. Persistent rumors of coup de etat, protests rallies and endless political bickering attest to that. Unless we change, the future belongs to those who do.

Philippine Passport in Caloocan

In line with its goal of providing easy passporting services for its constituents, the Caloocan local government, through the leadership of Mayor Enrico "Recom" Echiverri, has sponsored anew a mobile passporting program for its residents interested to work in abroad. 

Echiverri said with this project, which benefited hundreds of Caloocan residents, enabled his constituents to secure their passport requirements without going to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) main office in Pasay City. 

He added the mobile passporting was made possible with the assistance of the DFA and their civil registry department. 

The provision of the mobile passporting program is part the city's 48th founding anniversary celebration this Jan. 23. 

It has become a yearly affair in Caloocan ever since Echiverri took over the mayoralty post in 2004 (PNA)

Disaster Response Center in Quezon City

The Quezon City government is putting up a disaster response center at the QC Hall to ensure the safety of employees and residents of the city during disasters such as fires and earthquakes. 

QC Mayor Feliciano "Sonny" R. Belmonte Jr. said he has instructed city general services office (GSO) head Rolando P. Montiel to take charge of QC Hall disaster preparedness activities. 

Belmonte said these include conducting seminar-workshops to raise the level of awareness, skills and knowledge of the employees on disaster mitigation, response and individual and team roles. 

Montiel has designated action officers whose first tasks included organizing emergency teams at GSO and other departments and offices within the QC Hall complex. 

Outside QC Hall, QC Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) chief Manuel N. Sabalza is in charge of the citywide emergency preparedness and response operations. 

At QC Hall, the GSO disaster action group organized by action officers Engr. Armingol B. Morales, Dr. Noel L. Lansang and Eufredie Orendez have started conducting seminar-workshops on basic life support or first aid and on the principles and techniques of rescue and evacuation. 

Participants in the GSO seminar-workshops included GSO teams for communication, transport, fire suppression, rescue, first aid and security. About 40 GSO personnel represented the first batch of QC Hall employees to undergo such training. 

Montiel said such training activities will also be conducted in other offices at QC Hall. Later on, there will also be emergency drills to enhance the employees' disaster preparedness. 

Meanwhile, the Disaster Risk Reduction Network Philippines (DRRNetPhils) said the Philippines is in dire need of a comprehensive law which will help communities prepare for and reduce risks from disasters. 

The 300-strong local and international civil society organizations and advocates grouped under the DRRNetPhils asked the 14th Congress as it nears adjournment for its third and last session to pass the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) bill, which aims to expand coverage of the Presidential Decree No. 1566. 

Passed in 1978, PD No. 1566 created the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) to oversee emergency response, relief and rehabilitation operations, and disaster preparedness in the short term. (PNA)

Best Police District for 2009

For the fourth consecutive year, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has been chosen by the Philippine National Police (PNP) as the Best Police District for 2009, besting all other provincial and police district commands in the country. 

The announcement was made by Director Abner D. Cabalquinto of the PNP Personnel and Records Management, who said that QCPD director Chief Superintendent Elmo San Diego will receive the much-coveted award in ceremonies marking the PNP's 19th anniversary at Camp Crame on January 29. 

For his part, San Diego said, "This is a tribute to the dedicated gallant men and women of QCPD who quietly continue to do their best and maintain their high morale despite bumps along the road." 

"Equally, it is also a symbol of the continuing full support of the Quezon City government under Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista and the City Council, which provide us with the equipment, operational funds and motivation to excel and deliver quality police service." 

QCPD first won the award in 2006 when it instituted the PNP Integrated Transformation Program (lTP), the 15-year program to transform the PNP in terms of equipment, systems and procedures, hand-in-hand with values, morale, proficiency and reliability. 

Under the motto, "Transform to Perform, Perform as We Transform," QCPD also won the award in 2007 and 2008. 

"We will definitely go all-out to again win the award for 2010 and be the first in the PNP Hall of Fame. God bless our endeavors," San Diego said. (PNA)

Richard Ando, 45, chairman and chief executive officer of the Unlad Housing Cooperative, Inc

The chairman and chief executive officer of Baguio-based housing cooperative was fatally shot by a gunman equipped with a silencer while having lunch with friends inside a restaurant in Fairview, Novaliches, Quezon City on Sunday. 

Quezon City Police District (QCPD) investigators identified the fatality as Richard Ando, 45, chairman and chief executive officer of the Unlad Housing Cooperative, Inc. based in Baguio City, Benguet Province. 

Ando was eating at a restaurant on Commonwealth Avenue in Fairview, Novaliches, Quezon City at about 1:30 p.m. Sunday when the suspect suddenly appeared and shot him. 

The suspect fled after the incident and now the object of a police manhunt. 

An unidentified companion of the victim rushed him at the Far Eastern University (FEU) on Regalado Avenue, Fairview where was pronounced dead on arrival. (PNA) 

Police were still determining the identity of the suspect as well as the motive of the killing.