Harry Roque will not be short of horror stories about Globe and Smart

Rep. Harry Roque delivering privilege speech.

Rep. Harry Roque delivering privilege speech.

This is a most welcome congressional inquiry.

Kabayan Party-list Representative Harry L. Roque, in a resolution filed last week said, “The House of Representatives requests the major telecommunication providers, Smart Telecommunications and Globe Telecommunications, to explain why the Filipino people are not receiving the quality of service that they deserve and, to show cause why they should have the privilege to keep their franchises despite the same.”

Roque said Section 20 of Republic Act 7925 provides all telecommunication users the right to reliable services and conforming to minimum standards set by the National Telecommunications Commission, regular and accurate billing, and thorough and prompt investigations and actions upon complaints.

He reminded the telecom companies that they bound to comply with the provisions of general telecommunications and broadcast laws as provided by their franchises, as provided by Republic Act 7229 and Republic Act 7294, for Smart Communications Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc., respectively.

“Failure to comply with statutory obligations provided under one’s franchise is a ground for penalty, suspension, or removal of such franchise,” he warned.

Feona Imperial's woes with Globe

Feona Imperial’s woes with Globe

Roque said, however, that “common experience would reveal that the services provided by major telecommunication service providers have been below standard or inadequate, as evidenced by poor signal reception, frequently dropped calls, unexplained exorbitant bills, and sudden and abrupt disconnection of contract services.”

Roque will not run short of horror stories from both Globe and Smart subscribers.

Our colleague in VERA Files, Feona Imperial is a post-paid subscriber of Globe. She was so stressed out last week as she could not send text messages. Every time she sent a text message, it would as “Failed” message.

When she tried to call up the person she was contacting, she heard a recorded message that her outgoing service has been disabled. Two possible reasons were given: unpaid bill or she exceeded her credit limit. Both were untrue: she had no unpaid bill and she did not exceed her credit limit.

She posted a report in Twitter. Globe did not reply.

She posted another complaint in Facebook. And she was directed where to report her problem.

She dialled 211 and a pre-recorded message voice told her that she had been disconnected and for her to pay her bills. But the payment deadline was not due yet, how come her service was disconnected? Included in her bill was a P900 share-a-load which she never made.

The service officer apologized to her explaining that there was a system error.
Her line was reconnected but last Wednesday, the same thing happened. She dialled 211 and the same conversation with a service officer took place.

The service officer told her they cannot guarantee it will not happen again because they are beset by systems error.
Ganun lang?

My own Globe horror story started last February and is continuing, I don’t know until when.
I have no signal one I’m inside out house. I cannot send or receive messages and I cannot call. I have to go out of the house to the street to be able to use my cell phone.

Last February, I posted my complaint in Facebook and Twitter. A Globe public relations officer asked me what she can do for me and I replied, “I only need one thing from Globe: service that I’m paying for.”

Globe installed a booster in my house for free because I told them that I will not pay extra for them to give me service that should come with my subscription.

The relief was temporary because after about three months, the booster was no longer working.

Susan Abaya's woes 1

Susan Abaya’s woes 1

Susan Abaya complaint 2

Susan Abaya’s travails with Globe is worse.

Susan said, her two-year old complaint has not been answered by Globe. “Bakit 10 taon sinigil kami — naka tack in sa statements ng asawa ko — monthly recurring cost na wala naman celphone na gamit. Ngayon na naman ayaw putulin line ng anak ko na nasa US na pilit buwan- buwan bini-bill recurring fee kasi may outstanding bill daw.”

Lozada’s conviction stresses urgency of whistleblowers law

Jun Lozada in a Palm Sunday mass. File photo

Jun Lozada in a Palm Sunday mass. File photo

At this time of his life, it’s his faith in God that keeps Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada Jr. going.

The government has failed him. The country’s justice system turned against him. Many “friends” have abandoned him after they have used him for their agenda.

After his conviction to six to ten years in prison by the Sandiganbayan last week in the case involving the lease of idle lands when he was president of the Philippine Foreign Corporation, a teary-eyed Lozada said the decision was difficult to take but he is holding on to faith in God: “I once said before, eight years ago, one of the lessons I learned is that the opposite of fear is courage. In reality, the opposite of fear is faith. So I’m holding on to faith in God.”

Sister Mary John Mananzan, one of those who have consistently helped Lozada and his family all throughout Jun’s eight- year ordeal deal, said the case would not have materialized if he did not testify in the aborted corruption-tainted $329.5 million national broadband project with the Chinese firm, ZTE Corp.

“I’m sure of it. All the cases against him came out after he became witness. If it was really his crime, why wasn’t he charged when he was with PFC?” she asked.

It should be recalled that Lozada was the star witness in the NBN-ZTE scandal involving Gloria Arroyo and her husband Mike Arroyo.
Arroyo’s officials tried to talk him out of testifying, even treating him to a junket in Hongkong. But when he decided to come back and testify, he was abducted and was only released because of the vigilance of civil society and religious groups.

But Arroyo did not take it sitting down. Lozada was charged with graft and corruption for making his brother Jose Orlando Lozada a beneficiary of PFC’s Lupang Hinirang Program which allows the lease of idle public lands. Orlando was also charged and convicted.

Former President Benigno Aquino III, whose mother, former President Cory Aquino, led masses and joined marches in support of Lozada, took a hands-off attitude towards the cased filed against Lozada.

It was later found out that Aquino, who was then a senator, probably desiring to score points during the senate hearings on the NBN/ZTE, had offered to meet Lozada at the airport from Hongkong. Lozada at that time was still weighing the pros and cons of going against the Arroyo government and declined Aquino’s offer.

Aquino reminded Lozada of that incident when he (Lozada) ,Sister Mary John and some supporters met with him in Malacanang to seek for his assistance to stop what they feel are harassment by Arroyo.

In a dismissive tone, Aquino told Lozada that he would just pardon him if he gets convicted.

Alas, that promise had been overtaken by events because Aquino is no longer in a position to grant him pardon.

Lozada’s conviction cuts very deep because all those charged in the NBN-ZTE had been gone scot free.

With what happened to Lozada, Sister Mary John said, “who would want to be a whistle-blower?”

She said “Whistle-blowers are needed in the fight against corruption. If not for them, who would be witnesses? “

Related to the role of whistleblowers in the anti-graft campaign, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV filed a bill (Senate Bill No. 290) seeking additional protection, security and other benefits for whistleblowers. At the House of Representatives, Kabayan Rep. Harry Roque has also filed a bill strengthening government and corporate accountability by supporting and protecting the right of employees to speak out about wrongdoing on the job.

In his first State of the Nation Address, President Duterte asked Congress to enact a Whistleblower Protection Law and strengthen the Witness Protection Program “to eradicate the prevalent cultures of fear and silence that have hounded our justice system.”

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV

Trillanes said, “Several laws have been created to encourage whistleblowing; however, the existing legal framework barely meets the need for whistleblowers’ protection and support, and fails to provide them attractive incentives, considering the risks whistleblowers face when they surface.”

SB 290 which is in support of the government’s campaign against graft and corruption seeks to further uplift the welfare and protection of whistleblowers by giving them allowance sufficient for their daily basic financial requirements, housing and personal security. They are also given adequate protection by imposing penalties to employers, firms, companies or corporations that reject qualified applicants, on the ground that they are qualified whistleblowers or when a retaliatory act is committed against them in the workplace.

The bill further seeks to encourage witnesses to divulge the erring practices of public officials and employees by providing them additional monetary reward equivalent to at least ten percent of the amount which may be recovered as a result of their disclosure or the amount of One Million Pesos, whichever is lower.

“Many potential whistleblowers are discouraged from surfacing due to the risks it involves, including the security threat it entails, which sometimes completely destroy their future and prevent them from having a normal life. It is my hope that through this measure we can address the needs and promote the welfare of our whistleblowers, in exchange of the information relevant to our campaign in promoting good governance in the country,” Trillanes said.

Well- meaning warning to the President from an ally


(Quote on immunity from suits starts at 17:40 mins)

In many of his speeches , President Rodrigo Duterte flaunts his immunity from suits as an armor amid mounting concerns about the extra-judicial killings in his campaign against illegal drugs.

In a speech before troops at Camp Gen. Macario B. Peralta, JR, Jamindan, Capiz last Aug. 5, he said, “Ang Presidente, hindi mo ma-demanda. ..mag-order ako ng patay, you cannot arrest me, may immunity ako.”

It’s not only those dealing with illegal drugs that he wants killed but all those he believes pose obstructions to his desire to improve the lives of the Filipino people.

While visiting the V. Luna AFP Medical Center, last Aug. 2, he expressed frustration over the refusal of some business owners to stop “Endo” – the distortion of contractualization where workers’ employment is terminated at the fifth month before the end of the six-month probationary period to avoid making the workers permanent employees entitled to labor benefits.

Pres. Duterte talking to the troops at Camp M. Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz.

Pres. Duterte talking to the troops at Camp M. Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz.

Duterte said: “Ako mag-warning lang: Stop contractualization or patayin kita. You know why kaya ako magsalita ng ganun ang Presidente? While I am here, may immunity ako.”

During the Mindanao summit early this month, he said he is looking for a “killer” to head the the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, which he said is corruption-riddled. “I’d like to give you a warning: Do not F.. with me. I cannot pronounce the exact word, just the F and C. Don’t dare me. As President, I have the immunity from civil or criminal. If I lose my patience, I’ll call and shoot you,” he said.

Duterte’s immunity from suits is only during his incumbency as president. After June 30, 2022, he becomes fair game to those who want to haul him into court.

Duterte said he is not worried and directed people to the Revised Penal Code: “Ang sabi ng Revised Penal Code, pagdating ng 70, i-release ka na. All persons upon reaching the age.. mandatory ilabas. 71 na ako. Pagkatapos ko Presidente, 77. Saan mo ko ilagay? O ‘di wala naman,” he said to the amusement of the soldiers listening.

Lawyer Raymond Fortun corrected the President.

Atty. Raymond Fortun

Atty. Raymond Fortun

In a Facebook post, Fortun said, “With all due respect to the President, he is wrong here.”

Fortun explained that, “ Age is merely a mitigating circumstance. (Art. 13, Sec. 2, RPC). It does not mean that he cannot be charged and, if found convicted, cannot serve his sentence in a jail.

“Being 70 years of age merely reduces the penalty to its minimum (or, if there are other mitigating circumstances, by 1 to 2 degrees lower),” the lawyer further said.

Fortun gave as an example former senator Juan Ponce Enrile who was charged and imprisoned for plunder at the age of 90. He was later allowed to post bail for humanitarian reason.

Philippine incumbent presidents are protected by the Constitution in order for them to perform their job unhampered by legal obstacles but they are not totally touchable if they commit a crime against humanity.

Last Aug. 2, Kabayan Rep. Harry Roque, a human rights lawyer before he entered politics, delivered a privileged speech saying that although Duterte is immune from suits during his six-year term as president he may be indicted for the continuing spate of extrajudicial killings related to the government’s campaign against illegal drugs by the International Criminal Court.

The rising number of those killed in the campaign against illegal (1,054 as of Aug. 16, 2016 since May 10, when Duterte was elected president according to ABS-CBN monitoring ) has raised concerns not only among concerned citizens in the country but also international groups and media.

Roque belongs to the super-majority in the House of Representatives led by Duterte ally Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. He said, “while it would be imprudent for me to say with certainty that President Duterte has already committed a crime against humanity, it would be a disservice to this entire nation if I did not warn [the president] to be careful.”

Roque said Article 7, Section 1 of the Rome Statute– the treaty that established the ICC of which the Philippines is party to – a “crime against humanity” is a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population with knowledge of such attack.

Rep. Harry Roque delivering his speech on International Humanitarian Law Day.

Rep. Harry Roque delivering his speech on International Humanitarian Law Day.

“By definition, crimes against humanity may be committed even in times of peace, without the existence of an armed conflict,” he said.

Roque warned that the principle of state immunity granted to a sitting president “is not an effective shield against the ICC.”

Roque said, “The ICC has indicted leaders even during their term of power. It has done so in Kenya, Sudan, and others. Even without actual or direct participation, the President can be indicted for crimes under the principle of Command Responsibility so long as he knew that such crime was being committed, and he failed to take all necessary and reasonable measures within his power to stop such acts. The ICC does not need to wait for news about the massacre of an entire town or barangay before it investigates.

“If the administration does not temper the methods it has been using over the past few weeks, then it is only a matter of time before the international community turns its focus to the Philippines for justice,” he said.

That’s coming from an ally.

Harry Roque aims for a congressional seat through partylist

Harry Roque with Rep. Gina de Venecia and Precy Lopez-Psinakis in a rally against Gloria Arroyo's attempt to change Constitution in 2009.

Harry Roque with Rep. Gina de Venecia and Precy Lopez-Psinakis in a rally against Gloria Arroyo’s attempt to change Constitution in 2009.

I’m so glad that lawyer Harry Roque has decided to go via the party list in his entry into politics. He is no longer joining Vice President Jejomar Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance ticket.

In his meeting with members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Bacolod yesterday, Roque announced that he will be the first nominee of the party list Kalusugan, Pabahay, Kabuhayan or Kabayan which describes itself as “ a multi-sector party that represents Filipinos in various marginalized but highly important sectors in Philippine society” in the 2016 elections.

Roque said being with Kabayan “is more consistent with my human rights advocacy.”

I heaved a sigh of relief.

Harry is a good friend. He and his law firm, Roque and Butuyan law office, supported us in our fight against attempts by Gloria Arroyo and her husband Mike Arroyo to intimidate media by filing libel suits left and right.
Harry also was with us when took the Arroyo officials to court for arresting us after the Manila Peninsula siege involving Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV in November 2009.

Harry Roque and familes of victims of Maguindanao massacre. GMA News photo.

Harry Roque and familes of victims of Maguindanao massacre. GMA News photo.

It’s not only I whom Harry has helped. He took on, pro bono, the case of then Marine first Lieutenant (now Major) Artemio Raymundo,who was subjected to a court martial for having shared with fellow soldiers the CDs “Ang Mabuhay Para sa Masa,” a bio-pic of former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.

Raymundo was acquitted. He has resumed his military career and is now assigned at the Marine Brigade in Palawan.

Harry has always wanted to try to be part of government. Although he was in the forefront in the fight against Gloria Arroyo’s fraudulent presidency and campaigned actively for Benigno Aquino III in 2010, he was not part of any favored group in the Aquino administration.

He thought that he could pursue his political plans through UNA’s senatorial ticket.

It was very hard to reconcile Harry Roque with Binay given the anomalies that have been exposed by the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee that started with the investigation of the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Parking Building2.

The entourage of Binay in his provincial sorties include characters like Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson.
Harry said there were two recent incidents that made him decide not to be part of Binay’s 2016 ticket.

VP Jojo Binay meets Gloria Arroyo at the wake of the latter's brother, Arturo Macapagal, at heritage Park.

VP Jojo Binay meets Gloria Arroyo at the wake of the latter’s brother, Arturo Macapagal, at heritage Park.

When Binay decided to go to the wake of Arturo Macapagal, brother of Gloria Arroyo, at the Heritage Park two weeks ago, where the former vice-president was also reported to be going, the usual entourage was also expected to accompany him.

Harry’s daughter expressed her disgust which he himself shared.

Then they were notified that Binay was going to Maguindanao and their host would be an Ampatuan.
That was IT for Harry, who is counsel for 15 of the 58 victims of the November 2009 massacre perpetrated by the family of the late Andal Ampatuan Sr.

The past two weeks, Roque has been going around solo and he said he feels good about the reactions of the people he has met.
***
If you can’t counter the truth, spread lies.

That’s this issue or non-issue about the consultants of Sen. Antonio Trillanes III.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV at Senate hearing.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV at Senate hearing.

Here’s Trillanes’ statement:

“I categorically deny that I am using Senate funds for my household and personal expenses.

“The names mentioned in a newspaper article published today are legitimate consultants. Some were employed as confidential agents in relation to the ongoing Senate investigation regarding Binay anomalies; while others are doing field research, staff work, and other auxiliary services assigned to them.

“This consultancy issue was already cleared by the Commission on Audit, and up to this day, it has not issued any notice of disallowance regarding the same. In fact, the Senate has already met with COA, and it was concluded that there is nothing illegal with the Senators’ consultancy services expenses.

“I believe that this trivial issue is basically just a hatchet job to tarnish my anti-corruption efforts. I have been imprisoned for more than 7 years fighting for this advocacy and I’m not about to stop now. Just the same, be assured that not a single centavo of the funds entrusted to my office was pocketed.”

One report noted that most of Trillanes’ consultants are members of the Magdalo, a group of military officers who rebelled against Gloria Arroyo in July 2003.

So? You expect Trillanes to hire for his Senate staff members of UNA?

The dirty-trick operator should be told that aside from being graduates of the Philippine Miltiary Academy, most of those officers were able to obtain their Master’s degree in Public Administration during their 7 years in detention.

Harry Roque aims for a congressional seat through partylist

Harry Roque with Rep. Gina de Venecia and Precy Lopez-Psinakis in a rally against Gloria Arroyo's attempt to change Constitution in 2009.

Harry Roque with Rep. Gina de Venecia and Precy Lopez-Psinakis in a rally against Gloria Arroyo’s attempt to change Constitution in 2009.

I’m so glad that lawyer Harry Roque has decided to go via the party list in his entry into politics. He is no longer joining Vice President Jejomar Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance ticket.

In his meeting with members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Bacolod yesterday, Roque announced that he will be the first nominee of the party list Kalusugan, Pabahay, Kabuhayan or Kabayan which describes itself as “ a multi-sector party that represents Filipinos in various marginalized but highly important sectors in Philippine society” in the 2016 elections.

Roque said being with Kabayan “is more consistent with my human rights advocacy.”

I heaved a sigh of relief.

Harry is a good friend. He and his law firm, Roque and Butuyan law office, supported us in our fight against attempts by Gloria Arroyo and her husband Mike Arroyo to intimidate media by filing libel suits left and right.
Harry also was with us when took the Arroyo officials to court for arresting us after the Manila Peninsula siege involving Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV in November 2009.

Harry Roque and familes of victims of Maguindanao massacre. GMA News photo.

Harry Roque and familes of victims of Maguindanao massacre. GMA News photo.

It’s not only I whom Harry has helped. He took on, pro bono, the case of then Marine first Lieutenant (now Major) Artemio Raymundo,who was subjected to a court martial for having shared with fellow soldiers the CDs “Ang Mabuhay Para sa Masa,” a bio-pic of former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.

Raymundo was acquitted. He has resumed his military career and is now assigned at the Marine Brigade in Palawan.

Harry has always wanted to try to be part of government. Although he was in the forefront in the fight against Gloria Arroyo’s fraudulent presidency and campaigned actively for Benigno Aquino III in 2010, he was not part of any favored group in the Aquino administration.

He thought that he could pursue his political plans through UNA’s senatorial ticket.

It was very hard to reconcile Harry Roque with Binay given the anomalies that have been exposed by the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee that started with the investigation of the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Parking Building2.

The entourage of Binay in his provincial sorties include characters like Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson.
Harry said there were two recent incidents that made him decide not to be part of Binay’s 2016 ticket.

VP Jojo Binay meets Gloria Arroyo at the wake of the latter's brother, Arturo Macapagal, at heritage Park.

VP Jojo Binay meets Gloria Arroyo at the wake of the latter’s brother, Arturo Macapagal, at heritage Park.

When Binay decided to go to the wake of Arturo Macapagal, brother of Gloria Arroyo, at the Heritage Park two weeks ago, where the former vice-president was also reported to be going, the usual entourage was also expected to accompany him.

Harry’s daughter expressed her disgust which he himself shared.

Then they were notified that Binay was going to Maguindanao and their host would be an Ampatuan.
That was IT for Harry, who is counsel for 15 of the 58 victims of the November 2009 massacre perpetrated by the family of the late Andal Ampatuan Sr.

The past two weeks, Roque has been going around solo and he said he feels good about the reactions of the people he has met.
***
If you can’t counter the truth, spread lies.

That’s this issue or non-issue about the consultants of Sen. Antonio Trillanes III.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV at Senate hearing.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV at Senate hearing.

Here’s Trillanes’ statement:

“I categorically deny that I am using Senate funds for my household and personal expenses.

“The names mentioned in a newspaper article published today are legitimate consultants. Some were employed as confidential agents in relation to the ongoing Senate investigation regarding Binay anomalies; while others are doing field research, staff work, and other auxiliary services assigned to them.

“This consultancy issue was already cleared by the Commission on Audit, and up to this day, it has not issued any notice of disallowance regarding the same. In fact, the Senate has already met with COA, and it was concluded that there is nothing illegal with the Senators’ consultancy services expenses.

“I believe that this trivial issue is basically just a hatchet job to tarnish my anti-corruption efforts. I have been imprisoned for more than 7 years fighting for this advocacy and I’m not about to stop now. Just the same, be assured that not a single centavo of the funds entrusted to my office was pocketed.”

One report noted that most of Trillanes’ consultants are members of the Magdalo, a group of military officers who rebelled against Gloria Arroyo in July 2003.

So? You expect Trillanes to hire for his Senate staff members of UNA?

The dirty-trick operator should be told that aside from being graduates of the Philippine Miltiary Academy, most of those officers were able to obtain their Master’s degree in Public Administration during their 7 years in detention.