Roxas: Police mishandling Failon case

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today took the police to task for mishandling its investigation into the case of broadcaster Ted Failon, particularly in the manhandling of Failon’s sister-in-law and others police accused of obstruction of justice.

"Nakiki-simpatiya ako kay Ted Failon at sa kanyang mga kaanak na kinailangang dumaan sa psychological torture na ito habang nagluluksa sila sila sa pagkamatay ng kanyang asawang si Trina. Nakakahiya at nakakainis na ganito na ka-bastos ang mga pulis natin (I sympathize with Ted Failon and his family who have to go through this psychological torture in the midst of their grief for the death of his wife Trina. This is a shame and it is irritating to see how rude our police are)," Roxas said.

Roxas said the police violated the rights of Failon’s sister-in-law Pamela Arteche and house maids Wilfreda Bollicer and Carlota Morbos, driver Glen Pulan and houseboy Pacifico Apacible who were arrested yesterday allegedly for obstruction of justice.

"Kitang-kita ng publiko kung gaano kagaspang ang ugali ng mga pulis na umaresto sa kanila. Bastusan na ba talaga ang sistema natin ngayon? (The public saw how roughly our police handled Ted and the others accused by the police. Is the system really as bad as this?)" Roxas fumed.

He said that while it was imperative that the truth behind the tragic incident be found out at the soonest time, the maltreatment of Failon’s relatives casts doubts on the reliability of the police investigation into the case.

"Alam ng lahat kung gaano katindi bumanat si Ted sa mga nasa gobyerno, lalo na ang mga pulis na corrupt. Nagdududa na tuloy ang marami na tina-target si Ted ng mga awtoridad sa imbestigasyong ito (Everyone knows how Ted criticizes this government, how much he abhors corrupt police officers. So now people suspect authorities are just getting back at Ted, that would explain the rough treatments)," the Visayan senator said.

He said the police have to review its procedures and train its officers and men in the proper handling of suspects to ensure their rights are always protected.

"DILG Secretarty (Ronaldo) Puno, tell your men to shape up," Roxas said.

Friday, April 17, 2009 | posted in abs-cbn, carlota morbos, dilg, glen pulan, mar roxas, pacifico apacible, pamela arteche, philippines, pnp, ronaldo puno, ted failon, wilfreda bollicer | 2 comments [ More ]

Senator Roxas: Barangay Health Corps to help deal with crisis

Stressing the need to bring quality health services to the barangay level, Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas has filed a bill seeking the appointment of health workers in every barangay nationwide as frontline health workers, especially at this time that the global financial crisis has hit home.

Roxas has filed Senate Bill No. 3012, or the proposed Barangay Health Workers Act of 2009, seeking the appointment of at least five (5) barangay health workers in each of the country's 41,994 barangays.

"Sa panahong ito ng krisis, mahalagang unahin natin ang kalusugan ng bawat isa, at pwede nating gawin ito kung magtatalaga tayo ng mga health workers sa ating mga barangay (In this time of crisis, we must protect the health of our people first and foremost, and we can do that by appointing health workers in each barangay)," he said.

The delivery of basic services and facilities such as health and social welfare services were devolved to the local government units following the enactment of the 1991 Local Government Code.

"It is, however, ironic that while barangay health workers are the front-liners in providing health care services to the community, there is no existing mechanism to secure that all barangays are equipped with the services of their own barangay health worker. This bill seeks to remedy this situation," the author of the Cheaper Medicines Act of 2008 explained in filing the bill.

Under the proposed SB 3012, a barangay health worker shall refer to a person who has undergone training program under any accredited government or non-government organization primarily to render health care services.

Health workers eligible for the job shall be duly-accredited by the municipal or city health board in accordance with guidelines set by the Department of Health (DoH).

The bill also allows each of the country's barangay to hire at least 5 health workers, who shall be entitled to allowances and benefits similar to that received by other appointed barangay officials, as well as security of tenure. The barangay health providers can only be dismissed from work based on valid cause as provided under existing civil service rules and regulations.

It likewise mandates the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), in coordination with the Civil Service Commission (CSC), to promulgate within 90 days from its enactment the rules and regulations necessary to implement its provisions.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009 | posted in barangay health corps, cheaper medicines bill, csc, dilg, doh, mar roxas, philippines | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas: Gov't, private sector help urgently needed as storm "Frank" batters Visayan provinces

Senator Mar Roxas called on the government and private groups to help in relief efforts in Panay Island and neighboring provinces, which have been battered and continue to be battered by tropical storm “Frank” over the past couple of days.

“I ask the National Disaster Coordinating Council and the Departments of Social Welfare and Development and of Interior and Local Government, as well as private individuals or organizations, to provide assistance to these areas in Visayas most affected by typhoon “Frank”,” the Senator and former Capiz representative said.

“The DILG should help the local governments under a state of calamity, while the NDCC and DSWD should look at temporary shelter, food and health needs of those whose homes were destroyed or are in flooded areas,” he said.

“If there are relief items to give, these should be sent to offices of the Provincial Governor or City Mayor,” he advised the public.

Roxas arrived in Capiz yesterday, Friday, for the opening ceremonies of a 15-megawatt diesel power plant in Panit-an, but this was canceled due to the bad weather.

The storm is still ongoing, and the affected areas are suffering from a power outage. Communication is limited, with little or no cellphone signal reception as well.

Aside from these problems, other areas such as in Iloilo province have been flooded, up to the second floors of many houses. Even with many volunteers, there is little transport available to them for them to participate in rescue operations.

Sunday, June 22, 2008 | posted in dilg, dswd, mar roxas, ndcc, pgma, philippines, president, visayas | 2 comments [ More ]