MANILA, Philippines – With less than two years before the 2019 elections, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said he may have to "rethink" his leadership of the Senate by next year to focus on his reelection.

Aside from leading the Senate, Pimentel is also the president of the ruling party PDP-Laban, seen to be the biggest force in the midterm polls.

Pimentel made the statement when asked if he planned to juggle campaigning for his reelection in the Senate and leading the Senate.

“There might come a time when I need to concentrate now on my reelection but we’re still far from that period of time. But theoretically, you are correct – there might come a time when you need to rethink where to focus because being Senate president has its own responsibilities. You also have your needs and plans as senatorial candidate,” Pimentel said in a Rappler Talk interview on Tuesday, August 22.

“Especially after October 2018, or late 2018. Because by October, you’ve already filed [the Certificate of Candidacy], so you’re actually a candidate. The pressure would be different,” he added.

Asked if he had informed the party of his plan to give up the Senate presidency to focus on his reelection bid, Pimentel said in a text reply: "No need to inform them. That is mine alone to make."

Pimentel also said he expected his candidacy to be questioned before the Commission on Elections and, eventually, the Supreme Court.

While the 1987 Constitution allows senators to serve only two consecutive terms, Pimentel said his case is different because he was not able to complete his first 6-year term in 2007.

He was proclaimed senator only in August 2011 after a protracted and bitter election protest against Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri. Pimentel served only one year and 10 months and ran again for the Senate in 2013.

“We are well-prepared. If you add the total period, 7 years and 10 months. Logic, fairness, and common sense dictate that I should be allowed [to run],” he said.

PDP-Laban

Aside from him, the senator said the ruling party is also eyeing former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chief Francis Tolentino and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chair Martin Diño as senatorial candidates.

Tolentino ran as an independent candidate in the 2016 senatorial race, after he asked to be excluded from the Liberal Party (LP) ticket. This was after he came under fire over a controversial lewd performance at a lawmaker's birthday party in October 2015.

Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito, should he decide to join the party, would also be included in the administration slate, Pimentel said.

PDP-Laban has started organizing its 2019 campaign and has begun mass oath taking of politicians nationwide.

The senator's father, party founder and former Senate president Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr, earlier asked the party to question the motives of its new members. With the lack of a political party system, the elder Pimentel said some politicians just join the party for political expediency and not for its ideals.

In response to his father’s wishes, the younger Pimentel said they are “trying their best” to screen members but admitted it is difficult to do so.

“We are aware of the motivation and I'm sure we cannot screen them out 100%. We will try our very best. I always tell those applying for membership 'I hope you are doing it because you believe in the party ideology not because you want the Certificate of Candidacy of the party. That will not be easy in 2019. We will really screen,” he said.

Just last week, Pimentel said he has sworn in 35,000 new party members in Masbate alone. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday, August 23, confirmed the appointment of Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez as Philippine ambassador to the United States. 

Romualdez, 69, was confirmed after hurdling the CA foreign affairs committee hearing on Wednesday. The hearing was led by CA foreign affairs committee chair Senator Panfilo Lacson.

This comes less than a month after Malacañang on July 27 announced that President Rodrigo Duterte had nominated Romualdez as Philippine ambassador to the US.

Romualdez is a Philippine Star newspaper columnist who, Lacson said in a nomination speech, started as a television newscaster for RPN-9 in the 1970s.

Lacson pointed out that US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim himself welcomes Romualdez's appointment. With Romualdez, Lacson said, "We guarantee strong diplomatic engagement with the United States."

Senator Loren Legarda also pushed for Romualdez's nomination. Romualdez was Legarda's first boss, as the senator worked as an account executive under Romualdez when she was a fresh college graduate.

Describing him as a friend for 3 decades, Legarda said, "Babe is a person who can deal and has great rapport with persons [from] all walks of life."

More to follow.  – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives committee on appropriations threatened to cut the 2018 budget of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) if its chief would skip yet another hearing.

On Wednesday, August 23, Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista skipped the poll body's budget hearing for "personal reasons."

This was the second House hearing that Bautista had skipped since his ex-wife made allegations of undeclared wealth and the prospects of impeachment loomed.

Aside from not appearing to defend the poll body's proposed 2018 budget Wednesday, he also didn't show up when a House panel tackled the possible postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. (READ: Are we postponing barangay and SK elections or not? P500M is at stake)

The Comelec has a proposed budget of P16.15 billion for 2018. (READ: Education, infra to get bulk of proposed 2018 nat'l budget)

Davao City 1st District Representative Karlo Nograles, chairperson of the House committee on appropriations, moved the poll body's session to Thursday, August 24, at 9 am. He said the committee did not receive a formal letter from Bautista explaining his absence.

According to Nograles, the rules of the House of Representatives require the head of the agency to be present during the budget hearing.

If Bautista fails to attend Thursday's hearing, the Comelec might "suffer the consequences," warned Nograles.

According to Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, who was present at the House, Bautista had to attend his child's counseling session.

Guanzon said the poll body understands Bautista's current situation but added that he has a responsibility to the public.

"We really.... I understand his personal predicament pero may mga responsibilidad tayo sa bayan (but we have responsibilities to the people we serve)," Guanzon told reporters.

"2018 is our preparation year for the elections. Sana hindi mabawasan ang budget namin (I hope our budget won't get cut)," she added.

Bautista's estranged wife Patricia had accused him of having nearly P1 billion in "unexplained wealth." (READ: The making of a scandal: Comelec chair Andy vs Patricia Bautista)

Bautista denied amassing ill-gotten wealth and sued his wife for robbery and extortion. The Comelec chief also said the controversy is unfair for their 4 children. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – A Senate panel on Wednesday, August 23, asked Commission on Elections (Comelec) chief Andres Bautista to waive his rights under the bank secrecy law.

Members of the Senate committee on banks, financial institutions, and currencies made the call in a hearing on Bautista's controversial deposits in the Luzon Development Bank, allegedly in violation of the anti-money laundering law.

The senators also invited the poll chief to attend the next hearing but stressed that it was more important for him to waive his rights under the bank secrecy law.

"The Chair directs the committee secretary to invite Chairman Bautista to shed light on this issue or matter, or in the absence thereof to submit a written waiver to the bank so we can proceed without any legal stumbling blocks. So ordered," ordered Senator Francis Escudero, committee chair.

Poe's motion

It was Senator Grace Poe who moved to invite the poll chief to the still unscheduled second hearing after LDB representatives who attended the inquiry refused to discuss the poll chief’s bank accounts, citing the bank secrecy law. 

"Sinabi na niya mismo na mayroon siyang mga accounts doon. Kung wala naman siyang tinatago, puwedeng siya mismo magsabi na o ilabas 'nyo 'yan (He said himself he maintains accounts at the bank. If he's not hiding anything, perhaps he himself can release them)," said Poe.

Escudero supported the motion, noting how the Bautista couple had released the financial documents to the public. 

But LDB said the poll chief's waiver would not be enough to allow the bank to release details of the deposits. LDB lawyer Francis Lim said they would need the waiver of all depositors, referring to the chairman's siblings who are his co-depositors. 

Two government agencies are investigating LDB – the National Bureau of Investigation and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) – following the allegations of the Comelec chief's estranged wife, Patricia, that he violated the anti-money laundering law. (READ: AMLC begins probe into bank of Comelec chairman)

Only representatives of the AMLC, NBI, and LDB were invited to Wednesday's hearing. 

Going back to PCGG

Patricia claimed that the poll chief had at least 35 accounts at LDB, supposedly part of his P1-billion wealth. The poll chief said some of the accounts had been closed. (READ: Who's who in the Andy vs Tish saga?)

The NBI is also interested in other accounts previously maintained  by Presidential Commission on Good Governance at the LDB when Bautista was PCGG chief.

Lawyer Minerva Retanal of the NBI Anti-Fraud Division said they discovered that sequestered and surrendered companies managed by the PCGG maintained accounts with LDB during Bautista's stint there. These accounts were supposedly closed when Bautista left the office.

Senator Franklin Drilon expressed concerns about the investigation of the NBI, cautioning the bureau to secure waivers from the depositors before it proceeds with its probe.  

Patricia's lawyer, Lorna Kapunan, who attended the Senate hearing, disagreed.

"It is not true that the NBI cannot investigate. They have a directive from the Secretary of Justice to investigate the accounts. Nililito ang public sa ibig sabihin ng (The public is being confused on the meaning of) bank secrecy. She (Retanal) is not inquiring as to the amounts in the bank. She is inquiring as to the veracity of the affidavits," Kapunan said.

Patricia's affidavit listed down the account numbers of 35 LDB accounts allegedly maintained by the poll chief. 

Prior to Patricia's exposé, the couple attempted to negotiate an amicable separation of properties. Talks collapsed in July, a month before Patricia went public with her allegations. (READ: The making of a scandal: Comelec chief Andy vs Tish Bautista) – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Children aged 9 to 14 residing in Cebu and 4 cities in Metro Manila can now receive free dengue vaccines in health centers accredited by the Department of Health (DOH).

Dr Rhodora Cruz, the DOH's dengue program director, said the department launched its community-based immunization program in 5 pilot areas against the disease in August.

"Now, we are on the community-based immunization. Ito ay ginawa sa Cebu and also here sa NCR (It was done in Cebu and also in the National Capital Region) in 4 cities. So they have started the vaccination," said Cruz on the sidelines of Allied Against Dengue's roundtable discussion on Wednesday, August 23.

To get the vaccine, the child must be accompanied by his or her parent. The child must not have any other sickness to qualify him or her for the vaccine. (READ: World's first dengue vaccine now available in PH)

Latest DOH data show that 43,470 dengue cases were reported nationwide from January 1 to July 1, which is 36.8% lower than the figure during the same period last year. 

Cruz said Cebu and the 4 cities in NCR – Caloocan, Makati, Manila, Quezon City – were chosen because these areas recorded the highest number of cases. Cebu reported the highest number of dengue cases at 6,281, while NCR as a whole reported 5,567 cases.  

Activation manager Randy Silva of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Philippines said they conducted a survey in May regarding Filipinos' awareness of dengue. His company is part of Allied Against Dengue. 

"And here we actually saw that there's still a big gap in terms of how people perceive dengue and also the misconceptions that they hold," said Silva. 

"For example, 80% think there is a cure to dengue. There's actually no cure. There's a vaccine but when you actually have dengue, the only thing you can really do is manage it. Sixty-nine percent think antibiotics actually help the body, but we know antibiotics are only for bacterial infections," said Silva. 

He added less than half of Filipinos are aware of dengue's symptoms, including on-and-off fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, and nausea.  Only 42% of Filipinos, said Silva, are aware that dengue patients should only be taking paracetamol.

Dengue patients are also advised to drink lots of fluid to manage the disease.  

Cruz said this is why the DOH and groups like Allied Against Dengue continue their information campaigns on dengue.

"Sa ating pong kababayan, sa buong Pilipinas, we are encouraging you na kuhanin ang tamang impormasyon tungkol sa dengue. Ang dengue ay preventable," said Cruz.

(We call on our countrymen to get the right information on dengue. Dengue is preventable.)

"So pagtulung-tulungan po nating ma-prevent ito na walang makagat [ng lamok na may dengue]. Kung sakaling lagnatin naman, ay agad pumunta sa ating pinakamalapit na health center," she added. 

(Let's work together so that no one will be bitten by a dengue-carrying mosquito. If you get a fever, go to the nearest health center at once.) – Rappler.com

PHUKET, Thailand – A British BBC journalist appeared in a Thai court on Wednesday, August 23, for the start of a criminal defamation trial brought by a lawyer who featured in an investigation about foreigners being scammed of their retirement homes.

Jonathan Head, the BBC's Southeast Asia correspondent, faces up to 5 years in jail at the private prosecution on the popular tourist island of Phuket.

Rights groups have said the case exposes how Thailand's broad defamation and computer crime laws scupper investigative journalism and make it difficult to uncover wrongdoing in an endemically corrupt country.

The prosecution was sparked by a 2015 report by Head detailing how two foreign retirees had Phuket properties stolen from them by a network of criminals and corrupt officials. 

One of the victims, British national Ian Rance, is a joint defendant in the prosecution. Both have pleaded not guilty.

The man bringing the prosecution is Pratuan Thanarak, a local lawyer who featured in the BBC's report looking at how Rance lost $1.2 million worth of properties.

According to the report, Pratuan admitted on tape to certifying Rance's signature without him being present, a move which helped the British retiree's then wife transfer his properties out of his name.

She was later convicted and jailed for the scam. 

A copy of Pratuan's complaint seen by Agence France-Presse alleges that the BBC's report caused him to be "defamed, insulted or hated". It does not detail whether he notarized the signature without Rance being present.  

Pratuan declined to speak about the case on the way into court. He warned gathered photographers that he would file a lawsuit against anyone who published images of him.

Neither Head nor Rance spoke to reporters on their way into the Phuket court on Wednesday. 

In a previous statement the BBC has said it "stands by its journalism" and that they "intend to clear the name of our correspondent".

Rance and Head face one charge of criminal defamation, which carries up to two years in jail. 

Head faces an additional charge under Thailand's Computer Crimes Act, a broadly-worded law which forbids uploading "false data" online and carries a five-year maximum jail penalty.

Unlike most countries where defamation is a civil crime, in Thailand it is a criminal offense.

Private citizens can also launch their own prosecutions and they are not forced to pay costs if they lose.

Similar cases have been brought in recent years.

Local news site Phuketwan closed down in 2015 after running out of money in its successful bid to defeat a suit brought by Thailand's navy.

Andrew Drummond, a British crime reporter, left the country the same year because of multiple cases brought by those he exposed as did British labour rights activist Andy Hall in 2016. – Rappler.com

PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines – The famous Acacia Tunnel in this city will be spared from the impending roadside tree cutting planned to give way to a new 6-lane superhighway project in Palawan.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 3rd Engineering District in the province said it is considering an alternative route to save the century-old acacia trees that form a tunnel-like canopy along the national highway in Barangay Inagawan, Puerto Princesa City.

In a regular session on Tuesday, August 22, DPWH’s Engr. Arthur Torillo asked the City Council to pass a resolution endorsing an alternative route instead of passing through the Acacia Tunnel.

“We urge the City Council to issue an endorsement resolution that will allow us to find another route to avoid hitting those giant acacia trees,” he said.

While the idea of passing such resolution is amenable to the City Council, Councilor Matthew Mendoza, chairman of committee on public works and infrastructure, have agreed to a motion to discuss the matter in depth in a committee meeting for the body to arrive at a well-thought-out decision.

Torillo’s invitation to clarify their plan in the session was prompted by an online petitionasking concerned government offices to maintain the acacia trees and other road side trees across the province.

Torillo stressed that even they themselves also want to preserve the Acacia Tunnel. “What a great loss if we cut them down,” he said.

Manuelito Ramos, senior environmental management specialist of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (City ENRO), reminded the DPWH that “development activities should not compromise the status of the environment, especially in Puerto Princesa.”

Ramos said the City ENRO understands it will be undertaken in the name of development but they hope the importance of those fully grown trees, which provide many benefits like mitigating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide, should be considered.

City Tourism Officer Aileen Cynthia Amurao said the Acacia Tunnel is being eyed by the city government as an ecotourism destination and is included in the city’s masterplan being drafted by the consulting firm Palafox Associates Inc.

She said the masterplan will be presented to the city government in September.

Torillo said that the issue will be raised by their district engineer in their unified regional directors’ meeting on August 24-25.

Unlike the 1st and 2nd Engineering District, Torillo added that construction in the 3rd Engineering District has yet to begin, given that the authority for projects beyond P100-million budget will still be decided by their regional office.

The P30-billion infrastructure project — part of the national government priority program — starts from El Nido town in the north and ends in Bataraza town down south, spanning 600 along the length of mainland Palawan.

Expanding Palawan’s national highway from existing two lanes to 6 lanes could boost provincial economic growth, but concerned citizens and civil society groups here are wary that it may come at the expense of the environment. (READ: Palawan's superhighway project called an 'environmental disaster')

The Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC), a Puerto Princesa-based non-government organization (NGO), has since questioned the project which it claimed to be an “environmental disaster” in the making, as it “poised to inflict irreversible damage on the natural environment of the province.”

“The evident rush to undertake this project, its brazen disregard of the established procedures designed to mitigate negative environmental impacts is a cause for concern for anyone who cares about the integrity of our province’s fragile environment,” read ELAC’s statement posted on its Facebook account on August 9.

According to the Palawan NGO Network Inc. (PNNI), the provincial government-backed project has pushed through although it has yet to secure necessary government permits.

These permits include the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) clearance with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), and Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), among other permits, with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“Government projects are not exempt from the required SEP and ECC clearances,” reminded environmental lawyer Robert Chan, executive director of umbrella group PNNI.

ELAC has urged the government to “put on hold any preparatory activities related to the building of the six-lane road,” until the required assessments and relevant studies like economic necessity and financial feasibility, as well as stakeholders’ consultations, are undertaken.

Governor Jose Alvarez, who also chairs the environmental regulatory body PCSD, however maintained that the wider roads would provide ease of travel and will boost the local economy, as it will encourage more tourists and also speed up the movement of agricultural and fishery products from the rural communities across the province. (READ: P30-B superhighway project to boost Palawan economy)

“Its completion will accelerate the development and inclusive growth of Palawan in the coming years,” the politician-businessman said. – Rappler.com

SINGAPORE – A spate of incidents involving US warships in Asia, including a deadly collision this week off Singapore, has forced the navy to consider whether cyberattackers might be to blame.

While some experts believe that being able to engineer such a collision would be unlikely, given the security systems of the US Navy and the logistics of having two ships converge, others say putting the recent incidents down to human error and coincidence is an equally unsatisfactory explanation.

The USS John S. McCain collided with a tanker early Monday, August 21, as the warship was on its way for a routine stop in the city-state, tearing a huge hole in the hull and leaving 10 sailors missing and five injured.

The Navy announced Tuesday, August 22, that remains of some of the sailors were found by divers in flooded compartments on the ship.

The Chief of US Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson said on Monday he could not rule out some kind of outside interference or a cyberattack being behind the latest collision, but said he did not want to prejudge the inquiry. His broader remarks suggested a focus on "how we do business on the bridge".

"We're looking at every possibility," Richardson said, when asked about the possibility of a cyberattack, adding "as we did with Fitzgerald as well."

Just two months earlier in June, the USS Fitzgerald and a Philippine-flagged cargo ship smashed into each other off Japan, leaving seven sailors dead and leading to several officers being disciplined.

There were also two more, lesser-known incidents this year – in January USS Antietam ran aground near its base in Japan and in May, USS Lake Champlain collided with a South Korean fishing vessel. Neither caused any injury.

Admiral Scott Swift, commander of the US Pacific Fleet, has refused to rule out sabotage in Monday's incident, saying all possibilities are being examined.

"We are not taking any consideration off the table," he told reporters in Singapore Tuesday, when asked about the possibility of a cyberattack in the latest incident.

High tensions

Analysts are divided on the issue, with some believing US Navy crews may simply be overstretched as they try to tackle myriad threats in the region, and pointing to the difficulties of sailing through waterways crowded with merchant shipping.

But others believe something more sinister may be going on. 

Itar Glick, head of Israeli-based international cybersecurity firm Votiro, said the spate of incidents suggested that US Navy ships' GPS systems could have been tampered with by hackers, causing them to miscalculate their positions.

"I think that hackers could try to do this, and if they are state sponsored they might have the right resources to facilitate this kind of attack," he told Agence France-Presse.

Glick, who says he used to work on cybersecurity for Israeli intelligence, said that China and North Korea would be the most likely culprits.

Tensions are running high between North Korea and Washington as Pyongyang makes strides in its weapons program, conducting two successful intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test launches in July.

Pyongyang has also been blamed for recent cyberattacks, including the 2014 hack of Sony Pictures and the theft of millions of dollars from the Bangladesh central bank.

The US has repeatedly accused China of carrying out cyberattacks on American companies, particularly to steal intellectual property. Beijing however says it is also the victim of such attacks.

'Spoofing'

Glick pointed to a recent incident in June of apparent large-scale GPS interference in the Black Sea to illustrate that such disruptions are possible.

The interference – known as "spoofing", which disrupts GPS signals so ships' instruments show inaccurate locations – caused some 20 vessels to have their signals disrupted, according to reports.

Jeffery Stutzman, chief of intelligence operations for US-based cybersecurity firm Wapack Labs, told Agence France-Presse he thought the possibility of a cyberattack being behind the latest incident was "entirely possible".

"I would be very doubtful that it was human error, four times in a row," he said, referring to the four recent incidents.

Still, other observers believe such a scenario to be unlikely.

Zachary Fryer-Biggs, from defense consultancy Jane's by IHS Markit, said that even if something went wrong with the GPS system of a ship, other safety mechanisms should stop it from crashing, such as having people on watch.

"The collision only occurs if several other safety mechanisms fail," he said.

Daniel Paul Goetz, from US-headquartered cybersecurity firm Lantium, added that causing a collision would be complicated, as it would involve knowing the exact location, speed and bearing of both ships involved.

Goetz, who says his background is in US military intelligence, also pointed to the level of technology used to protect the navy from such threats.

"The US military uses a GPS system that is highly secured, highly encrypted – the chances that somebody could take over US military ship is very close to zero," he said. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – At least one lawmaker in the House of Representatives is willing to endorse an impeachment complaint against Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista, who is in the middle of a personal and professional controversy.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, August 23, Kabayan Representative Harry Roque said he was “inclined” to endorse a possible impeachment complaint against Bautista before the lower house.

“The problem is that former congressman Jing Paras has yet to show his complaint to me,” said Roque. (FAST FACTS: How does impeachment work?)

Paras and lawyer Ferdinand Topacio are set to file an impeachment complaint against Bautista before the House Secretary General.

Roque, a lawyer, said the allegations of Bautista’s wife Patricia “can be the basis” of betrayal of public trust and possible graft and corruption raps. Patricia has accused Bautista of failing to declare over P1 billion in alleged ill-gotten wealth in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

The party-list representative said that he would only endorse the complaint if it “passes the standards of Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Fariñas,” meaning the allegations in the complaint must be based on the personal knowledge of the accuser.

Malacañang distanced itself from the planned impeachment complaint against Bautista.

"Let it be properly processed….We don't have anything to do with that,” said Presidential  Spokesman Ernesto Abella.

An impeachment complaint must be endorsed by a member of the House of Representative for it to be considered a verified complaint.

Several complaints against impeachable officials – including the Ombudsman and the Chief Justice – have been “filed” before the House Secretary General but have not been endorsed by any lawmaker. – With a report from Paterno Esmaquel II/Rappler.com

PHOENIX, USA – US President Donald Trump mounted an aggressive defense Tuesday, August 22, of his response to a deadly far right march in Virginia, using a rally speech to condemn "dishonest" media coverage of his widely criticized remarks. 

Trump faced bipartisan outrage after blaming "many sides" for violence at the rally in Charlottesville that took the life of an anti-fascist protester.

Re-reading his statements following the clashes at a rally in Phoenix, Arizona, he railed at reporters for misrepresenting his remarks – but omitted the equivocation that had sparked the backlash in the first place.

"The very dishonest media... and I mean truly dishonest people in the media and the fake media, they make up stories. They have no sources in many cases. They say a source says there is no such thing," he said.

"But they don't report the facts. Just like they don't want to report that I spoke out forcefully against hatred, bigotry and violence and strongly condemned the neo-Nazis, the white supremacists and the KKK."

Trump dedicated around half an hour of his 78-minute speech in Phoenix, Arizona, to attacking the "sick people" in the news media, before turning his fire on his own side.

Speculation had been building that Trump would use the rally to formally endorse a challenger to incumbent moderate Arizona Republican Senator Jeff Flake, in a shot across the bow of skeptical Republicans.

He mocked both Flake and fellow Arizona Republican senator John McCain, implying McCain had sabotaged Republican healthcare reforms, but elaborately avoided mentioning either by name.

'Something positive'

Veering off script, Trump shied away from issuing a pardon for Joe Arpaio – a former sheriff in Arizona who was convicted of willfully violating a court order to stop targeting Hispanics in immigration roundups.

But he gave strong hints that he was preparing a future pardon, saying: "I think he's going to be just fine, okay? I won't do it tonight because I don't want to cause any controversy."

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders had earlier told reporters there would be "no discussion" of Arpaio at the rally.

Trump voiced optimism over improvements in relations with North Korea following an escalation in aggressive rhetoric on both sides concerning Pyongyang's nuclear program.

"I respect the fact that he is starting to respect us. And maybe – probably not, but maybe – something positive can come about," Trump said of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, although the president repeated his opinion that he had not gone far enough in his condemnation of Kim.

The speech came at the end of a trip to Arizona the White House hopes will re-energize core supporters cooling to Trump's crisis-riddled presidency and build momentum for a controversial border wall.

The president began his day in Yuma, touring a US Border Patrol operations base, where he chatted with border agents. He traveled to Phoenix for the raucous campaign-style rally in the evening, introduced to the crowd by Vice President Mike Pence.

His visit to the Republican state aimed to tout the benefits of a border fence, turn up the heat on reluctant allies and demonstrate the president's determination to realize a central campaign pledge.

Trump made the case that a wall along the 2,000 mile (3,200 kilometer) desert-scarred frontier would stem the flow of migrants from the south.

Yuma "was once one of the least secure border areas in America (and) is now one of the most secure areas because of these investments in border security," a senior administration official said ahead of Trump's trip.

'Oppose Nazis'

Trump had insisted that Mexico will pay for the wall – estimated to cost about $22 billion. 

Having failed in that bid, he has turned to equally reticent Republicans in Congress to get US funding.

With his plan running into political quicksand, Trump needs to generate public pressure on reluctant lawmakers to support him.

In Phoenix, Trump told the rally crowd his message for "obstructionist" Democrats was that he was building the wall "if we have to close down our government."

Thousands of pro and anti-Trump activists had lined up under a blistering sun in Phoenix hours before Trump's arrival, many wearing the stars and stripes, hoping to get into the conference center.

Facing a line of supporters stretching several hundred yards (meters), opponents of the president brandished placards including some that depicted him with a Hitler mustache.

"Things to do today: laundry, put out trash, oppose Nazis," said one sign.

A series of demonstrations backing immigrants and denouncing racism were planned in the center of Phoenix, a Democratic enclave in a state Trump narrowly won in the election.

A failure on the wall would be another setback for a president who has seen his message overshadowed by controversy and his agenda thwarted by legislative missteps. 

A string of aides have departed the White House during Trump's seven months in office, including his chief of staff, two communications directors, a chief strategist and a press secretary.

Meanwhile, Republicans have become more vocal in their condemnation and polls show that Trump's approval rating stands at 35% – a historical low level for a president in his first year in office. – Rappler.com

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (UPDATED) – The headless torso of a woman found floating in Danish waters is that of a Swedish journalist who authorities believe died aboard an inventor's homemade submarine, police said Wednesday, August 23.

"The DNA of the torso matches that of Kim Wall," Danish police announced on Twitter, saying more details would be given at a news conference at 9am (0700 GMT).

The female torso, with the head and limbs deliberately cut off, was found on Monday, August 21, in Koge Bay, around 50 km (30 miles) south of Copenhagen.

The 30-year-old Wall, a freelance journalist who had reported for The Guardian and The New York Times, had not been seen since boarding Danish inventor Peter Madsen's submarine on August 10 to interview him for a story.

She was reported missing a day later. The same day, Madsen was rescued from waters between Denmark and Sweden shortly before his submarine sank.

Madsen, whose website describes him as an "inventepreneur", initially told authorities that he dropped Wall off on an island late on the evening of August 10.

But he changed his story several days later when he appeared in court, saying Wall died in an accident on board and that he dumped the body at sea in an undefined location of the Koge Bay.

Police have since said they believe Madsen, 46, "deliberately" sank the sub. It was brought to the surface and searched, but found to be empty.

Investigators are not convinced by Madsen's latest account and suspect him of negligent manslaughter. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales got the backing of at least one lawmaker to restore the amount of P2 billion that was cut from the 2018 budget of the Office of the Ombudsman.

"It is the position of this representation that if we can, with the help of this committee, if we could do something about this in restoring the cuts made by the DBM so the Ombudsman can continue pursuing their duty excellently," Cebu City Representative Raul Del Mar, member of the House Committee on Appropriations, said on Wednesday, August 23.

The House Committee approved on Wednesday on their level Ombudsman's P2.588 billion proposed budget for  2018. The Ombudsman originally proposed P4.661 billion but it was cut to P2.588 by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Amounts recommended by DBM are the ones which reach the House of Representatives for approval. With the committee approval, the Ombudsman's budget will next move for plenary debate, where Del Mar said he will try to restore the P2 billion cut.

Committee members, including Vice Chairperson Representative Doy Leachon, approved Morales' request to use her office's P99 million worth savings to augment their budget.

Still, Morales said that even if they use the savings, it would still not be enough for the projects they have to fund.

Among the projects:

1. E-SALN or electronic Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth project

2. Records and archives building

3. Stipend for whistleblowers

4. House for provincial investigators and officials in Manila, in order to save from lodging costs

"I don't think your savings would be enough to cover the difference," Del Mar said.

Morales was also asked to comment on proposals to create a position for a Deputy Ombudsman for the Bangsamoro, but the Ombudsman said she would have to see a detailed proposal so she could "comment intelligently."

Morales was threatened by an impeachment complaint in May. But the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) could not file the case before the House of Representatives because no member of the House endorsed the complaint.  

A disbarment complaint against Morales was elevated before the Supreme Court but it too was dismissed immediately because an Ombudsman cannot be disbarred without impeachment. 

Complaints against Morales root from her resolutions connected to cases against former president Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III. Morales cleared Aquino from graft complaints in relation to the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) but indicted him for graft over the botched Mamasapano operations of 2015.

Both indictments are on appeal, with the VACC wanting to restore charges of "reckless imprudence resulting in homicide" against Aquino. – Rappler.com

Bookmark this page to watch the interview live on Thursday, August 24, at 11 am

MANILA, Philippines – Rappler talks to veteran journalists Tina Monzon-Palma, Cheche Lazaro, and Vergel Santos about defining journalism in critical times.

Monzon-Palma started her career as a journalist during the Martial Law years. Currently on sabbatical, she anchors the ABS-CBN News Channel's evening newscast The World Tonight. On Wednesday, August 23, she received the Gawad Plaridel 2017 award from the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication (UP CMC)  for "professional integrity in her more than 40 years in the media."

Lazaro, also Rappler's editor-at-large, is the founder of Probe Productions. Under her leadership, Probe won numerous awards for hard-hitting, fearless investigative documentaries and produced a slew of shows such as The Probe Team, an investigative news program, and 5 and Up, an educational show for kids. In 2014, Lazaro was awarded the Marshall McLuhan Fellowship by the Embassy of Canada.

Santos, a journalist for almost 40 years, heads the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility. He was publisher of BusinessWorld and is also a Rappler columnist.

Watch Rappler's Maria Ressa interview the 3 veteran journalists on Thursday, August 24. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Members of the Piso Para sa Laban ni Leni group have asked the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), to reconsider its decision to bar them from helping Vice President Leni Robredo pay the balance of her electoral protest fee.

The following filed their 13-page motion for reconsideration before the High Court on Wednesday, August 23:

• Former social welfare secretary Corazon Soliman
• Former human rights commissioner Paulynn Sicam
• Former  Bases Conversion and Development Authority board director Zorayda Amelia Alonzo
• Singer Celeste Legaspi-Gallardo
• Ateneo de Manila University Press director Karina Bolasco
• Museong Pambata founder Nina Lim-Yuson

The members of the Piso Para sa Laban ni Leni have raised P7 million, so far, to help Robredo.

“This is a matter of transcendental importance as it tackles right of suffrage of whom we elected....We, the voters, want to help the candidate whom we elected in the 2016 elections,” the group said.

Robredo beat her closest vice presidential rival. former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, by just 263,473 votes in the 2016 polls. Marcos accused her of cheating and filed an electoral protest against Robredo, prompting a counter-protest from the Vice President. (READ: TIMELINE: Marcos-Robredo election case)

The PET had earlier ordered the Vice President to pay P15 million for the 31,278 established precincts she is contesting in her counter-protest. Robredo already settled the first half of P8 million on May 2.

She was originally due to pay the 2nd installment of the protest fee on July 14, but the PET granted her first petition to extend the deadline. 

On August 18, the PET deferred Robredo's payment of the remaining balance. She will make the payment "only after substantial recovery" in the 3 provinces Marcos identified where initial recounting of votes will be held to determine if his protest has merit. These are Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental.

Marcos had earlier completed the payment of his P66.2-million protest fee. He said "friends and supporters" helped him raise the funds.

As a public official. Robredo is not allowed by law to accept gifts or donations, unlike Marcos who is now a private citizen.

Presidential Decree No. 46 prohibits public officials from receiving gifts or any other valuable items on any occasion because of an official's position, regardless of whether or not the gift is given for past favors, or if the giver is expecting to receive a favor or better treatment in the future.

The same prohibition against receiving gifts can also be found in Republic Act No. 6713, which specifies that prohibited gifts include those with a value that "is neither nominal nor insignificant." 

Read the full text of the Piso Para sa Laban ni Leni's motion for reconsideration below: 

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– Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The remains of Kian delos Santos tested negative for gunpowder, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced on Wednesday, August 23.

"Oo, negative siya (Delos Santos) sa gunpowder, sa paraffin test sa crime lab (He tested negative for gunpowder, in the paraffin test at the crime lab)," PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS) acting chief Senior Superintendent Romeo Sta Ana told Rappler in a phone interview.

Sta Ana oversees the probe into the cops involved in the killing of Delos Santos. (READ: How Kian delos Santos was killed, according to police)

Earlier, the PNP Crime Laboratory's autopsy report released to media contradicted the autopsy ordered by the Public Attorney's Office (PAO). The PNP said there were only two gunshot wounds, while PAO earlier said there were 3.

Doubts also surround cops' narrative of the operation that led to Delos Santos' death. Contrary to the cops' claims, CCTV footage and witnesses' testimonies indicate Delos Santos did not fight back.

The PNP has been under fire anew over its recent anti-drug and anti-crime operations that claimed 81 lives in just 4 days. Delos Santos was among the fatalities. – Rappler.com

TOKYO, Japan –  The US Navy confirmed on Wednesday, August 23, it had sacked the commander of its Seventh Fleet after a deadly collision between a destroyer and a tanker off Singapore, the latest of several accidents involving an American warship in Asian waters.

Vice Admiral Joseph Aucoin was relieved "due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command", a navy statement said.

The navy is undertaking a fleet-wide global investigation after Monday's incident involving the USS John S. McCain, which left 10 sailors missing and 5 injured after a gaping hole was torn in the warship's side.

The Seventh Fleet, headquartered at Yokosuka in Japan, is the centerpiece of the US military presence in Asia, undertaking sensitive missions such as operations in the South China Sea and around the Korean peninsula.

Aucoin, who had held the post since September 2015, had been in the navy for almost 4 decades and US media reports said he had been due to retire in weeks.

He was replaced by Rear Admiral Phil Sawyer.

Monday's accident was the second fatal collision in two months – both involving ships from the Seventh Fleet – after the USS Fitzgerald collided with a cargo vessel off Japan in June, leaving seven sailors dead. 

There have been 4 accidents in total in the Pacific this year involving American warships, sparking concerns the US Navy could be overstretched as it tackles China's rising assertiveness and North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

The latest happened before dawn in busy shipping lanes around the Strait of Singapore, leaving a big hole in the hull of the warship and flooding it with water.

A massive search involving planes and aircraft was launched and US Navy divers joined the hunt Tuesday, scouring the ship's flooded compartments.

The divers had found remains of some of the sailors, the commander of the US Pacific Fleet, Admiral Scott Swift, said Tuesday without giving further details.

Major search

Malaysian authorities, which have deployed 10 ships and two helicopters for the search, also said they found a body and a US Navy helicopter collected it on Wednesday. 

Five countries – the US, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia – are now involved in the search covering an area of about 2,600 square kilometres (1,000 square miles).

The accident happened as the McCain headed for a routine stop in Singapore after carrying out a "freedom of navigation operation" in the disputed South China Sea earlier in August, sparking a furious response from Beijing.

On Monday the Chief of US Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson ordered commanders within a week to set aside time, perhaps "one or two days," for crews to sit down together for discussions.

A "comprehensive review" of practices would also begin. 

The admiral did not rule out some kind of outside interference or a cyber-attack being behind the latest collision, but said he did not want to prejudge the inquiry. His broader remarks suggested a focus on "how we do business on the bridge."

The damaged vessel is named after US Senator John McCain's father and grandfather, who were both admirals in the US navy.

The tanker involved in the collision, which was used for transporting oil and chemicals and weighed over 30,000 gross tonnes, sustained some damage but no crew were injured and it did not leak oil.  – Rappler.com

MANILA, Phillippines – On Wednesday, August 23, Senator Panfilo Lacson delivered a privilege speech on the "tara system" or bribery at the Bureau of Customs.

In his speech, "Kita kita (sa Customs)," Lacson named alleged recipients of bribes in the BOC, led by its former chief, Nicanor Faeldon, as well as the bribe-givers and the bagmen or collectors.

Here is his full speech:

“Hell is empty, and all the devils are here.” So said William Shakespeare many, many years ago. Little did he imagine at that time that more than 10,000 kilometers away and some 400 years later, he would be describing our present day Bureau of Customs. Thus, let me update Shakespeare by paraphrasing him – “Hell is empty and all the devils are at the Bureau of Customs."

And for the devils, the Bureau of Customs is heaven  – a heaven that is a haven for crooks, criminals, malefactors, and faeldons…sorry, I meant felons. 

Mr President, I stand on a question of personal and collective privilege on a matter that this representation has found repulsive and reprehensible since the start of my career as a public servant.

In my years of public service I have always taken the adage: 

“In life there are 3C’s: CHOICE, CHANCE, CHANGE. You must make the choice, to take the chance, if you want anything in life to change.” 

Alas, Mr President, while we see a ray of hope in many government offices, it is undeniable that, over the years, Customs seems to be the one office where darkness and evil always triumph.

A fact underscored by the oft-repeated tale about this lowly guy whose driving ambition was to find employment at the Bureau of Customs. Thanks to the intercession of his congressman, he was able to get a clerical job. After a month of working, he was surprised to find a pay envelope. 

“Wow, may suweldo pa pala dito,” he happily exclaimed.

Mr President, no matter how we pull in the reins, the Bureau of Customs fails big time in our government’s fight against graft and corruption.

The facts are telling: As per the Social Weather Stations, the BOC had consistently topped their polls as the MOST CORRUPT government agency from 2005 to 2016. 

Here’s the problem – periodically, the headlines shout of yet another big tale of corruption at the Bureau of Customs. But the anger and indignation are not sustained.

The corruption mess is deliberately downplayed by the Customs cretins and consigned to the dustbin of journalism history, ably assisted by their cohorts of PR firms, always ready and able to summarily kill a story that puts the bureau in a bad light. 

How many of you still remember the case six years ago of a Customs clerk named Paulino Elevado, who was discovered by accident, literally, to be the owner of a pricey Porsche Carrera sports car? Aside from his Porsche, this Elevado also owned a fleet of six other luxury cars, two houses in an upscale subdivision. His salary? P9,000 per month. 

Clerk pa lang yan, hindi pa bossing.

It is time to bring the intensity of the war against drugs to the war against corruption.

Ramdam na ramdam ang war against drugs.

 Araw araw, ang daming napapatay.

Pero, ang war against corruption, bakit wala na yata tayong naririnig na nakukulong?

I have always believed that in the fight against corruption, we should only have one single standard.

More importantly, we should not attempt to find who our allies, friends, or enemies are. Regardless of anything or anybody, corruption is evil. And there can be, there should be, no compromise with evil.

For over a decade, the Bureau of Customs failed to show improvement in fighting corruption.

The most recent scandal, however, closely impacts the administration’s war on drugs – the very centerpiece of President Duterte’s campaign promises. In fact, drugs and corruption are the two issues that President Duterte emphasizes in his public speeches and media interviews as tops in his list of priorities.

This makes the issue at hand more wanting and controversial than the same-old stories of Customs’ improprieties.

Last Sunday, President Duterte has announced the appointment of PDEA Director General Isidro Lapeña to replace Bureau of Customs Chief Nicanor Faeldon in the wake of the P6.05 billion shabu shipment from China.

Mr President, I pondered that delivering this privilege speech today might be likened to beating a dead horse. However, Mr President, I have come to realize that when it comes to national interest, you do not deal with just one horse. Instead, you decimate the entire stud.

Nearly 3 months ago, media headlined a story of the seizure by local authorities of 604 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride in a brokerage warehouse in Valenzuela City. This latest drug haul is estimated to have a retail value of P6.05 billion.

Initial reports indicated that this successful apprehension of a big haul of illegal drugs was a product of intelligence sharing and cooperation against cross-border smuggling between China and the Philippines Customs authorities. 

However, Mr President, you do not need a title nor a law degree to postulate that something was terribly wrong.

The story as it unfolds sounds more like the inspiration behind the hit movie title, KITA KITA.

First, KITANG KITA natin, because it was so obvious that the enormous shipment was successfully smuggled under the noses or through the indispensable participation of Customs officials.

Second, the huge amount involved showed the obvious – KITA ang KITA. We can see the peso signs in billions.

This exactly is what prompted the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee led by Senator Dick Gordon, in aid of legislation, to conduct an inquiry on what looked like the fast and furious smuggling of 604 kilos of shabu, contradicting the government’s intensified war against drugs.

During 4 public hearings, we have uncovered the identities of key personalities and their modus operandi.

KITA ang KITA. We can easily see the incomes of several Customs officials. A self-confessed “player” a.k.a fixer, Mark Taguba confessed about some payoffs. First, in an executive session, eventually in open public hearings. Yesterday, he presented few names of the Customs officers and bagmen whom he had transactions with. However, Taguba did not spill all the beans.

KITANG KITA natin. We discovered the labyrinth and lexicon of the criminal inside the Bureau of Customs:

The consignee-for-hire;

The selective lane mechanism;

The payola system;

The partner-in-crime relationship between Chinese nationals and our corrupt government officials, complete with middlemen and bagmen.

It is a smuggling mafia out there, Mr President, a criminal state that has no fear of government nor the president.

Kawawa ang Republika ng Pilipinas. 

Suffice to say, Mr President, that our quest to dig up how 604 kilos of shabu neatly hidden in 5 cylindrical roller printing machines from China managed to slip under the BOC officials’ noses has opened up a whole cylinder of worms.

During the hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Commissioner Faeldon admitted that he was aware of the so-called “Tara” system even before assuming office.

He said he tried. His excuse: He could not investigate the matter because he was helplessly alone in eradicating corruption in his domain.

To be more specific, Faeldon said “The appointment of the officers in charge in the probe was just December or January. So for the first 6 months, I was working alone." 

Boo-Hoo! Tell that to the marines, Mr Faeldon, but not to this institution.

Mr. President, records show that as early as July 1, 2016, he already hired the services of Gerardo O. Gambala, Milo D. Maestrecampo, Atty. Mandy Therese M. Anderson and Henry Anthony M. Torres as technical assistants each receiving a monthly compensation of P40,000 to 50,000.

KITANG KITA, the lies. 

Mr President, even granting Mr Faeldon’s assertion that he was working alone, if he was the principled man that he said he is, he should have stood firm even if he was alone.

As head of the Bureau, with the backing of no less than the President of the Republic of the Philippines, Commissioner Faeldon should have started the cleansing in the Bureau by eliminating what has been corrupting the agency for so long, the “Tara” system.

Unfortunately, instead of going against the system, siya ang kinain ng sistema, thereby effectively tolerating and even promoting the impunity of corruption.

Loud whispers in the four corners of the Bureau of Customs compound tell of a P100-million "pasalubong" to the newly-installed Commissioner, a quarter of which, or P25 million was retained as finder’s fee by his middleman named Joel Teves.

If in the AFP, under a previous administration, you end your stint with the infamous “Good bye, Pabaon.” sa Bureau of Customs naman you start your stint with a “Welcome, Pasalubong.”

Holy mackerel! Welcome pa lang, may kita na.

It is an outright cash incentive.

Accepting this pasalubong is a slippery slope.

As they say, “Corruption is like a ball of snow. Once it's set a rolling it must increase.” 

Once one accepts the pasalubong, then the ball of corruption starts to snowball.

At, pag nasarapan na, hahanap-hanapin pa ang dagdag-kita.

And just like taking illegal drugs, they find themselves addicted to bribes in exchange for favors. Tuloy ang ligaya ng mga corrupt. Indeed, loose morals will blur lines.

How can we stop the importation of illegal drugs at the Bureau of Customs if the graft activities of its officials and personnel and the corrupt system persist in the seaports and airports?

The issue at hand would have never happened if there was no collusion by someone with somebody from the inside, whether it is a middle-level official of the bureau or all the way up. 

Kung walang kita, lahat makikita. Kung may kita – eh, wala talagang pagpupuslit na makikita.

Mr President, everybody knows, at the Bureau of Customs, it’s “everybody happy.” They have this so called “payday” Friday / TGIF / Friday-three o’clock-habit, or whatever day of the week and hour of the day they now choose to make themselves happy, and yes – filthy rich. 

So many monikers have been coined for this joyous tradition at the BOC but all refer to a weekly assembly of several customs officials and selected employees, where multimillion peso bribes otherwise known as “Tara” are given and divided up.

Mr President, for the past few weeks, I have been expressing my disbelief with President Duterte’s unusual calm and gentle reaction to the alleged involvement of his people in Customs to the massive volume of drugs that easily made its way to our controlled borders.

Nevertheless, after weeks of public outcry here, there and everywhere for the removal of Faeldon, President Duterte has finally acted and replaced him as  Customs chief. Even for an “honest man,” sabi nga ho natin, it is better late than never.

Now, in case our distinguished colleagues are wondering how and from whom I got all these information, let me tell you as a background, Mr. President, with a little bit of exaggeration – si Nick Faeldon na lang yata ang hindi nakapag-ambag ng datos na ipapakita ko sa inyo sa mga susunod na sandali.

Indeed, when the so-called Customs payola or “Tara” hit the fan and made it to the headlines, information came pouring in.

Quite a number of top and middle-level Customs officials and employees, as well as brokers, even a civic-minded individual who has been gathering information on this matter for the longest time started contacting our office. At least two of those I mentioned directly came to us to provide their own versions of the “Tara” list. 

From various sources inside and outside the Customs Bureau that I had interacted with over the past two weeks regarding the “Tara” list, we carefully vetted and cross-matched each and every information to come up with an objectively filtered and detailed list of who and how much each office or official in the Bureau collects per container per day.

From the list furnished us by various sources, a “standard tara” amounting to a low of P19,000 to a high of P45,000 is paid to the Customs officials in the Central Office for each container.

On top of the “standard tara” paid to Customs Central Office, Manila International Container Port (MICP) officials and employees also collect payola in the amount of P14,700 (on the low side) and P23,700 (on the high side) for 40-footer containers. Hence, the total tara being paid for each container is from P33,700 to P68,700. 

For a 40-footer container for the Port of Manila (POM), the tara of the Customs officials and employees amounts to P15,700 to P26,700. If we add this to the standard tara mentioned above, the total tara ranges from P34,700 to P71,700.  

For a 20-footer container, an additional P12,200 to P20,700 tara for the Customs officials and employees in the Manila International Container Port (MICP) is added to their standard tara, making a total tara for each 20-footer container amounting to P31,200 to P65,700.

For the Port of Manila (POM), Customs officials and employees are receiving taras from a low of P13,200 to as high as P23,700 making the total tara for a 20 footer ranging from a low P32,200 to a high of P68,700.

From this, the share of each office or person within the Bureau can range from a low of P200 to a high of P15,000 per container. Believe it or not, officials from the top offices of the Bureau down to those who monitor the “Gates” and “X-RAY” have their share in the tara. 

What is amusing, Mr President, ang mga dokumento at listahan ng mga tumatanggap ng “Tara” ay naglalaman ng halos pare-parehong mga pangalan ng Customs officials and offices involved, bagmen at operators, maliban sa mga pangalan, (at syempre naman) ng mismong nagbahagi ng impormasyon sa amin.

Having said that, it is almost an easy job to come up with a very credible “Tara” list. So without much ado, allow me to proceed.

Mr President, I beg your indulgence as I have a lot of names to read from this list.

Allow me to start with the list of alleged bribe givers or “players” at the Bureau of Customs:

1. Tina Yu
2. Jerry Yu
3. Manny Santos
4. David Tan
5. Jude Logarta
6. Eric Yap
7. Edvic Yap
8. Ruben Taguba/Mark Taguba
9. Noel Bonvalin
10. John Paul Teves
11. Gerry Teves
12. Joel Teves
13. Jan Jan Teves
14. Ringo Teves
15. George Tan
16. Diogenes “Dennis” De Rama
17. Henry Tan
18. Bim Castillo
19. George Wee
20. Atty Veneer Baquiran
21. Johnny Sy
22. Armando “Burog” Tolentino and Ruel Tolentino
23. “Kimberly” Gamboa
24. Bobot Sison
25. Marty Pimentel of Cebu
26. A certain “Eunice” of Davao
27. Jun Diamante
28. Vic Reyes
29. Gerry Yap
30. Arnold Saulong
31. Hope Arnulfo Saulong
32. Boy Sabater
33. Nero Andal
34. Lea Cruz
35. Aying Acuzar / Eduardo Dio
36. Rey Tubig
37. Ruel Sy
38. Frank Wong
39. Chi Men
40. Jen Yu
41. Grace Bisaya
42. Arthur Tan
43. Charlie Tan of Davao Group
44. Anthony Ng

At this point, here are the names of identified collectors/bagmen:

1. Atty. Christopher Bolastig thru Russel and Estrella, and Atty Genefielle Lagmay for the Office of the Commissioner (OCOMM)
2. Nanie Koh for Import and Assessment Service (IAS); Also included is a certain Lorna Rosario
3. Joel Pinawin, Ollie Valiente, and Teddy Sagaral for Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS)
4. Atty Larribert Hilario for the Risk Management Office (RMO) /Command Center (COMMCEN)
5. A certain “Magic” or Major Salamanca for the Enforcement Group (EG)
6. Bien Rubio, Jerry and Diego Santiago for the Intelligence Group (IG)
7. Jasmin Obillos for Revenue Collection Monitoring Group (RCMG)
8. Sia Otto and Roy for Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group
9. Bien Rubio, for Intellectual Property Rights Division
10. Atty Tom Tagra for Legal Services
11. Boy Garcia for Accounts Management Office (AMO)
12. Certain Mamadra, Bobadilla and Mamao for Customs Collector in NAIA
13. A certain “Hunk” for the Customs Collector in Subic
14. Efren Ambagan and a certain Guiao for the Customs Collector in Clark
15. Alfred and Daniel Wagwag for the District Collector, Port of Manila (POM)
16. Jun Rapa for the Dep. Collector for Operations for POM
17. Alex, Atty Mimi Aldave and Atty Vener Baquiran for the District Collector, Manila International Container Port (MICP)
18. Jayson Calinap for X Ray in MICP
19. Agama and Junjun Reyes for X Ray at POM
20. For the Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) for Manila International Container Port : Ordoña and Bundukin with a certain “Ante” as runner
21. Lino Arroyo for the Enforcement and Security Service, Port of Manila

Meanwhile, here’s a brief summary of the amounts being regularly distributed in the payola system. Please note that these amounts are given per container. 

For Bureau of Customs, Central Office, the following are the standard tara for each office or division:

1. P5,000 to 10,000 for Office of the Commissioner (OCOMM)
2. P5,000 to P10,000 for Command Center (COMMCEN)
3. P1,000 to P3,000 for the Assessment Operations Coordinating Group (AOCG)
4. P1,500 to P3,000 for the Intelligence Group (IG)
5. P3,000 to P10,000 for CIIS CENTRAL
6.  P500 to P1,000 for CIIS Director’s Office
7. P1,000 to P3,000 for the Intellectual Property Rights Division (IPRD)
8. P1,000 to P2,000 for the Accounts Management Office (AMO)
9. P1,000 to P3,000 for the Import and Assessment Service (IAS)

For Manila International Container Port (MICP) and Port of Manila (POM):

1. P9,000 to P15,000 for the Section Heads, Appraisers and Examiners in the Formal Entry Division for both MICP and POM
2. P1,000 to P3,000 for the Informal Entry Division for both MICP and POM
3. P3,000 each for MICP and POM Collector’s Office
4. P500 to P1,000 for CIIS Port for both MICP and POM
5. P500 for Enforcement and Security Service for both MICP and POM
6. P500 to P1,000 for both MICP and POM
7. P200 for the Piers and Inspection Division for both MICP and POM
8. P1,000 to P3,000 for the Deputy District Collector of POM
9. P1,000 to P1,500 for XRAY

Official records from the Bureau of Customs disclose that, on the average, around 15,000 to 16,000 containers are transacted for release every week at the MICP and POM. Of this, between 6,000 to 6,400 or approximately 40% of the total weekly containers have tara.

Mr President, mayroon po tayong tinatawag na mga "Big Players." Sila ang mga halos naghahari o namamayagpag sa pagpapalabas ng mga kargamento sa Customs.

A total of 390 to 490 containers per day or 1,950 to 2,450 containers weekly are being facilitated by the so called “Big Players” broken down as follows:

1. 100-110 containers - David Tan
2. 80-100 containers - Davao Group (Taguba belongs to this group)
3. 80-100 containers - Manny Santos
4. 80-100 containers - Teves Group
5. 50-80 containers - “Kimberly” Gamboa

Finally, Mr President, here are the recipients of tara/payola at the Bureau of Customs:

1. Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon
2. Deputy Commissioner Teddy Raval – Intelligence Group (IG)
3. Deputy Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno -Enforcement Group (EG)
4. Deputy Commissioner Gerardo Gambala of the Command Center
5. Deputy Commissioner Natalio C. Ecarma III of Revenue Collection Monitoring Group (RCMG)
6. Deputy Commissioner Edward James Dy Buco of Assessment and Operations Coordination Group (AOCG)
7. Director Neil Estrella – Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service [CIIS] (alleged to collect also for the Office of the Commissioner [OCOMM] together with Chris Bolastig)
8. Atty. Zsae de Guzman – Chief, Intellectual Property Rights Division
9. Atty Larribert Hilario of Risk Management Office (RMO)
10. Joel Pinawin, OIC Chief, Intelligence Division of the BOC (one of the alleged collectors of Director Estrella)
11. Director Milo Maestrecampo – Import and Assessment Service (IAS)
12. Atty. Grace Malabed, Acting Chief of the Account Management Office (AMO)
13. Atty Alvin H. Ebreo, Director Legal Service under Revenue Collection Monitoring Group (RCMG)
14. All Section Heads, Appraisers and Examiners in the Formal Entry Division in both the MICP and POM
15. Athena Dans of the Informal Entry Division MICP
16. All Section Heads, Appraisers and Examiners in the Informal Entry Division in the POM
17. MICP & POM Sections 1, 9, 10, & 15 Chief Appraiser and Examiner

For the District Collectors/Officers, the following names were mentioned:

1. Collector Jet Maronilla of the MICP
2. Collector Rhea Gregorio of POM
3. Collector Edgar Z. Macabeo of NAIA
4. Collector Elvira Cruz of Cebu
5. Collector Maritess Martin of Clark
6. Collector Mimel Talusan of Subic
7. Collector Reynaldo M. Galeno of Batangas
8. Deputy Collector Mel Pascual for POM
9. Captain Tikoy Guttierez of Enforcement and Security Service (MICP) (deceased)

Mr President, an unimpeachable source provided me with information involving a prominent Customs official listed above. For the period covering May 16 to June 28, 2017, Mr. Customs Official’s total encashment amounted to Five Million One-Hundred Nine Thousand Pesos (P5,109,000), with the following breakdown:

1. P1.5 million check deposit on May 16, 2017

2. P1.2 million check encashment on June 01, 2017

3. P699 thousand encashment on June 05, 2017

4. P1 million encashment on June 08, 2017

5. P910 thousand encashment on June 19, 2017

6. 1.3 million encashment on June 28, 2017.

The “Tara” System, Mr President, shows that there is a systemic corruption in the Bureau. In fact, with almost every office and official receiving their share of “Tara," the Bureau can give the Mafia stiff competition.

Mr President, the Supreme Court in a ruling said, “we cannot afford to fail either in combating the drug menace or in protecting the individual rights and liberties we have enshrined in our Constitution. Either way, the consequences of continued failure are hard to imagine.” 

The drug problem cannot be solved by focusing on the demand reduction effort alone.

Hindi pa ba sapat ang isang taon at libu-libong napatay ng mga pulis at vigilantes para makita at mapatunayan natin ito?

Since my days in law enforcement, we have always embarked on a two-pronged strategy in combating illegal drugs- demand or market constriction and supply reduction.

True, hunting down big-time as well as small-time pushers and drug addicts in the streets may suppress the drugs market.

But, if our frontline government agency called the Bureau of Customs would allow, consciously or otherwise the convenient smuggling of tons of shabu into our country, it is impossible to win the battle against illegal drugs, simply because the supply reduction side of the anti-drugs strategy is failing miserably.

Parang gripo, patuloy ang daloy ng illegal drugs sa bayan, tone-toneladang ilegal na droga.

This runs counter to the policy adopted by the State as enunciated in Section 101 of Republic Act 10863 otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, to wit:

“[i]t is the policy of the State to protect and enhance government revenues, institute fair and transparent customs and tariff management that will efficiently facilitate international trade, prevent and curtail any  form of customs fraud and illegal acts, and modernize customs and tariff administration.”

This Policy is in recognition of the important role that the Bureau of Customs plays in being the country’s first line of defense against the threats that arise from international trade. The problems that our country is facing now, such as smuggling, fraud and drug trafficking can effectively be lessened if we only fortify our first line of defense on border management. Thus, it is incumbent upon us to address this BOC issue head on and at its core.

There is a saying that every time we need to solve problems, we should dig at the roots instead of just hacking at the leaves.  

If we intend to remain committed to the War on Drugs, we need a War on Corruption.

Mr President, I have known the newly-appointed Customs Chief, General Sid Lapeña, as an honorable man. In fact, I can personally vouch for his integrity. With his appointment as the new Customs chief, I can only hope na hindi siya kakainin ng sistema tulad ng nauna sa kanya.

His highest calling at the moment is to descend to the gates of hell and  destroy the brazen corruption within the country’s most corrupt government agency.

General Lapeña needs to institutionalize genuine reforms, and by genuine reforms, that would mean the abolition of the corruption system from top officials down to the last rank-and-file in Customs.

Mr President, I believe nothing will happen if we do not address the moral bankruptcy that is intrinsic among the officials and members of the Bureau of Customs. 

We should not turn our heads too far from a deeper issue that holds back the progress of our nation. Henceforth, it is also high time to send off an all-out, sustained war against corruption.

And the battle starts at the Bureau of Customs.

I firmly believe, then and now, that it is the only way we can build a better, more progressive future for this country.

Thank you, Mr President.

 – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – With a “replica whip” in tow and 3 legislators to back them up, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio and former Negros Occidental Representative Jacinto Paras filed on Wednesday, August 23, an impeachment complaint against Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista.

The complaint was officially received at around 3:30 pm by House Secretary General Cesar Pareja. It was endorsed by Kabayan Representative Harry Roque, Cebu 3rd District Representative Gwen Garcia, and Cavite 7th District Representative Abraham Tolentino.

Now a verified complaint, it will soon be included in the House’s order of business, and later tackled by the committee on justice.

Bautista has been accused by no less than his wife, Patricia, of allegedly failing to declare certain properties and assets in his State of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

The complainants want Bautista out of his post for supposedly betraying public trust when he failed a hacking incident in 2016 and for allegedly failing to be truthful in his SALN.

Roque earlier said he was inclined to endorse the complaint so long as it passes the standards of House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Rodolfo Fariñas – that allegations made in the complaint are based on first-hand knowledge.

The party-list representative said he has spoken to Patricia Baustista’s legal team and has gotten the assurance that she will attend hearings and present document when the time comes. – Rappler.com

SEOUL, South Korea –  North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un is "starting to respect" the United States, President Donald Trump declared, even as Pyongyang revealed plans for its missile development on Wednesday, August 23, and Kim ordered a production boost.

Trump's remarks, at a rally in Phoenix, came hours after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said talks with the nuclear-armed North over its banned weapons programs might be possible "in the near future".

The comments are a marked contrast to the rhetoric of recent weeks, when Trump spoke of raining "fire and fury" on the North, and come as tensions have eased after Kim pulled back from a plan to send a salvo of missiles towards the US Pacific territory of Guam.

But Washington also imposed new sanctions on Chinese and Russian firms suspected of doing business with the North.

Pyongyang, meanwhile, revealed significant technological advances in its missile programs and ambitious plans to further improve its capabilities.

On a visit to the Chemical Material Institute of the Academy of Defence Science, Kim ordered stepped-up production of rocket engines and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) nosecones, state media reported.

At a campaign-style rally in Phoenix, Trump said his aggressive rhetoric was starting to bear fruit.

"Some people said it was too strong. It's not strong enough," he told thousands of supporters. "But Kim Jong-Un, I respect the fact that I believe he is starting to respect us. I respect that fact very much.

"And maybe, probably not, but maybe something positive can come about."

Earlier Tillerson acknowledged Pyongyang's recent "restraint" in not carrying out fresh nuclear or missile tests in response to tough new United Nations sanctions, the seventh set imposed on it.

"I am pleased to see that the regime in Pyongyang has certainly demonstrated some level of restraint that we've not seen in the past," Tillerson said at a rare press conference, adding that talks may be possible "in the near future".

US officials told AFP that Tillerson was not thanking Pyongyang, nor making any concession on Washington's determination to halt Kim's missile programme and negotiate the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

The Trump administration's rhetoric has been highly variable but Washington has said it would be open to dialogue if Pyongyang took steps to calm tensions.

In a commentary earlier this week, the North's official Korean Central News Agency described Trump as a "mad guy" who "frequently posts weird articles of his ego-driven thoughts in his twitter and spouts rubbish."

Carbon compound

Tensions between North Korea and the United States and its allies soared last month after Pyongyang tested two missiles that appeared to bring most of the US mainland within range.

The North says it needs nuclear weapons to protect itself against the US – it regards current joint military exercises by Seoul and Washington as a rehearsal for an invasion.

It has made rapid technological strides under Kim, and released pictures Wednesday of a visit by him to the Chemical Material Institute of the Academy of Defence Science, which develops the North's missiles.

Analysts said the images revealed major advances and ambitions. 

Kim, in a black suit, was shown next to a large brown tube that Joshua Pollack of the US Middlebury Institute of International Studies said on Twitter was a "wound fibre cylinder, evidently a large-diameter solid-rocket motor casing in the making". 

Such casings are harder to manufacture than metal ones but are much lighter, enabling longer ranges and heavier payloads.

Other pictures included missile schematics and what appeared to be production processes.

"We have diagrams and names on two apparent new solid fuel multistage North Korean nuclear capable missiles," one of them an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile and the other a medium- or intermediate-range device, said independent missile and nuclear analyst George Herbert.

The official Korean Central News Agency said the nosecones and engine jets were made of "carbon/carbon compound material", and that Kim "instructed the institute to produce more solid-fuel rocket engines and rocket warhead tips".

Many of the elements on show were objectives rather than currently existing technology, analysts said, but even so, Jeffrey Lewis, of the armscontrolwonk.com website, noted: "It's all bad."

"If I understand North Korean propaganda, this is their way of telling us what we'll see in the air in the coming year."

Trump has urged Beijing, North Korea's only major ally, to bring greater pressure to bear in reining in its neighbour's nuclear efforts, suggesting that the United States may offer concessions on trade in return.

On Tuesday the US Treasury slapped sanctions on 16 Chinese and Russian individuals and companies, accusing them of supporting North Korea's weapons programs and attempting to evade US sanctions.

Beijing said Wednesday the move "will not help the solution of the problem", nor would it enhance mutual trust. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday, August 23, named officials at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) who allegedly received bribes, led by its outgoing chief, Nicanor Faeldon.

In a privilege speech outlining the extent of corruption in the BOC, Lacson also named the alleged bribe givers at the agency and the bagmen or collectors who facilitated the so-called "tara" system or bribery that has long plagued the agency. (READ: FULL TEXT: 'Kita kita sa Customs')

Lacson said that instead of eliminating bribery in the BOC, Faeldon even allegedly tolerated and promoted corruption in the agency.

"Unfortunately, instead of going against the system, siya ang kinain ng sistema (he was swallowed by the system) thereby effectively tolerating and even promoting the impunity of corruption," the senator said.

Lacson cited talk in the BOC about the P100-million "welcome" gift that Faeldon supposedly received upon his assumption as Customs chief.

"Loud whispers in the 4 corners of the Bureau of Customs compound tell of a P100-million 'pasalubong' (gift) to the newly-installed Commissioner, a quarter of which, or P25 million was retained as finder's fee by his middleman named Joel Teves," the senator said.

"If in the AFP, under a previous administration, you end your stint with the infamous 'Goodbye, Pabaon,' sa Bureau of Customs naman (in the Bureau of Customs) you start your stint with a 'Welcome, Pasalubong.' Holy mackerel! Welcome pa lang, may kita na (You get money from the start)," he said.

Lacson described accepting the "outright cash incentive" as a "slippery slope."

"As they say, 'Corruption is like a ball of snow. Once it's set a rolling it must increase.' Once one accepts the pasalubong (gift), then the ball of corruption starts to snowball. At, 'pag nasarapan na, hahanap-hanapin pa ang dagdag-kita (And once you like it, you will always look for the additional income)," he said.

Faeldon denied the allegation and maintained that he never accepted bribes during his watch in the BOC. President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Monday, August 21, that he had accepted Faeldon's resignation.

'Very credible list'

Lacson said that when the issue of bribery at the BOC again made headlines because of the P6.4-billion shabu shipment smuggled from China, he began receiving information on the so-called "tara" list of the BOC. (READ: TIMELINE: How P6.4B worth of shabu was smuggled into PH from China)

"We carefully vetted and cross-matched each and every information to come up with an objectively filtered and detailed list of who and how much each office or official in the Bureau collects per container per day," Lacson said.

The senator said it was "almost an easy job to come up with a very credible 'tara' list," as the documents and lists of those receiving bribes "almost had the same names of the Customs officials and offices involved, bagmen, and operators."

Lacson named the following as alleged bribe takers in the BOC:

1. Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon
2. Deputy Commissioner Teddy Raval – Intelligence Group (IG)
3. Deputy Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno – Enforcement Group (EG)
4. Deputy Commissioner Gerardo Gambala – Command Center
5. Deputy Commissioner Natalio Ecarma III – Revenue Collection Monitoring Group (RCMG)
6. Deputy Commissioner Edward James Dy Buco – Assessment and Operations Coordination Group (AOCG)
7. Director Neil Estrella – Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS), and alleged to also collect for the Office of the Commissioner (OCOMM) together with Chris Bolastig
8. Atty Zsae de Guzman – Chief, Intellectual Property Rights Division
9. Atty Larribert Hilario – Risk Management Office (RMO)
10. Joel Pinawin – Officer-in-Charge, Intelligence Division (one of the alleged collectors of Director Estrella)
11. Director Milo Maestrecampo – Import and Assessment Service (IAS)
12. Atty Grace Malabed – Acting Chief, Account Management Office (AMO)
13. Atty Alvin Ebreo – Director, Legal Service under RCMG
14. All section heads, appraisers, and examiners – Formal Entry Division in both the Manila International Container Port (MICP) and Port of Manila (POM)
15. Athena Dans – Informal Entry Division, MICP
16. All section heads, appraisers, and examiners – Informal Entry Division, POM
17. MICP and POM Sections 1, 9, 10, & 15 Chief Appraiser and Examiner

He said the following district collectors/officers were also mentioned, based on the information he received:

1. Collector Jet Maronilla – MICP
2. Collector Rhea Gregorio – POM
3. Collector Edgar Macabeo – NAIA
4. Collector Elvira Cruz – Cebu
5. Collector Maritess Martin – Clark
6. Collector Mimel Talusan – Subic
7. Collector Reynaldo Galeno – Batangas
8. Deputy Collector Mel Pascual – POM
9. Captain Tikoy Guttierez – Enforcement and Security Service, MICP (deceased)

Lacson also named over 40 private individuals whom he described as alleged bribe givers or "players" in the BOC:

1. Tina Yu
2. Jerry Yu
3. Manny Santos
4. David Tan
5. Jude Logarta
6. Eric Yap
7. Edvic Yap
8. Ruben Taguba/Mark Taguba
9. Noel Bonvalin
10. John Paul Teves
11. Gerry Teves
12. Joel Teves
13. Jan Jan Teves
14. Ringo Teves
15. George Tan
16. Diogenes "Dennis" de Rama
17. Henry Tan
18. Bim Castillo
19. George Wee
20. Atty Veneer Baquiran
21. Johnny Sy
22. Armando "Burog" Tolentino and Ruel Tolentino
23. "Kimberly" Gamboa
24. Bobot Sison
25. Marty Pimentel of Cebu
26. A certain "Eunice" of Davao
27. Jun Diamante
28. Vic Reyes
29. Gerry Yap
30. Arnold Saulong
31. Hope Arnulfo Saulong
32. Boy Sabater
33. Nero Andal
34. Lea Cruz
35. Aying Acuzar / Eduardo Dio
36. Rey Tubig
37. Ruel Sy
38. Frank Wong
39. Chi Men
40. Jen Yu
41. Grace Bisaya
42. Arthur Tan
43. Charlie Tan of Davao Group
44. Anthony Ng

The "identified collectors/bagmen," said Lacson, are the following:

1. Atty Christopher Bolastig through Russel and Estrella, and Atty Genefielle Lagmay for the Office of the Commissioner (OCOMM)
2. Nanie Koh for Import and Assessment Service (IAS); also included is a certain Lorna Rosario
3. Joel Pinawin, Ollie Valiente, and Teddy Sagaral for Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS)
4. Atty Larribert Hilario for the Risk Management Office (RMO)/Command Center (COMMCEN)
5. A certain "Magic" or Major Salamanca for the Enforcement Group (EG)
6. Bien Rubio, Jerry and Diego Santiago for the Intelligence Group (IG)
7. Jasmin Obillos for Revenue Collection Monitoring Group (RCMG)
8. Sia Otto and Roy for Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group
9. Bien Rubio, for Intellectual Property Rights Division
10. Atty Tom Tagra for Legal Services
11. Boy Garcia for Accounts Management Office (AMO)
12. A certain Mamadra, Bobadilla, and Mamao for the Customs Collector in NAIA
13. A certain "Hunk" for the Customs Collector in Subic
14. Efren Ambagan and a certain Guiao for the Customs Collector in Clark
15. Alfred and Daniel Wagwag for the District Collector, POM
16. Jun Rapa for the Deputy Collector for Operations, POM
17. Alex, Atty Mimi Aldave, and Atty Vener Baquiran for the District Collector, MICP
18. Jayson Calinap for X-ray at MICP
19. Agama and Junjun Reyes for X-ray at POM
20. Ordoña and Bundukin with a certain "Ante" as runner for the Enforcement and Security Service (ESS), MICP
21. Lino Arroyo for the Enforcement and Security Service, POM

He also cited an "unimpeachable source" who informed him about one of the BOC officials in the list, whom the senator did not identify.

"For the period covering May 16 to June 28, 2017, Mr Customs Official's total encashment amounted to P5,109,000," Lacson said, indicating the amount of bribes an official can get over a period under the prevailing system.

Hope in new BOC chief

Lacson said he hoped his privilege speech would be referred to the Senate blue ribbon committee, which is investigating the shabu shipment.

He also expressed hope that the incoming Customs chief, Isidro Lapeña, will not take the same path as Faeldon.

"Mr President, I have known the newly-appointed Customs Chief, General Sid Lapeña, as an honorable man. In fact, I can personally vouch for his integrity. With his appointment as the new Customs chief, I can only hope na hindi siya kakainin ng sistema tulad ng nauna sa kanya (that he would not be swallowed by the system like his predecessor)," Lacson said.

"His highest calling at the moment is to descend to the gates of hell and destroy the brazen corruption within the country's most corrupt government agency," the senator added.

Lacson said to succeed in the war on corruption at the BOC, Lapeña "needs to institutionalize genuine reforms" that would lead to "the abolition of the corruption system from top officials down to the last rank-and-file in Customs." 

The senator also called on the Duterte administration to execute its war on corruption with the same intensity as its war on drugs. – Rappler.com