News Briefs – November 24, 2018

Duterte wants to step down ‘sans ceremony’ at term’s end

President Rodrigo Duterte would rather do away with the traditional ceremony to turn over the reins of government to his successor once his term comes to an end in June 2022. The President said he wanted to leave the presidency without the formalities, as reflected in his distaste for pomp, such as arrival honors whenever he returns from a trip abroad. “On the last day of my term, I will go down sans ceremony. No more turnover ceremony,” he said on Thursday. “It will be vacant tomorrow, so anyone who wants it can have it.” When Mr. Duterte assumed the presidency in 2016, he opted to take his oath of office at Malacañang, instead of Rizal Park. Aside from shunning a turnover ceremony at the end of his term, the President said he would rather not receive awards for doing his job as a public servant. —JULIE M. AURELIO

Sandiganbayan allows Floirendo travel to Turkey

The Sandiganbayan on Thursday allowed Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Floirendo, who is facing graft charges, to leave the country and join a House contingent on a trip to Turkey. In a Nov. 22 resolution, the antigraft court’s Sixth Division granted Floirendo’s motion for travel overseas to attend a seven-day parliamentary conference in Istanbul. “Over the objection of the prosecution, the instant motion is hereby granted subject to the usual terms and conditions of the court …” the court said in its order released on Friday. Floirendo is facing a graft case over an alleged conflict of interest in a lease agreement between his family’s company, Tagum Development Co., and the Davao Penal Colony for a tract of government land used as a banana plantation. —MELVIN GASCON

TF Marawi won’t lose focus despite firing of housing head

Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) said the rebuilding of war-torn Marawi City would proceed smoothly despite the sacking of one of its officials. TFBM, through Philippine Information Agency Director General Harold Clavite, said President Duterte’s dismissal of Falconi Millar due to allegations of corruption would not distract it from its rehabilitation efforts. “We regret hearing the news on the termination of Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Secretary General Falconi Millar,” who was the head of the task force’s secretariat, TFBM said in a statement. “However, we will not let this issue distract us in our continuing efforts to rehabilitate Marawi,” it added —JULIE M. AURELIO

Globe on Mislatel challenge: We will compete

Globe Telecom welcomes the selection of the country’s third telco company, saying it is ready to compete and expand its services to the nation. “Bring it on,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe chief sustainability officer and senior vice president for corporate communications, of the challenge posed by new telco player Mindanao Islamic Telephone Company (Mislatel). “Born in Mindanao and desired by Davao, let’s see what Mislatel has to offer the people,” Crisanto said in a discussion with Davao City editors and radio station managers on Wednesday. “You know we will compete,” she added, noting that Globe’s 7,500 employees have worked hard to reach its present business status. —JUDY QUIROS