FACES OF THE NEWS: Feb. 24, 2019

Illustrations by Rene Elevera

Neri Colmenares

The senatorial bid of Bayan Muna chair Neri Colmenares got more steam last week after he denounced the new Social Security System (SSS) Rationalization Act as an additional burden to the Filipino people.

According to the recently enacted  law, the current 11-percent contribution will increase to 12 percent this year, until it reaches the 15 percent mark in 2025.

Colmenares personally led protest rallies against “lazy” but well paid SSS executives who cannot even solve the problem of P13 billion in uncollected premiums and penalties from 122,658 delinquent employers.

The former congressman won brownie points for championing an increase in pensions, which he described as a matter of justice and good social policy, and scoring SSS executives who are among the best paid officials in government.

But SSS President Emmanuel Dooc said the number of delinquent employers cited by Colmenares comprised only about 14 percent of the total SSS employer contributors.

Kenneth Bernard Pius Hendricks

American Catholic priest Kenneth Bernard Pius Hendricks will have to stay in the country for quite some time after a local court ordered his arrest on two counts of acts of lasciviousness and three counts of child abuse.

Hendricks, 77, was earlier detained after a US court in his hometown of Ohio had him arrested by immigration operatives for engaging in illicit sex with a minor in a foreign country.

Authorities said Hendricks sexually abused a 12-year-old altar boy at St. Isidore the Worker Chapel at Talustusan village at the foot of the Biliran mountains in Eastern Visayas, where he was a priest for more than 30 years.

Police said he had molested more than 50 children, some of them as young as 7.

The victims said threats from the priest prevented them from coming forward immediately, while others remained silent after being bribed.

Hendricks’ arrest came amid the Church’s ongoing summit at the Vatican to come up with ways to protect minors from predator priests, a scandal covered up by their superiors for decades.

Working mothers

Women rejoiced last week on the good news that a new law now gives the employed among them, including single mothers, more time to take care of their newborn.

This, after President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Expanded Maternity Leave Act on Wednesday, a day before it lapsed into law.

The law grants 105 days paid maternity leave to working mothers in the government and the private sector, as well as the option to extend the period for 30 days without pay.

Single mothers will get an extra 15 days in recognition of their “double burden,” according to Sen. Risa Hontiveros, the main proponent of the measure in the Senate.

Previously, female employees were entitled to only 60 days of paid leave for normal delivery and 78 days for cesarean delivery.

While hailed as a victory for women, some business leaders expressed concern that the law might lead companies to favor hiring men and single women, while small and medium enterprises might find it difficult to cope with the extra costs, including increased Social Security System premiums.

Ronald Cardema

The chair of the National Youth Commission found himself in the middle of a firestorm last week after proposing that state scholarships be withdrawn from student activists who join antigovernment protests.

Although he clarified that he was referring to scholars joining the rebel New People’s Army, Cardema, himself an activist and a Philippine Military Academy cadet in his youth, received flak and calls for his resignation after his suggestion drew widespread criticism.

Even President Rodrigo Duterte noted that there was nothing wrong with students expressing dissent, although espousing the overthrow of government was a different matter.

Malacañang also pointed out that joining protests is an exercise of the right to freedom of expression and of assembly.

Cardema has maintained that he will not resign, claiming that his proposal was inspired by the President’s remark about taking away government scholarships from leftist groups and giving them to “lumad” (indigenous people) students who want to enter university.

Thirdy Ravena

Thirdy Ravena showed he’s more than ready to play in the men’s league during  his debut for Gilas Pilipinas early on Friday.

Despite being the only amateur in the bunch, Ravena played for 13 minutes in the Philippines’ 84-46 rout of Qatar at the latter’s home turf, helping the Nationals capture the first of their two must-win games in the Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers.

The Ateneo star thus became one of the youngest college player to suit up for the elite Gilas squad.

Ravena, 22, made sure he’d make his stint for the country count.

He created a highlight clip for himself when he soared for a block against the 6-foot-10 Nasser Khalifa Al-Rayes who was streaking for a layup during the final moments of the game.

The referees deemed it as a foul, but spectators back home thought otherwise.

Replays of the defensive play made the rounds on social media from the wee hours of Friday morning until the weekend.

It’s no secret that Ravena is one of the most athletic players in the country; now the world knows it, too.