News Briefs: July 21, 2019

Bid of former Napocor exec to junk graft case denied

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan Second Division has junked the bid of  former National Power Corp. (Napocor) President and CEO Rogelio Murga to have his graft and malversation cases dismissed.

In a seven-page resolution, the antigraft court denied Murga’s demurrer to evidence, saying he failed to show how the prosecution’s evidence is weak.

“After circumspect review of the evidence presented by the prosecution, the court is not persuaded to grant the instant demurrer to evidence,” the resolution said, adding that the arguments Murga raised in his demurrer “constitute matters which are best appreciated in the course of trial on the merits of this case.”

A demurrer to evidence asks the court to evaluate the evidence presented by the prosecution, to determine if there is enough basis to proceed.

A granted demurrer is tantamount to a dismissal of the case. Since the demurrer was denied, trial is expected to continue, with Murga presenting his evidence.

Murga’s case stemmed from his alleged unauthorized release of P9.55 million from Napocor’s account to a certain Kaw Swee Tuan, or S.T. Kay & Company in 2003.

Murga and his coaccused, Alberto Guanzon also allegedly released P114.89 million to the same individual the day after releasing the P9.55 million. —Patricia Denise M. Chiu

Wanted: 8 new justices of the Court of Appeals

MANILA, Philippines — The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) is now accepting applications and recommendations for eight vacant seats in the Court of Appeals.

Supreme Court clerk of court Edgar Aricheta, JBC ex-officio secretary, announced on Friday that those interested in the positions must submit their application or recommendation with conforme on or before Sept. 3.

Four of the vacancies arose from the appointments of incumbent appeals justices to the Supreme Court: Ramon Paul Hernando on Oct. 10 and Rosamari Carandang on Nov. 26 last year; and Henri Paul Inting on Feb. 22 and Amy Lazaro-Javier on Mar. 6 this year.

The other four seats were vacated by the retirement of Justices Normandie Pizarro, Carmelita Manahan, Edward Contreras and Sesinando Villon on Feb. 9, Mar. 21, Jul. 9 and Jul. 16, respectively.

Aspirants for Court of Appeals justices must submit required documents enumerated on the JBC website.

These include notarized personal data sheet and transcript of law school records, birth certificate, certificate of admission to the Bar and membership in the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, certificate of employment if coming from the private sector; and all records of government service. —Jerome Aning

DFA warns vs job offers for domestics, tutors in China

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday reiterated its warning to prospective jobseekers in mainland China that it was still irregular for Filipinos to work as domestics and private tutors there.

In a statement, the DFA said the Philippine consulate general in Xiamen, as well as the foreign service posts in China recorded several cases of overstaying and/or irregular employment of Filipinos as domestics or tutors for the first half of 2019.

Most of these cases were of Filipinos illegally crossing to China to work as domestics, the DFA said.

The consulate reminded Filipinos in China to follow Chinese immigration rules and avoid staying beyond what is allowed in their visas. —Jerome Aning

LGUs urged to ensure safety of high-rise buildings

MANILA, Philippines — Local government units (LGUs) should ensure that high-rise structures are safe and would pose no threats to their occupants especially during times of natural calamities such as typhoons and earthquakes, a climate change expert said.

Glenn Banaguas, executive director of De La Salle Araneta University’s Environmental and Climate Change Research Institute, said that LGUs should conduct due diligence on structural integrity and adopt disaster resilient strategies and implement these in their localities.

Banaguas noted that China, for example, has implemented new reinforced bar or rebar standard rules, which also banned quenching and tempering of steel rebars.

The new rebar standard, which took effect on Nov. 1, 2018, was aimed at preventing water-cooled bar disguised as hot-rolled rebar from being sold in the market.

The changes in the rebar regulations were triggered by the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, that killed over 69,000 people and injured 374,176.

Banaguas added that LGUs should be stricter in granting building permits and ensure that only standard materials are used in the construction of high-rise structures.

He said the reported prevalence of substandard steel in the market was a major concern.

To ensure the safety of existing quench tempered steel in the market, Banaguas said it has to be tested more.

“It has to undergo a series of tests,” he said.