News Briefs: August 31, 2019

Lacson: 1987 Charter behind his ‘designated survivor’ bill

Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Friday turned to Twitter to defend his “designated survivor” bill which seeks to define the line of succession for the presidency. Apparently reacting to critics, the senator cited the 1987 Constitution, particularly paragraph 6, Article VII, Section 7, which provides the manner in which one who is to act as President shall be selected until a President or a Vice President shall have qualified, in case of death or permanent disability of the constitutional successors. Lacson said his was “not a trivial or petty bill that was crafted out of nowhere.”—JULIE M. AURELIO

Islamic banks now under BSP regulations

President Duterte has signed into law a regulatory framework for Islamic banks in recognition of their role in furthering financial inclusion, especially among the underserved Muslim population. Republic Act No. 11439 places Islamic Banks under the supervision and regulation of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), which will issue the implementing rules and regulations on Islamic banking.—JULIE M. AURELIO

PH, China push for joint programs in universities

The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) and China’s Ministry of Education (MOE) on Thursday signed a memorandum of agreement that will “push for the internationalization of universities in both countries.” Under the agreement, CHEd and MOE will establish a joint working group this year that will develop programs for higher education institutions of the Philippines and China. The memorandum also pushes for faculty and student exchanges, credit transfer arrangements, the establishment of Confucius Institutes in the Philippines, among other initiatives.—MARIEJO S. RAMOS

CBCP expresses support for homework ban

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) expressed its support for the proposal banning teachers from giving homework to students, especially on weekends, saying it would give students additional time with their families which could help in their holistic development. In a statement posted on the official news service CBCPNews, Bishop Roberto Mallari said family time should not be compromised as students need this so they could become well-rounded individuals.—JOVIC YEE

Families appeal to UN to probe desaparecido cases

As the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) prepares to write a comprehensive report on the human rights situation in the Philippines, the families of victims of enforced disappearances on Friday appealed to the international body to also investigate the cases of the desaparecidos whose fates remain linked to the country’s dismal justice system. The letters, which were key to this year’s celebration of the International Day of the Disappeared, also came a month after the UNHRC adopted Iceland’s resolution mandating a comprehensive review of President Duterte’s war on drugs. The families marked the celebration before the Bantayog ng mga Desaparecido—one of the few memorials to their kin—in Baclaran Church, Parañaque.—KRIXIA SUBINGSUBING

Two Filipinos killed in Mexico arson incident

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday said two Filipino seamen died in the Aug. 27 bar fire set by warring rival gangs. The DFA quoted the Philippine ambassador to Mexico, Demetrio Tuazon, as saying that 26 other people were killed in the incident in the port city of Coatzacoalcos in the southeastern state of Veracruz, on the Gulf of Mexico. The DFA said it was now in touch with authorities and the Filipino seafarers’ manning agency for the repatriation of the remains of the two men.—JEROME ANING

DOT called out on questionable disbursements

The Department on Tourism (DOT) on Friday said it was ready to answer the findings of the Commission on Audit (COA) on undocumented disbursements worth more than P500 million in 2018. The DOT said it would conduct a “thorough review” of the COA report flagging the lack of supporting documents for over P507.3 million worth of disbursements, with those from the tourism agency’s central office reaching P484.1 million.—JEROME ANING