(PHILSTAR) PAG-ASA ISLAND, Kalayaan — Sen. Jinggoy Estrada committed Thursday to push for an increase in the budget of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as it requested additional equipment to detect and monitor foreign incursions into the country. “I’ve always been supportive of their needs,” Estrada told reporters here in Pag-asa Island. “Whatever they…
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(PHILSTAR) MANILA, Philippines — In a 21-0 vote, the Senate passed Monday on final reading a bill seeking to increase by 350 to 488 percent the disability pension of veterans and their beneficiaries. Senate Bill No. 1480 proposes a raise in the monthly disability pension base rate to P4,500 from the current P1,000. Those receiving…
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(PHILSTAR) MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Jinggoy Estrada is seeking the imposition of a jail term and fine of up to P5 million on cyber criminals in his Senate Bill 2171, the proposed Bank Accounts, Electronic Wallets and Other Financial Accounts Regulation Act. “If the authorities have the capability to trace those behind hacking or unauthorized transactions, scamming…
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(PHILSTAR) MANILA, Philippines — After reports of alleged cybertheft attempts on the users of e-wallet GCash this week, a senator has proposed imposing penalties to the tune of P5 million and imprisonment against those behind similar cybercrime schemes. Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada has filed Senate Bill No. 2171, or the proposed Bank Accounts, Electronic Wallets,…
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(PHILSTAR) MANILA, Philippines — Despite warnings from employers about business closures and consequent job losses, the Senate aims to pass in June a bill granting an across-the-board daily minimum wage hike of P150, claiming it would improve worker productivity, reduce crime and provide long-term economic benefits. The committee on labor and employment, chaired by Sen.…
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(PHILSTAR) MANILA, Philippines — The Senate labor panel approved “in principle” on Wednesday a proposal for a P150 across-the-board daily minimum wage hike after just one public hearing. Labor panel chairperson Sen. Jinggoy Estrada ended Wednesday’s hearing on proposals for a legislated wage hike by sending it to a technical working group, indicating that committee…
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(PHILSTAR) MANILA, Philippines — A senator has filed a bill requiring telecommunication companies and internet service providers to refund their subscribers for service interruptions. Sen. Jinggoy Estrada filed Senate Bill 2074 that seeks to require public telecommunication entities and internet service providers to create a mechanism that will enable them to automatically refund or adjust the…
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(PHILSTAR) MANILA, Philippines — Around 18,000 police officers will be deployed throughout the country on Labor Day tomorrow to ensure security at demonstrations by cause-oriented groups, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday. Colonel Jean Fajardo, PNP spokesperson, said police officers will secure freedom parks and major thoroughfares where workers’ unions and other cause-oriented groups are expected to hold demonstrations. “Our concentration is here at freedom…
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(PHILSTAR) TANAY, Rizal — Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Senate labor panel chairperson, reiterated Friday that while he agrees that the minimum wage needs to be hiked, there is still a need to “strike a balance” between workers and businesses. The minimum wage varies across the regions, ranging from P570 a day in Metro Manila to P340…
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(PHILSTAR) TANAY, Rizal (Updated 3:41 p.m.) — Two leaders of the Senate defense panel condemned Thursday what they called bullying by China after one of its coast guard ships almost caused a collission with a Philippine Coast Guard vessel in the West Philippine Sea “Our fishermen and Coast Guard have been bullied several times there. This is…
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